Celtic appoint Martin O’Neill as interim manager for second time just hours after brutal Wilfried Nancy sacking

Celtic have announced Martin O’Neill as their interim manager for the second time this season, just hours after sacking Wilfried Nancy.

The Hoops announced on Monday afternoon that they had parted company with Nancy, who spent just 33 days in charge in Glasgow.

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The decision was taken two days after the Hoops lost 3-1 to Rangers at Celtic Park on Saturday.

It brought to an end a disastrous spell for the Frenchman, which saw him lose six of his eight matches in charge.

And Celtic have wasted no time in finding a replacement, moving to re-appoint former boss O’Neill, who previously served as interim manager following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation in October.

O’Neill, who managed the Glasgow giants between 2000 and 2005, performed well on his return – winning seven out of eight games.

The Scottish champions confirmed the news in a statement, where they announced the return of previous assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham

The club wrote: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that Martin O’Neill will be joining the club as manager until the end of this season.

“Martin will be supported by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as assistants, as well as Stephen McManus, who will join our existing coaches, Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Greg Wallace to oversee first-team matters.”

Reacting to the news, O’Neill said: “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players.

“I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game. He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.

“For me, I’ve been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us. 

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“We still have a lot to look forward to and a lot to try and achieve, and myself, Shaun and the coaching staff and, of course, the players will be giving everything to achieve all the success we can for the club.”

O’Neill’s reappointment means he is now set for a third stint as Celtic boss, having enjoyed a glittering five-year spell in the early 2000’s.

During that time, he won three league titles and guided the club to a UEFA Cup final.

His second spell in charge this term comes after Nancy departed Celtic Park with the shortest managerial stint in the club’s history.

Nancy was appointed on December 4 as he became the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers.

The 48-year-old joined on a two-and-a-half year contract, taking charge after O’Neill had held the fort for a five-week period.

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