Celtic

Martin O’Neill has signed a one-year permanent contract as manager of Celtic, with the possible option of an extra year, after guiding the Hoops to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season. The 74-year-old was called in on an interim basis twice last season after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers and sacking of Wilfried Nancy. And after winning 28 of the 35 games with the Northern Irishman at the helm, the Parkhead club have retained his services for an extra season. He told club media: “It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager. Last season will live long in all our memories and to be part of that success has in a big way whetted the appetite to work again for more days like those and bring our supporters those moments. “Of course, none of this could have been achieved without the players and staff and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for bringing that level of focus, determination and talent to bear at the conclusion of the season to deliver the league and Cup double. “I would particularly like to thank the Board for asking me back and giving me this opportunity again. “We know of course that Celtic can never rest on past success so we are now aiming to drive forward together in the coming season as we aim to deliver again for the club and our fans. “I thank our fans for their ongoing support, it means everything to us. I look forward to being back at Celtic Park next season when we will come together and we will strive again to bring our fans the success which that support deserves.” Last season’s Premiership title and Scottish Cup win brought O’Neill’s silverware haul in Glasgow up to nine, and said at the end of last campaign that the post had given him ‘a reason to live’.  Former Celts loanee Robbie Keane had reportedly discussed the role with minority shareholder Dermot Desmond, but dozens of Celtic fan groups signed an open letter against the move due to the Ireland top scorer’s work with Maccabi-Tel Aviv from Israel.  The defending champions are yet to release any details of their pre-season, so it remains to be seen the first time O’Neill will be back in the dugout.  His first competitive game back will be on the weekend of August 1st, when the Premiership season commences. 

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schemichel will retire from professional football when his Parkhead contract expires this summer. The 39-year-old has been out since March with a shoulder injury which developed into a more serious issue, requiring multiple surgeries. The Danish international played his last game in a 2-1 home defeat to Hibs, and will hang up the gloves after a 20-year career which seen him play at 12 different clubs, and represent his national side 120 times. His official statement reads: “A shoulder injury is forcing me to end my playing career when my contract with Celtic expires this summer. “I’ve been told by doctors that the chances of me ever playing football at the highest level are now extremely small. “I never wanted my career to end because I couldn’t fight anymore. Unfortunately, the injury has made that decision for me.” Schmeichel goes on to thank the fans and clubs he played for, which are Manchester City, Darlington, Falkirk, Cardiff, Coventry, Notts County, Leeds, Leicester City, Nice, Anderlecht and Celtic, and also said that captaining Denmark at a World Cup and European Championship was the ‘greatest honour’ of his career. Schmeichel collected was part of a squad which won four domestic honours in his time in Glasgow, and was the Leicester number one when they won both the Premier League in 2016 and the F.A Cup in 2021.

Celtic have reportedly decided not to offer Boca Juniors a permanent offer for on-loan left-back Marcelo Saracchi. The Uruguayan international made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Premiership winners, scoring once and assisting twice. However, Argentinian journalist Seba Ongarelli, who currently resides in Glasgow, spoke with the 28-year-old’s agent, revealed he had already returned to Buenos Aires. Ongarelli posted on X: “Spoke with Saracchi’s agent. “He flew back to Argentina yesterday and he’ll join Boca Jrs back (season’s over now). “Although he really enjoyed his short time at Celtic and loves the fans, the club never offered him a permanent transfer deal.” This decision has raised eyebrows amongst the Celtic support, provided how quickly Saracchi blossomed into a fan favourite. It leaves Kieran Tierney as the club’s only recognised left-back, meaning an alternative fullback will likely be signed this summer than the departing Saracchi.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admits a draw tomorrow between Hearts and Rangers is probably his preferred outcome between his two title challengers. The defending champions went level on points today with a 2-1 win at Easter Road over Hibernian. And now leaders Hearts and third placed Rangers battle it out to maintain their own title credentials. When asked about his preference of result, O’Neill said: “I really don’t know, I don’t know. “I suppose the one thing I look at is even if we won the rest of our games, we’re not guaranteed to win the league, because if hearts win all their games they have a better goal difference than us. “You’re not going to make those goals up. Today, with Hibs down to 10 men, had we have maybe gotten a second goal before they scored then it might’ve become a different issue. “So I genuinely don’t know. Maybe a draw?” Celtic had a man advantage for the majority of the game when Jamie McGrath was shown red for his challenge on a returning Alistair Johnston. O’Neill however believes his side looked better when it was 11 vs 11. “I think we actually played better when they had 11 men than we did when they had ten. “Hibs showed last week they were down to nine men and they fought so strongly, so I knew that was always going to be difficult. “Overall, it was just trying to get that second goal, we got it. “Then it’s a matter of trying to see the game from through. “Delighted to have won, just a nervy ending in a game we might’ve been our own worst enemies.” Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho played the role of super-sub once again, coming off the bench and scoring the all important second goal for Celtic. His manager believes he’s a great asset despite his fitness issues. “Iheanacho comes off the bench, scores again. I heard Alistair [Johnston] say it seemed as though it took five minutes before the ball came down to him! “But he put it in, and he’s done that for the last number of weeks for us. Dundee, and essentially he changes the game in extra-time in the semi-final [vs St. Mirren]. “I think with the injuries he’s had this season, at this minute, he hasn’t played a great deal of football. He has been a super impact player. “The fitness element is the most important thing. I think that you have to go prove that you’re fit – and the only way to prove it is on the field of play. What he has done for us has been terrific. “If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him. I think that he would really benefit from that.” All eyes now shift to the mouthwatering fixture between Hearts and Rangers tomorrow, before Rangers travel to Celtic Park a week today.

Celtic are looking into making on-loan defender Marcelo Saracchi’s stay a permanent one. The Uruguayan signed late in the summer window from Argentine giants Boca Juniors, and has made 23 appearances as the Parkhead side manage Kieran Tierney’s fitness. A deal will reportedly not be concluded until a new manager is in the Celtic Park dugout, yet interim manager Martin O’Neill admits it is a deal that makes sense. “I think they should try [sign him]. Kieran Tierney is playing brilliantly, back to the level Arsenal paid for. “But this little lad scored for us. He’s a strange character, I call him Manuel from Fawlty Towers because he hasn’t a clue what I’m saying! “He just says ‘Yes’ to everything! But the club should be looking at something like that.” Saracchi has scored once in a 2-1 home win over Livingston, and has chipped in with two assists. The player himself is said to be keen to extending his stay to life in Glasgow, but would need reassurances on game time amid other options being presented to him.

Celtic winger James Forrest has extended his time at Parkhead by another year, penning a deal that sees him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season. Forrest, who turns 35 in the summer, has never played for a club other than Celtic, becoming their most decorated player of all time with 26 major honours at the time of writing. He scored on his debut in 2010 as a 19-year-old in a 4-0 home win over Motherwell, and hopes he can continue his record of scoring in every season since next year again with the Hoops. Forrest told club media: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’ve been here my full career and I’ve loved every minute of it. “We’ve been so successful in my time here and I’m delighted to have signed another year, and I’ll just give my best to the club for however long I’ll be here. “While I’m still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I’m just going to give it everything until I finish. “When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish.” Interim manager Martin O’Neill brought him off the bench to rescue Celtic on Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St. Mirren, and he is happy to see Forrest potentially see out his career as a one-club-man. O’Neill said: “I really want James to finish his career here at Celtic, and I just didn’t want him to be going elsewhere, and I think he wanted that as well. “But the major point about taking anyone on is to know whether they’re worth an extra year and James has proved this season that he has been worth that. “He has changed games and he has done wonderfully well. His contribution in recent weeks when he’s come off the bench has been absolutely terrific, and he has deserved it, and that’s the point. “So, take sentimentality right out of it, he’s deserved it. “He’s been immense for the football club since Neil Lennon brought him in when he was a young kid in the reserves, and he is what I love – I love players who take people on and he can take people on, even to have that little burst of pace at his age is worth its weight in gold.” There is still scope that Forrest can make the plane for the World Cup this summer, having been part of Steve Clarke’s last two major tournament squads. But with the title race in the balance, and Celtic in a Scottish Cup final against former manager Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline, adding to his record high Celtic honours will be at the forefront of the Scottish international’s mind.