He delivered a double few thought possible last season when the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup were salvaged from the potential wreckage of one of Celtic's most tumultuous seasons. He very nearly lifted the Uefa Cup in 2003 against a Jose Mourinho-inspired Porto who, the following season, won the Champions League. His status as one of the club's all-time great managers is surely secure.
Which is perhaps why, so soon after returning to the club as its unlikely saviour, manager Martin O'Neill wondered out loud whether now, at the age of 74, it's finally time "to wrap it up". The Northern Irishman's words came in the post-match news conference following a second defeat in a week against arch-rivals Rangers. The fact he also joked about being "110 years old in two years' time" ought not to deflect from the fact O'Neill might now be seriously considering whether he's still the right man to be in charge of Celtic.
Celtic suffer second derby defeat by Rangers in week Scott Brown & Andy Halliday discuss Old Firm game on YouTube Rangers look like they know where they want to go - Celtic just look lost After such a damaging week, with a home European defeat to Ferencvaros in-between the two losses to Rangers, might O'Neill decide to protect his fine legacy at the club by walking away while the side is still top of the Premiership? "I genuinely will reflect and see," he said. "It's a matter of whether I can help the team.
The manager is supposed to be able to do that. I will look at that this week. "I think every single time something crops up and things don't go so well, age plays a part.
And, do you know what, they might be right. I'll be 110 in two years' time so it might be time to wrap it up. "I will reflect on the games and speak to the board.
You never know, they may well want to speak to me. I'll try to get a couple of days away and see how it goes. " Lending credence to the notion that O'Neill is about to embark on a period of proper soul-searching, he referenced last season's dramatic last-day decider in which Celtic won the title in the last few minutes of the final league game.
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