O’Neill passes torch to Strachan
The Irishman confirmed yesterday that he would be standing down as manager after the Tennent's Scottish Cup final with Dundee United on Saturday to spend more time with his ill wife Geraldine.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell confirmed that Strachan, the former Southampton and Coventry manager, would take up a 12-month rolling contract from June 1.
It was all too much for Celtic supporters to take in but O'Neill assured them they would have nothing to fear.
"A new manager is in place and he will do wonderfully well," said the departing boss.
"He will inherit, as I inherited, some really good players and he will inherit one or two he will not be best pleased with.
"As everybody knows it's what you do with that situation that determines your own particular future in football. That's the way it is and will always be."
Strachan will face the media next Tuesday and Lawwell revealed that O'Neill was involved in choosing the former Aberdeen, United and Scotland midfielder.
Lawwell said: "I am delighted to say that Gordon Strachan has accepted the managership at Celtic.
"Martin was involved in the process and was kept fully aware as negotiations and discussions went on."
Despite the level of emotions inside the walls of Celtic Park today, O'Neill still had time for a joke as he spoke about his friend and fellow pundit for the BBC in the past.
"Did I identify him?" he quipped. "He was too small, I couldn't see him.
"I spoke to him and he was interested to hear my own thoughts but he has his own views on it and his own way of doing things.
"He is completely different to myself and I'm quite sure he will be very successful."
But the former Leicester boss refused to rule out a return to the Glasgow giants as manager in the future.
"I hope I do return to management but I have things to do," he said.
"I would definitely like to get back into management, no doubt about it, but when that is I wouldn't be sure that will obviously depend on other aspects."
O'Neill admitted it was a heartbreaking decision and he was ending a five-year love affair with the club.
He said: "If you ask about a love affair then I would say absolutely.."
He has won six trophies in five seasons including three Bank of Scotland Premier League championships which could end up seven if they can win at Hampden Park on Saturday.
But O'Neill rates taking his team to the UEFA Cup final as his most memorable achievement.
"The best thing would be driving into the stadium in Seville," he recalled. "It was a very, very hot late afternoon.
"I remember seeing a sea of green and white shirts and that was amazing and I helped by getting us there.
"People have come up to me since and said that it was the greatest day of their lives.
"The older people think that Lisbon will never be surpassed but for the newer generation that was their best night."
But the manner in which they threw away the championship in the final two minutes at Motherwell on Sunday is the most fresh disappointment in his mind.
O'Neill added: "A lot of people all over the world were disappointed on Sunday as I was myself but what great, great days we have had.
"I will look back with fond, fond memories and I hope I have not let them down but I was not best pleased with Sunday."
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