MARTIN O’NEILL has risked the wrath of Celtic fans after making a claim about Hearts just hours before replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers walked out on the Hoops after they fell eight points behind Scottish Premiership title rivals Hearts.
The Northern Irishman’s side were beaten 3-1 by Hearts on the weekend, which has left them eight points off the pace setters.
O’Neill, 73, has not managed since he was sacked by Nottingham Forest after a brief spell in 2019.
He has taken charge at Celtic Park on an interim basis, having previously held the job full-time between 2000 and 2005.
During his time in charge, he won the league title three times, along with three Scottish Cups and the Scottish League Cup in 2001.
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But he may not have the full backing of fans following his recent comments about Hearts.
O’Neill appeared on talkSPORT just hours before he was announced as the temporary boss in wake of Rodgers’ exit.
He was discussing the title race in Scotland and admitted it would “reinvigorate” the Scottish game if Hearts won the title.
He said: “For Scottish football for Hearts to win it would be amazing.
“Paradoxically if Celtic or Rangers don’t win it, then you think to yourself well where is Scottish football going.
“For the game itself it would reinvigorate the SPL.”
Celtic or Rangers have won the Scottish top-flight title each year since 1985 – when Sir Alex Ferguson‘s Aberdeen lifted the title.
Since then, Rangers have added 18 league titles while the Hoops have won it 21 times.
Hearts have won the title four times in their history with their last success coming all the way back in 1960.
O’Neill will now be hoping to trounce his own comments and lead Celtic back into title contention.
Rodgers’ Celtic trophy haul
Here is a look at what Brendan Rodgers won during his two spells as Celtic manager…
Scottish Premiership:
- 2016/17, 2017/18, 2023/24, 2024/25
Scottish Cup:
- 2016/17, 2017/18, 2023/24
Scottish League Cup:
- 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2024/25
PFA Scotland Manager of the Year:
SFWA Manager of the Year:
SPL Manager of the Season:
- 2016/17, 2017/18, 2024/25
His first match will come at home against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership – he will be joined in the dugout by assistant Shaun Maloney.
The coach will not have to wait long for his first Old Firm Derby as Celtic face Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals on November 2.
Meanwhile, Rodgers has been slammed in a scathing attack by club owner Dermot Desmond.
The 75-year-old Irish businessman insisted that he was deeply disappointed by the move.
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Rodgers’ exit had come after taking shots at the board over transfer activity before failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Desmond claimed this did not reflect the “trust” club chiefs had appointed him with.
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