Key Points
- Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert stated he would be “shocked and disappointed” if the Glasgow club decided to sack manager Martin O’Neill.
- Lambert believes that if O’Neill departs Parkhead, he should be allowed to do so entirely on his own terms.
- O’Neill returned to the club during the 2025/26 season, stepping in twice on an interim basis following the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.
- He successfully guided Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title on the final day, pipping Hearts with a 3-1 home victory, and also secured the Scottish Cup against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline.
- O’Neill was appointed as the permanent manager over the summer, building on his previous five-year tenure at the club between 2000 and 2005.
- Pressure has mounted on the 74-year-old manager following failure to qualify for the Champions League League Phase after blowing a four-goal aggregate lead against Austrian side LASK.
- Celtic’s recent struggles include two defeats against Old Firm rivals Rangers within a span of seven days, alongside a 3-1 home defeat to Hungarian side Ferencvaros in their opening Europa League fixture.
Celtic Park (Glasgow Express) September 21, 2026 — Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert has come forward to express his staunch support for current manager Martin O’Neill, insisting that he would be “shocked and disappointed” should the Glasgow giants make the decision to sack the experienced boss. The former Scotland defender argued that given O’Neill’s stellar service to the club across multiple eras, any departure should strictly be on the manager’s own terms.
Lambert emphasised that the 74-year-old Kilrea native deserves profound respect and autonomy regarding his future at the Parkhead hotseat. As noted in the reporting surrounding the club, O’Neill stepped into the breach twice on an interim basis during the turbulent 2025/26 season following the respective departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy. During that campaign, O’Neill steadied the ship and remarkably guided Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title, dramatically pipping closest rivals Hearts on the final day courtesy of a 3-1 home success. Furthermore, he secured domestic silverware by leading the Celts to victory in the Scottish Cup at the expense of Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline side, earning himself the permanent managerial role over the summer after a celebrated initial five-year spell between 2000 and 2005.
Why is pressure mounting on Martin O’Neill at Celtic?
Despite his heroic rescue job last season, intense scrutiny and pressure have surrounded Martin O’Neill in the early stages of the current campaign. The primary catalyst for the mounting friction was Celtic’s failure to qualify for the lucrative League Phase of the UEFA Champions League. The Hoops suffered a devastating collapse, blowing a commanding four-goal aggregate lead in the Play-Off round to crash out against Austrian side LASK.
The situation worsened dramatically over a bruising seven-day span. Celtic suffered two consecutive defeats against arch-Old Firm rivals Rangers, sandwiching a meek 3-1 reversal at home to Hungarian giants Ferencvaros in their opening fixture of the UEFA Europa League group stage. These back-to-back high-profile losses have sparked urgent conversations among supporters and pundits alike regarding the team’s trajectory under the veteran manager.
Background of the particular development
The current managerial climate at Celtic Park is deeply rooted in a transitional period that began during the 2025/26 season. Following the departures of Brendan Rodgers and subsequently Wilfried Nancy, the club found itself navigating considerable instability on the pitch. Martin O’Neill, revered by the fanbase for his historic successes during his initial tenure from 2000 to 2005—which included a domestic treble and a run to the UEFA Cup final—was brought back as a steadying, authoritative figure. His interim success culminated in a league title and a Scottish Cup, creating immense goodwill that propelled him into the permanent post ahead of the summer. However, modern football demands immediate continental progression, and the failure to secure Champions League football, compounded by heavy defeats to Rangers and Ferencvaros, has abruptly brought underlying squad and tactical questions to the forefront.
Prediction
This ongoing scrutiny surrounding Martin O’Neill’s position directly impacts the Celtic fanbase, the club’s board, and the playing squad as they navigate a congested domestic and European fixture list. For the passionate Celtic supporters, the tension between honoring a beloved club legend and demanding modern tactical and financial success in Europe creates a difficult psychological divide. If the board decides to yield to external pressure and part ways with O’Neill prematurely, it risks alienating a significant portion of the fanbase who view him as a saviour from the chaotic 2025/26 season. Conversely, sticking with the veteran manager through a rough patch could either galvanise the dressing room to turn their domestic and European campaigns around or prolong a slide that alienates the club from its continental ambitions. Ultimately, how the club handles this pressure will dictate squad morale, dressing room cohesion, and the broader atmosphere at Parkhead for the remainder of the season.
