O’Neill’s return to Paradise
MARTIN O’Neill believes it would be ‘fantastic’ to return to Parkhead for the Scott Brown Testimonial should Celtic go on to complete a second successive domestic treble.
The benefit game between Celtic and the Republic of Ireland XI on May 20 for the midfielder follows the Scottish Cup final 24 hours earlier.
‘Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be there (Parkhead) the day after Celtic win another treble?’ pondered O’Neill yesterday.
‘I understand that (back-to-back trebles) would break some new ground where Scottish football is concerned, and I am sure the old ground would be rocking, absolutely rocking.’
O’Neill led Celtic to the domestic treble in 2001 – their first since the era of Jock Stein – and took the Hoops to the group stages of the Champions League for the first time, and also to the 2003 UEFA Cup final where Jose Mourinho’s Porto triumphed.
‘I loved my years at Celtic,’ he said. ‘It is a special club, which should not sound patronising at all. It’s a fairly lengthy period of time since I was working at Celtic – 13 years ago if you can believe that – but it will be lovely to come back.’
O’Neill has been hugely impressed by the work of Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager.
‘What I have really enjoyed seeing from a distance is the vibrancy and energy that is back at the club – the place seems full and there has been a good team on the park for everyone to get behind with a really good way of playing football.
‘But what I love about Celtic is the chance to see the guys I worked with at that time. Watching so many of them go on and do well has been really satisfying.
‘I know how much it meant to Neil (Lennon) to get the chance to manage the club and he is doing wonderfully well [at Hibernian]. Hopefully there will be a chance to catch up with him.’
O’Neill revealed that Brown was a target for Celtic before he left the club in 2005.
‘I absolutely remember Scott Brown when he was a young lad coming through at Hibs. Not long after I left Gordon Strachan signed Scott but he was a player who was most definitely on our radar.
‘He (Brown) did really well for Hibs and what I seem to recall is that he wasn’t afraid to get in about it when we played them.
‘We had a squad of experienced international players who had been there and done it. He wasn’t intimidated by some of the reputations that would have been in our team.’
O’Neill, 66, revealed he jumped at the chance to return to Paradise. ‘When John Delaney (FAI chief executive) said there was a chance of playing the game, I was immediately interested.’
While he is mindful of the Championship play-offs, O’Neill intends to field a strong XI at Celtic Park. ‘Some of our players may be involved in the play-offs but we’ll bring as strong a side as we can.’
The game marks the first of three for Ireland before the summer break as they play France in Paris on May 28 and the USA in Dublin on June 2.
It’d be fantastic to come back the day after Celtic win the treble