Celtic boss Martin O'Neill in hospital after surgery

BBC Published Aug 5, 2026 Reviewed Aug 5, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, 74, is expected to be released from hospital in the next day or two.

74 years · age Celtic, club

Celtic announced that Martin O'Neill signed a one-year contract in June with an option for a further year after talks with major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

1 year · contract length1 year · option year Celtic, club

Martin O'Neill had not managed a professional football team since his spell with Nottingham Forest ended in 2019.

2019 year · last management year Article

Martin O'Neill returned to Celtic in October 2023, 20 years after his first spell as manager.

20 years · time since first spell Article

Martin O'Neill had won eight major honours with Celtic during his first spell and added a ninth during his second spell.

8 honours · first spell honours9 honours · second spell honours Article

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill remains in hospital after undergoing a "small procedure", the club have announced.

There are no details about the nature of O'Neill's operation, with the 74-year-old expected to be released in the "next day or two".

O'Neill signed a one-year deal in June to become permanent manager after two interim spells last season culminated in a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

The Northern Irishman was in the dugout on Monday as Celtic started the new Premiership campaign with a 1-0 home win over Dundee.

"In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O'Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital," Celtic posted on social media.

"We would envisage Martin being released from hospital in the next day or two and on behalf of Martin, we would like to thank supporters for their kind wishes.

"We would ask that the privacy of Martin and his family is respected."

Having not managed since a spell with Nottingham Forest in 2019, O'Neill made a shock return to Celtic last October - 20 years after his hugely successful first spell in charge - following Brendan Rodgers' acrimonious resignation.

The former Leicester City, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss then handed the reins to Wilfried Nancy in December, but the Frenchman was sacked after just eight games, paving the way for O'Neill to return again.

And after winning his eighth and ninth major honours with the club, he agreed to take on the job full-time, agreeing a one-year contract with the option for a further year after talks with Celtic's major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

This article was originally published by BBC ↗. citations.press indexes the source-backed facts above and links to the original. Something wrong? Corrections policy · Report an error