Celtic

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

The Honda Civic has roared into life with Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney at the wheel.

The Celtic interim management duo made a smooth start to the post-Brendan Rodgers era as Falkirk were dispatched 4-0 on Wednesday night.

But what was different under the new bosses?

Well, for a start, Celtic produced their biggest Premiership win so far, scoring 25% of their season's goal haul in one night.

After the ponderous, slow build-up that marked some of the final performances under Rodgers, Celtic were noticeably quicker and more direct against the Bairns.

Opta stats show Celtic had their fewest touches of the ball (702), second second-lowest possession (60.5%), and lowest number of passes (505) of their 10 league outings.

Celtic's four fast breaks was three more than they have mustered in any other game, while the 56 long passes made was their second highest, and the 33 successful long passes was a season high.

So they clearly got the ball forward quicker - and it proved effective.

O'Neill and Maloney's side registered 11 shots on target - their highest Premiership tally - and joint-most shots, 26. Seven of those shots came from Benjamin Nygren - no other Celtic player has attempted as many in the league this term - with the Swede netting the third goal.

Celtic's four 'big chances' is second only to the five they created against Livingston and Hibs, while their seven successful crosses on Wednesday night was a joint high.

So, plenty to admire about the fresh start after a tumultuous few days at Parkhead. The big question now is can they maintain that level of performance and steer a path past Rangers in Sunday's seismic derby to reach the League Cup final?

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Former Scotland stiker Lee Miller believes joint interim boss Shaun Maloney will want the Celtic job full-time - but doesn't think the fans would be happy.

Maloney spent nine years at Celtic as a player across two spells, winning five league titles and three League Cups, but his managerial record - poor spells at both Hibs and Wigan - may well put supporters off.

The 42-year-old has insisted he isn't seeking the permanent role, but Miller told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I think he will want it deep down. There's no doubt about that, but I don't think the fans will accept that.

"But listen, see if he goes on a run of seven, eight, nine or 10 games with really good, attractive football that wins games... I don't know if you can look elsewhere."

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is the bookmakers' current favourite for the Celtic post, with other candidates including former boss Ange Postecoglou and Wales head coach Craig Bellamy.

"I like McKenna, I like that shout," Miller said. "Bellamy as well. I've listened to a few of his interviews recently. He wants to play football; he understands the game. He's obviously been at Celtic as well. So yeah, there's a few interesting ones.

"Ange - I doubt he would come back. I don't think he's in the frame for it. He's been through the ringer recently, hasn't he?

"If he comes back to Celtic and it doesn't work out, what's next for him then? He's probably wanting to try and guard that legacy that he's got at Celtic, so I don't think he'll be in the frame."

We asked for your views after Martin O'Neill began his caretaker stint in charge of Celtic with a 4-0 thumping of Falkirk.

Here are some of your comments:

Ernie: Turns out Honda Civics have five forward gears. Who knew?

John: We were allowed to play freely as Falkirk didn't park the bus. Marcelo Saracchi is a great find in the Greg Taylor style. Arne Engels does a lot of hard unseen graft. Good start Martin, welcome back.

Kev: One swallow does not make a summer, better performance though. Should be an interesting game v Rangers, O'Neill should be positive with his tactics and team selection, let's go for it.

Michael: Easy really isn't it - play the ball forward quicker get in behind defenders. No more side to side and backwards passing and then we get results like this.

Rob: Inspirational to see Martin enjoying it so much. Wow, brilliant - give him the job if he wants it. Love the touchline involvement.

Malcolm: The fight was back. The tackles, movement, crosses and more pace to our game. Martin will get the best out of any average players we have. All players will get their chance and the longer Martin is at Paradise the better.

Davie: People may say "its only Falkirk" but the game was played with a bunch of players who looked like they were enjoying it. Much-needed rewind to our old selves. Sarrachi is a player, Johnny Kenny doesn't stop. I'm happy with the performance as I know a lot of Celtic fans are... roll on Sunday.

Patrick: Rolling back the years under Martin O'Neill, great to see! As he said there could have been more goals so the squad needs to build on that positive momentum and take it ahead to the weekend, block out all the other noise and keep winning.

Jim: It shows there are goals in the team if chances are taken, but there's a long way to go. The introduction of Auston Trusty was needed to stabilise the defence even if he's not a right-sided centre-back.

Watch highlights as Celtic mark Martin O'Neill's first match as interim boss by overwhelming Falkirk 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only).

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Martin O'Neill told the Celtic players they were winners before they delivered an emphatic start to his homecoming with a 4-0 defeat of Falkirk.

Johny Kenny's first-half double and goals after the break from Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti took Celtic to within six points of Premiership leaders Hearts.

O'Neill, who is in interim charge with Shaun Maloney after Brendan Rodgers resigned, said: "I know the confidence's been a bit low. That's the most natural thing in the world, even the very, very best sides if you're not getting a result.

"Players then stop doing things that they almost like naturally would do.

"I said we have quite a number of winners in the dressing room. That's really important.

"Those lads have experienced some lows during the course of the season and then fight back and the captain [Callum McGregor], he's a real quality player.

"But there was great performances all around and just to win.Naturally, delighted to win the game. But there wasn't a thought about anything else."

O'Neill joked about being nervous before the game.

He added: "Well, first of all, I jokingly said - maybe true - I have not been as nervous since I sat my 11-plus but, again, I think I passed that when I was 48.

"But honestly, really concerned about the game, naturally. Concerned about the usual thing about letting myself down, which is I've done so many times it's untrue, and letting other people down here at the football club.

"Just coming in a bit of a whirlwind and to play in the manner which we did when I thought was great and obviously most important thing was winning the game."

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Celtic have a concrete interest in Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen as Brendan Rodgers' successor. (Nieusblad - in Dutch), external

Hayen, 45, has refused to rule out a move to Celtic. (Record), external

Major shareholder Dermot Desmond's attendance at Celtic Park for Wednesday's 4-0 win over Falkirk was his first visit in years. (Sun), external

Interim manager Martin O'Neill labelled Celtic captain Callum McGregor "brilliant" following the humbling of Falkirk. (Record), external

O'Neill explained defender Kieran Tierney is "much better" and "feeling better" after missing out against the Bairns following "stiffness" at the weekend. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill told BBC Sportsound: "I thought we played very well.

"I was concerned before the game, but that's just a trait of mine. That's something to do with my dreadful insecurity problems.

"I'm really pleased to win the game in the manner we did, and we played some delightful stuff. Could have scored a couple of more goals, too.

"I'm hoping some of the players have played today are old enough to know who I am, some of the younger lads I wouldn't be totally sure. They see this man stepping into the dressing room and think 'what's happening here?'.

"I'm delighted, satisfied in the sense I thought we played very well. My anxiety has calmed somewhat, and it was really nice to win. When you get a few goals in front you can perhaps enjoy the last 10 or 15 minutes, and it kind of brought me back.

"I've not seen Celtic often, not live, to make criticism of this side. A restoration of confidence was great."

Celtic defeated Falkirk 4-0 to give interim manager Martin O'Neill a comfortable victory in his return to the Parkhead dugout.

Have your say here.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Given the strength of feeling expressed this week by Celtic's major shareholder, I can't help but wonder where was such firmness of purpose and conviction from the club earlier in the year?

Surely stronger leadership in the summer could have avoided this messy car crash?

For all the recent banter about Honda Civics and Ferraris, what's clear to this correspondent is the club's custodians were asleep at the wheel for large parts of 2025.

These problems at Celtic stretch back to the latter part of last season and it's only now, after the remarkable broadside blasted in Brendan Rodgers' direction by Dermot Desmond, some clarity is emerging from the fog of inertia the club seemed to be lost in.

Desmond's letter to the Celtic support smacked of several things. Anger, frustration, betrayal perhaps. Exasperation, certainly.

According to the Irish billionaire, repeated attempts were made to find out why Rodgers was apparently telling directors one thing while saying something else entirely in public. We don't have the Rodgers version yet, although that will no doubt be arriving shortly.

For now, we have to go with Desmond's side of the story, unedifying and recriminatory as it is. What I find most remarkable is this: he sat down with Rodgers to discuss a contract extension in June. Why has it taken until nearly Halloween for action finally to be taken?

Action that, on the surface at least, didn't even come from the Celtic hierarchy? We're dealing with a resignation here. At least that's what we've been told.

So the main move was apparently made by Rodgers, not Desmond or the board. It smacks of weak leadership and an executive team taking their eyes off the ball.

Let's assume the contract talks did take place, as Desmond claims, shortly after last season ended. If the directors didn't have their answer from the manager by the end of June, why weren't alarm bells ringing?

It's a perfectly acceptable state of affairs, before embarking on a potentially high-spending transfer window, to seek a contract extension to encourage the coach to stick around.

Which perhaps explains the stagnation and inertia in the transfer market. It's now evident the club wanted him to sign on before handing over the war chest. The perfect stand-off.

What then happened was drift. A manager and a club aimlessly slouching into a new season, singing from very different hymn sheets.

Rodgers dropped several hints along the way. "If you're looking to maintain, I'm not your man." The Celtic manager literally telling his board they may be better looking elsewhere.

They could have shaken hands in the summer, called it quits after a fine 24-month second stint and started succession planning. Instead, they chose to do nothing.

A £40m Champions League roll of the dice. An assumption the current squad would still be good enough to mop up domestically. A lack of leadership and direction which ended in Monday night's head-on collision.

No one at the club emerges unscathed. The collateral damage is still to be assessed. Rodgers' response to all this will be fascinating.

We asked who you would like to see replace Brendan Rodgers as permanent Celtic manager.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: I want Ange Postecoglou back. Yes he has had a tough time this past month or two, but let's not forget - he won a trophy, with Spurs!

Steve: Get Chris Wilder from Sheffield United. He would stop the rot and rebuild.

Larry: Utter fiasco at Celtic - board and manager not on the same page - Ange is not the answer - give Robbie Keane the job with Martin O'Neill to guide him.

Peter: Henrik Larsson is my choice, after all he is a Celtic legend and knows what's needed at the club. Saying that, I think it's time for the board to go because they have outstayed their welcome.

Gordy: I think Damien Duff and Robbie Keane would be excellent for the manager's role. Duff has already worked under Rodgers and gained invaluable experience at international level. It is time for us to go a different route and bring in vibrant, ambitious, young managers with a point to prove.

John: A bit tongue in cheek, Scott Brown and Neil Lennon. They would have a bit more fire in there belly and if the games were poor it would be fun to watch them on the sidelines.

Henrik: I somehow oppose reappointing Postecoglou. He did a great job and I am a big supporter of his style of play, but I think other managers might have figured out how to face his teams by now. I would love to see Edin Terzic or Kjetil Knutsen appointed.

Michael: Cesc Fabregas would be the dream appointment, but I think Barcelona or Arsenal will eventually come calling for him. Most sensible move is Knutsen from Bodo, seems to fit the mould of good up and coming manager who can manage a budget. I'd give Graham Potter a shout too, he showed in lower leagues he can buy wisely on a tight budget and likes his teams to really press from the front.

Senen: Kieran McKenna all day.

Lewis: Knutsen number one choice, Ange number two choice. Whether or not either of them will be interested in the circus that is Celtic right now is another matter.

Logan: I think that Postocoglou will come back and make a strong start.

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Celtic have confirmed long-time assistant manager John Kennedy has left the club.

The former defender, 42, became a Celtic scout in 2010 then moved on to coaching the reserves and graduated to the first-team staff in 2014.

He became assistant in 2019 at the start of Neil Lennon's second spell as manager and served under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers in the role.

Rodgers resigned as Celtic manager on Monday and Martin O'Neill, for whom Kennedy played, has been installed as interim manager, assisted by another of his former players Shaun Maloney.

Coaches Jack Lyons and Adam Sadler and head of performance Glen Driscoll have also left Celtic.

"We thank each of them for their contribution to Celtic and we wish them all well for the future," the club said of Kennedy, Sadler, Lyons and Driscoll.

Former Celtic captain Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham are joining O'Neill's first-team coaching team. McManus has been Celtic's B team coach in recent years.

Goalkeeping coach Stephen Woods as well as Gavin Strachan and Greg Wallace are continuing with the club's backroom team following Rodgers and Kennedy's exit.

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Former Hearts and Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson can see why a return for Ange Postecoglou would be attractive for Celtic, and says the timing might be good for Kieran McKenna to move from Ipswich Town.

But whoever comes in, Neilson believes the new incumbent will be given substantial backing by the Celtic board and that will make this an attractive proposition for a lot of managers.

"Ange had a fantastic period when was up in Scotland," said Neilson, who once shared the touchline with the Australian.

"A lot of the guys that are getting quoted at clubs at the moment, and at big clubs, usually when you're at a big club, you've got a big buyout. So, Ange will be free at the moment, I can see that one, but I would be slightly surprised. I think they'll look elsewhere for this one.

"McKenna is one that everyone's speaking about. It might be the time for him to go. He's sitting 12th in the Championship at the moment, had a fantastic couple of years, so it might work out for both parties on that one."

Martin O'Neill is in interim charge of Celtic, who begin life after Brendan Rodgers with a Premiership home game against Falkirk tonight.

"There's a number of managers out there that will be looking at that job, because it's a fantastic opportunity," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I would expect the board to spend big in January. So if you're coming in as a manager, first of all, you want to look at the squad. It's a good squad, but I think there'll be money getting spent.

"There are loads and loads of people putting a CV in and some top managers."

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So many eyes will be drawn to Celtic Park where O'Neill will make his unexpected return alongside his former player Shaun Maloney.

Given the unexpected nature of Brendan Rodgers' departure, the fact Maloney has had one training session, and O'Neill only arrived at the club on Tuesday, means an overhaul of Celtic's personnel and playing style seems unlikely.

The duo have to work with what they've got, which is a squad Rodgers infamously described as akin to a Honda Civic, with injuries to key players.

A meek and damaging defeat by Hearts laid those faults bare, and there is the backdrop of a protest planned by some fans before the game.

O'Neill said himself the job is to win, and dropping points to newly-promoted Falkirk at home to potentially fall further behind Hearts would be a horror start.

It is an unenviable task for O'Neill and Maloney, but maybe dusting off the boots and famous sweatshirt will inspire some of the old magic from his first spell.

Read all tonight's Premiership picks

• This will be Martin O'Neill's first league game in charge of Celtic since 'Helicopter Sunday' - the final day of the 2004-05 season - when a late 2-1 defeat at Motherwell handed the title to Rangers.

• O'Neill's only previous meeting with Falkirk was an 8-1 League Cup win in September 2004.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 14 meetings with Falkirk in all competitions (W12 D2) since a 1-0 league defeat in March 2007 under Gordon Strachan. This will be the first league game between the two clubs since March 2010, when Celtic won 2-0 under Tony Mowbray.

• Falkirk have lost 14 of their past 16 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 victory in October 1994 under Jim Jefferies. They did draw their last league game at Celtic Park 1-1 in January 2010, though.

• Celtic have won 17 of their past 18 league games against newly-promoted opponents (D1) since a 2-1 defeat to Hearts in July 2021. At home, the Parkhead club have won each of their past 13 league games against promoted sides by an aggregate score of 46-4.

• Celtic have lost just one of their past 77 home league games against sides other than Old Firm rivals Rangers (W66 D10), going down 2-0 to Hearts in December 2023.

• Falkirk have won two of their four away league games this season (L2); during their last top-flight campaign (2009-10) the Bairns only won three of their 19 away games across the entire season (D7 L9).

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Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers underwent Achilles surgery this week after joining Jota (knee) as a long-term absentee.

Daizen Maeda could return for Martin O'Neill's first game back in charge but Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho both remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries.

Falkirk welcome back Ethan Ross after more than two-and-a-half months out injured, but Lewis Neilson (ankle), Coll Donaldson (abdomen), Tom Lang (foot), Aidan Nesbitt (foot) and Jamie Sneddon (hernia) remain sidelined along with Leon McCann.

Robbie Keane, Kieran McKenna and Ange Postecoglou are all on the shortlist to succeed Brendan Rodgers as the next permanent Celtic manager. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Keane's relationship with Celtic major shareholder Dermot Desmond may be crucial if the former striker is to return to Glasgow's east end. (Record), external

Celtic would face a substantial compensation fee if they want to appoint Ipswich Town's McKenna, 39. (Sun), external

McKenna would cost Celtic £5m. (Record), external

Interim manager Martin O'Neill says McKenna's track record could make him an attractive option for Celtic. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Former Motherwell manager Stevie Hammell is expected to become Celtic's head of academy, replacing Chris McCart. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic fan groups are encouraging supporters to join a pre-match protest on against the club's board on Wednesday night to "send a clear message - it is time for them to go".

The Celtic Fans Collective is an umbrella group formed following discontent over the club's summer transfer business as well as the failure to overcome Kairat Almaty and qualify for the Champions League.

The group have planned a pre-match protest before Wednesday's game against Falkirk at Parkhead in the wake of major shareholder Dermot Desmond's scathing assessment of Brendan Rodgers, who resigned as manager on Monday night.

Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney will lead the club on an interim basis.

"Supporters hold differing views on Rodgers," the Celtic Fans Collective said in a statement.

"But regardless of how anyone feels about our former manager, the ultimate responsibility for our current position lies with the board who appointed, reappointed and managed the manager as well as holding responsibility for all other operational matters.

"[Chief executive] Michael Nicholson, [chief financial officer] Chris McKay and the rest of the board have shown they lack the strength or independence to stand up to Dermot Desmond.

"They are incapable of developing and executing a strategy that will allow Celtic to reach its potential and have repeatedly let down both the manager and the supporters."

O'Neill called Monday's events "quite stunning" after returning to Celtic Park 20 years after his five-season reign ended.

"It is really sad to see that," he said of the breakdown in relations.

"I don't know what has been going on, because despite the fact that Dermot brought me here to the football club 25 years ago, since I left, I have not had that many conversations with him. So there is very little that I can add to it.

"Naturally, I think it's the easiest thing in the world to say that when a club is successful, it has everybody going in the same direction. That doesn't seem to be the case at this moment.

"Whether I'm able to do that or not is in the lap of the gods. But I think winning football matches has always been the main contributor to fans and the club being together."

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Former Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney has been through a "whirlwind" 24 hours as he joins Martin O'Neill in interim charge following Brendan Rodgers' departure.

Maloney, who was appointed as the club's professional player pathway manager in the summer, will take a break from that role to link up with his former boss O'Neill as Celtic search for Rodgers' successor.

"It was a traumatic day for everyone. Not just at the stadium but at the training ground as well," the 43-year-old said.

"They've lost some brilliant people but you have to move on pretty quickly. After speaking with Martin, it was about trying to bring stability to the club.

"The last 24 hours have been a bit of a whirlwind but it was really, really east to say yes to Martin because of what he's done for me and my family."

When asked if Maloney had ambitions to take on the job permanently, Maloney said: "No, [I'm] nowhere near anything long term.

"I came back here in a role with the board and then Brendan so at this present time no.

"I'm going to try my best to support Martin and the players but this is interim and then I'll go back to my role."

Celtic welcome Falkirk to Parkhead on Wednesday night before Sunday's League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

And Maloney insists he'll be relying on some key players to steady the ship.

"There's some experienced guys, Callum [McGregor], James [Forrest], Kieran [Tierney].

"I relied heavily on them this morning. Alistair Johnston is a really big part of the group, so is Cameron [Carter-Vickers] but he had surgery yesterday.

"[There are] enough guys who have experienced days like today. We relied heavily on them this morning and we'll rely heavily on them tomorrow night."

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Celtic interim management team Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney have been speaking to the media before their first game in charge against Falkirk on Wednesday night.

Here are the main points:

• O'Neill says he knew about the appointment "less than 24 hours ago" but is "really excited" to get started and "try and do as well as I can".

• He says it's "a bit surreal" to be back managing Celtic but is "genuinely excited" to take charge of his first game.

• The 73-year-old returning manager says the events of the last 24 hours have been "quite stunning" but he again played down any suggestion of taking over longer term.

• O'Neill adds it's "really sad" to see the breakdown in relationship between the board and Rodgers, who has "done terrifically well" during both spells at Celtic.

• The interim boss hopes he can "get everybody going in the same direction" at Celtic and knows "winning games of football" is the best way to do it.

• When asked about his comments on Monday that Hearts can win the title, O'Neill insists he "stands by" everything he said but jokes he "wouldn't have said anything" had he known a call from Celtic was coming a few hours later.

• The Northern Irishman is hoping he can get the side "creating more chances" and will "strive as hard as we can" to get the club back to the levels he saw against Bayern Munich back in February.

• On the semi-final against Rangers, O'Neill says he "cannot possibly think about that game", stressing everybody's full focus is on their midweek fixture against Falkirk.

• O'Neill sends his well wishes to John Kennedy, who also departed the club on Monday night after a lengthy spell in the coaching department.

• O'Neill stresses he will rely heavily on Maloney in the coming games as he "knows the players far better" than himself.

• The interim boss also states he will have "no input at all" in choosing the next manager.

• Maloney admits it was a "difficult" and "traumatic" day for everyone involved with the club as they have "lost some brilliant people" but stresses they "have to move on pretty quickly".

• The 42-year-old also played down any links to the permanent job, insisting he is "nowhere near" anything longer term.

• Maloney reveals the dressing room are relying on experienced players such as Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney as well as Alistair Johnston. He notes Cameron Carter-Vickers will also have a big part to play but the centre-back had surgery yesterday so has been missing from the group.

• But Maloney stresses it's the senior players who will be "relied and demanded upon" for the upcoming games.

• The former Celtic midfielder says it has been a "whirlwind" 24 hours but insists it was "really easy to say yes" to joining O'Neill "because of what he's done for me and my family".