Many Celtic supporters were reliving their childhood on Wednesday night by seeing Martin O’Neill on the touchline again.
After the drama of Monday night and Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, O’Neill was handed the Celtic keys once more, and he returned with a bang.
Celtic slapped Falkirk 4-0, and supporters got to see the old O’Neill jump once more, just like he did 25 years ago during his legendary first spell.
Chris Sutton was part of that famous Celtic team back then, and now he was watching his old gaffer do what he does best.
TalkingPoints
Poll: Are you happy that Brendan Rodgers has left Celtic?
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesChris Sutton on Martin O’Neill returning to the Celtic touchline
Before a ball was kicked, Sutton guessed that his former manager would don a suit on the touchline for his second debut as Celtic boss.
But instead, O’Neill went for the old tracksuit, and Sutton admitted on Sky Sports Football (29/10/25), he got that one ‘wrong’, as he described the win as a ‘big bounce’, ‘old manager bounce’, as well as the ‘dream team’ with Shaun Maloney.
Eilidh Barbour: “There he is, with the tracksuit on, Chris. Dermot Desmond was there to watch on, too.”
Sutton: “I wondered whether Martin would go suit or a tracksuit. My money was on the suit. I am always wrong, and four goals.
“Johnny Kenny on the money. It was a good shot from Nygen. They needed that to get themselves going. The most important thing was the three points.
“But that’s what it was about. Points, goals and getting the entertainment back. Just clicking a little bit.”
Kris Boyd joked: “Martin into his Ferrari and up the road.”
Sutton: “That will be the headline, won’t it? Kenny on the scoresheet again. I have been critical of him in the past, but those goals will do him no harm.
“Then Nygren, who has popped up with a few goals this season. Scott Bain should do much better. He just pops it to Nygren.
“Then Tounekti, I think he has really excited everybody. But he hasn’t really got the numbers, in terms of goals and assists. And that won’t do him any harm.
“Manager bounce. Big bounce. Old manager bounce. Dream team. Martin and Maloney. MnM.”
O’Neill to be suited and booted for Hampden?
Nobody knows how long O’Neill will be in charge for, but one thing is for sure: he will be in the Hampden Park dugout for another ding-dong with Rangers.
The Treble-winning boss had many great battles with Rangers, and whilst they are no longer the same force, it’s going to be some contest on Sunday.
O’Neill might have donned a tracksuit against Falkirk, but given the occasion at the weekend, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the suit comes out for Celtic’s League Cup semi-final against Rangers.