Martin O'Neill confirms Celtic commitment after considering his future

Martin O'Neill has confirmed he wants to continue leading Celtic after using the international break to reconsider his future. In a club interview reported by BBC Sport on Tuesday, the 74-year-old said his determination to pursue another league title remained intact, following a run of defeats that had prompted him to question whether to carry on managing.

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O'Neill's position had become a public issue after Celtic lost twice to Rangers last month, with a 3-1 home defeat by Ferencvaros in the Europa League between those derby setbacks. After the second Rangers loss, he said he would assess whether he could still help the team and intended to discuss matters with the board. He also questioned his own energy and desire.

His latest comments offered a clear answer to those earlier doubts. O'Neill said he had taken some time to think following the difficult week, but had not needed long to reach his conclusion. He rejected the idea that defeats by domestic rivals and European opposition amounted to a crisis from which the club could not recover, and said both he and the team were ready to resume.

Celtic had already offered public backing through chief executive Michael Nicholson. In a statement accompanying the club's financial results, Nicholson acknowledged the disappointment of the recent losses and said the club would support O'Neill and his players. As BBC Sport previously reported, he identified domestic success and progress in the Europa League as the focus of that support.

The manager is working under a one-year contract agreed after two interim spells last season ended with Celtic winning the league and Scottish Cup. The title was secured in the closing minutes of the final league match against Hearts. When discussing his future after the Rangers defeat, O'Neill described that finish as one of the outstanding moments of his managerial career.

This season has also brought a Champions League setback. Celtic were eliminated by LASK in the qualifying play-offs after holding a 4-0 aggregate lead during the second leg. Against that backdrop, O'Neill's renewed commitment follows both European disappointment and the recent derby losses, with the manager now saying he wants to remain in charge and challenge for the league again.