Martin O'Neill made Celtic history but the long-term warning is obvious

For all the talk around Hearts' heartbreak, one man has pretty much single-handedly dragged Celtic to this Premiership title and that is Martin O'Neill. Initially overseeing eight games while Wilfried Nancy's work permit was being approved, the Northern Irishman then returned week later when Nancy lasted only 33 days in the role. Thus, after concluding the campaign with seven successive victories, Saturday's 3-1 win over Hearts saw O'Neill become the second-oldest manager to ever win the Scottish top-flight.

Oldest Scottish Premiership winning managers

O'Neill is just the third manager in their 70s to hoist aloft the Scottish top-flight title, after Willie Maley, who won 16 titles in charge of Celtic between 1898 and 1938, as well as the record-holder in this regard Bill Struth, who delivered 18 titles to Rangers from 1921 to 1953.

Of course, those were very different times, which got us thinking. How many men have managed to win any major European league in their 70s this century? Spoiler alert, it's less than you might think.

Oldest managers to win a European league title (2000-present)

All across Europe, it is incredibly rare for any man in the 70s to lead a side to a league title. Sir Alex Ferguson departed Manchester United a champions in 2013, while Mircea Lucescu, who recently passed away, won eight Ukrainian Premier Leagues in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk, before leading their fierce rivals Dynamo Kyiv to the trophy in 2021. The Romanian's record of being 75 years old when he did so is unlikely to ever be beaten, unless O'Neill stays for one more year of course.

Jupp Heynckes meantime had four different spells in charge of Bayern Munich, parachuted back in after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in 2017. Well, this is very similar to the circumstances that lead to O'Neill's return to Glasgow. It is inarguable that the veteran was the key reason why Celtic were once again crowned champions this season.

Scottish Premiership points earned by manager (top 3 clubs)

Across all six managers who took charge of the Premiership's top three this season, O'Neill boasted by far the best points-per-game ratio. Extrapolated across an entire campaign, had he been there the whole time, Celtic would've picked up around 98 points, cruising to the title, given that Derek McInnes' Heart of Midlothian ended up second on 80. It was only really due to the fact that Wilfried Nancy lost four of six matches in charge in December that there was a title race at all.

So, does this mean Celtic should stick with O'Neill? Well, while that appears the obvious choice, this it not what they should do. Simply given his age, this would not be a long-term decision, rather the much-maligned board taking the easy option. The Hoops are hoping to play at least 59 games next season, preparing for a Champions League campaign, entering in August's play-off round.

Thus, it is very much a question mark whether the 74 year old would be capable of seeing through an entire season, as well as all the travel that comes with being in Europe. For this club to move forward, the hierarchy need to cast the net far and wide to find the best candidate, not just doing whatever is easiest and cheapest, which is their usual modus operandi.

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