Martin O'Neill, 74, remains open to a future in football management after leading Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title during two interim spells. Celtic won the league by catching Hearts on the final day, and O'Neill now aims to complete a double in the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic. He frames the cup final as his sole priority and says the past eight months have shown he still has something to offer. He believes older managers can still contribute despite modern tactics, and he describes pride in proving he is not too old for the game. He has not had major talks with Celtic’s hierarchy and says he does not know what comes next after the final.
"“The pleasing thing for me if I truly reflect on it, is there is still a place in this game for older gentlemen,” O'Neill told BBC Scotland. “Despite the tactics that are involved now in the game, I do believe someone with some sort of experience can still play a part in proceedings.”"
"“When I first stepped in way back in October, that was my main concern. Not having managed for some time, there are different ways of playing the game. “That was my concern, not about destroying anything I might have done 20-odd years ago but being too old to be in this game. That is certainly a great sense of pride for me now.”"
"O'Neill says his focus is purely on that match, rather than what comes next, but says the last eight months have shown him he still has something to offer. Asked if there will be any talks after the Scottish Cup final, the Northern Irishman said “I genuinely do not know” what next week holds. “I would not have expected anyone to say anything to me anyway,” he added."
Read at www.bbc.com
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