Martin O'Neill stays as Celtic boss on one-year deal after doubts

Martin O'Neill is staying on as Celtic manager. The 74-year-old has signed a one-year deal to lead the Scottish champions beyond what started as a short-term return.

O'Neill said the call "didn't take that long". As long as Celtic wanted him, he was happy to continue, he told reporters ahead of Sunday's Premiership trip to Motherwell BBC.

It is a quick change of mood. O'Neill had admitted "it might be time to wrap it up" after a bruising run of three straight defeats. That sequence included back-to-back losses to Rangers and a 3-1 home defeat by Ferencvaros in the Europa League BBC.

He reflected on his future over the international break before confirming he would stay Sky Sports. Leaving at this particular stage would have been poor, he said. He still has "great enthusiasm" for football.

The Rangers results stung. Celtic suffered two defeats by their Glasgow rivals in the month before O'Neill discussed his future. The 1-0 home loss was their first dropped points in the league this season.

Last season explains why the club turned back to him. O'Neill took charge for two interim spells and finished with a league and Scottish Cup double. That is the league title plus the national cup in the same season.

His connection with Celtic runs deeper. His first period in charge, between 2000 and 2005, brought seven trophies. He said he would "happily have stayed on" after that interim work, and that spell ended with seven wins in eight games.

Now the focus is the run ahead. O'Neill said Celtic face nine games in a 28-day stretch before the next international break. He said he has belief in the team and their target should be trying to win the league.

What makes this stand out is the simplicity of it. No long negotiation. No farewell timed for sentiment. A manager in his seventies looked at a difficult week, weighed walking away, and decided he wanted more of the noise, the pressure and the Sunday-to-Thursday rhythm that still pulls him in.