Roy Keane highlights Celtic board concern despite title success as Gary Neville admits Hoops dominance

Former Celtic midfielder Roy Keane has praised his former mentor Martin O’Neill for restoring togetherness at Celtic following their Scottish Premiership triumph, while fellow former Manchester United star Gary Neville admitted the title success felt almost unavoidable.

The Manchester United legends were among those watching Celtic’s decisive final-day clash against Hearts, alongside former Arsenal striker and ex-Celtic player Ian Wright and former England Lionesses midfielder Jill Scott. The panel reflected on Celtic’s dramatic 3-1 victory, a result that secured the club’s 56th league championship.

Keane, who previously worked under O’Neill at Nottingham Forest and with the Republic of Ireland national side, believes the experienced manager deserves enormous recognition for steadying the ship at Celtic Park. O’Neill returned to the dugout twice during the campaign and was ultimately tasked with rebuilding stability after the troubled spell under former boss Wilfried Nancy. Just five months later, O’Neill guided Celtic to another title, securing his fourth Scottish league crown with the club.

Keane applauded both the team and O’Neill’s leadership, insisting Celtic’s resilience proved crucial in getting over the line.

Keane acknowledged Hearts’ strong challenge but credited Celtic for showing determination when it mattered most. He explained that despite managerial upheaval and off-field distractions involving supporters and the board, O’Neill’s experience allowed him to unify the club and keep everyone pulling in the same direction.

According to Keane, O’Neill’s biggest strength lies in his ability to bring people together.

He pointed to the connection between the supporters and the team after full-time as evidence of the manager’s impact, arguing that his leadership helped Celtic navigate a difficult period and rediscover stability.

Neville, meanwhile, compared Celtic’s title-winning mentality to the famous habit Manchester United had under legendary manager Alex Ferguson of finding late victories in key moments.

The former defender suggested there was an inevitability about Celtic eventually crossing the finish line, similar to the “Fergie Time” reputation United once carried.

Keane expanded on O’Neill’s achievement, praising the 74-year-old for stepping into a difficult environment without bringing in his own trusted coaching team.

He said O’Neill quickly adapted, earned the respect of unfamiliar staff and players, handled tensions involving the board and fans, and immediately got results.

For Keane, O’Neill’s ability to revive a club facing uncertainty and lead them to silverware in a short period represents elite-level management, particularly with Celtic still chasing further success in the upcoming cup final.