"Veteran" manager Martin O'Neill (73) has again taken temporary charge to steady a wobbling Celtic.
Celtic announced on its official website on the 6th (Korea time) that it had terminated the contract with manager Wilfried Nancy.
Celtic has brought back Martin O'Neill, who previously led the team to the top, as the manager responsible for the remainder of this season's schedule.
Nancy's tenure at Celtic was very short. After signing a two-year, six-month contract with Celtic on Dec. 4 last year and officially taking over as manager, he was notified of his dismissal after only 33 days. His record over eight matches in charge was 2 wins and 6 losses. He left only the dishonor of being the shortest-serving manager in Celtic history. The previous record was held by John Barnes, who managed the team for about eight months from 1999 to 2000.
The dismissal was a predicted development.
Celtic under Nancy's management was unsettled from the start. They lost both of the first two games played immediately after his appointment. It was the first time in club history that a new manager's first two games ended in back-to-back losses. The losing streak later extended to four games. A four-game league losing streak had not happened since 1978.
They looked to have bounced back by winning consecutive matches in rounds 18 and 19 of the league, but that momentum did not last long. Celtic under Nancy fell into a losing streak again. The decisive blow came in the Old Firm derby held on the 3rd, when they lost 1-3 to Rangers, confirming the managerial change.
This change is expected to have a considerable impact on Yang Hyun-jun, who is playing at Celtic. After taking over, Nancy abandoned the previous back four and implemented a 3-4-1-2 formation. In that process, winger Yang Hyun-jun was deployed as a right wing-back.
Yang Hyun-jun, who had not had many opportunities to play early in the season, started seven of eight matches under Nancy. He also scored two goals.
But Yang Hyun-jun's situation was different during O'Neill's previous interim spell. At that time, Celtic was based on a back four, so Yang started only three times in eight matches. He played the full 90 minutes only once.
With O'Neill's return, Yang Hyun-jun will inevitably face fierce competition for his position again.
O'Neill led Celtic from 2000 to 2005, winning the league title three times. He also served as interim manager to steady the team after Brendan Rodgers stepped down in October last year. He later handed the role to Nancy but has been recalled again.
In an interview with the BBC, O'Neill said, "I am really pleased to have been asked to take charge of the team once more. It is a great honour. I look forward to the moment of working with the players again."
The coaching staff composition has also taken shape. Sean Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus will assist O'Neill.
O'Neill emphasized, "There is still much to look forward to. The league title target remains. Both the coaching staff and the players will give everything for the club."
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