'Iconic' Martin O'Neill backed as next Celtic manager as star he offered life-changing chance to gives big sell
Goalkeeper effusive in his praise of veteran manager as decision over Parkhead future looms
Viljami Sinisalo has given interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill his full backing to land the job next season - should he decide to extend his stay in the dugout after the conclusion of Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline.
O’Neill is yet to hold talks with Celtic’s principle shareholder Dermot Desmond about his future. Following the club’s dramatic Premiership title triumph last weekend, the 74-year-old was praised by captain Callum McGregor for his expert man-management skills and even joked that the Northern Irishman deserves a statue for reviving their season.
It has been a chaotic campaign for the Scottish champions on and off the pitch, having trailed long-time leaders Hearts for a long stretch amid an ongoing feud between supporters and the club’s hierarchy, which threatened to cast a dark shadow over their season. Add in the departure of Brendan Rodgers in October and the ill-fated Wilfried Nancy reign over the festive period, it was left to O’Neill to stabilise the club and ultimately secure the league title in thrilling fashion.
Celtic are within one match of clinching a domestic double should they manage to overcome Neil Lennon’s second-tier Pars side at Hampden tomorrow.
And one man who has a lot to thank O’Neill for is current first-choice goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, who reckons such an “iconic” name in football should be strongly considered for the permanent manager position moving forward.
“We're all so thankful (to Martin),” Sinisalo said. “I'm thankful personally for the opportunity that he gave me against Stuttgart and then the following weekend against Rangers. I’m just really, really proud to be included in that team of his. He's an iconic name in the game. Everyone understands that. I've seen the manager speak about it. In his first team talk against Falkirk when he came in, he probably didn't understand that everyone knew who he was.
“He probably thought some of the lads didn't know who he was, but the younger ones definitely did. It's a name in football that everyone respects, and he’s done so much in the game. So, just to be around him and and see how he goes about his business has been brilliant. I'll be forever grateful for the opportunities he's gave me because, in a way, he has changed stuff in my life with the opportunity of coming in and and playing for him. So it's been great. I can't really speak highly enough.”
‘I wouldn’t be against’ O’Neill staying on as Celtic manager
On the veteran manager’s future at the club and whether he would like to see O’Neill remain in charge next term, Sinisalo admitted: “I wouldn't be against it, no, but it's not for me to decide. The only thing I can control, whoever the manager is, is to try and do my best, and that comes from the daily work that you do on the pitch at training, whether it's in the gym or whatever, and then hopefully you can try and put that into performances.
“When you have people around you that trust you and give you that belief and real confidence to go and execute, it really helps. That's something he's done for a big group of players that we have here. He's done that and really helped us get over the line. So I can't really speak highly enough of him. He's a brilliant man to be around.”
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