Martin O’Neill revealed his shock at getting the call to return to Celtic.
The legendary manager was announced as the club’s new interim boss on Monday night following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation.
O’Neill will be supported by his former midfielder Shaun Maloney at Celtic Park.
Rodgers stepped down after Celtic dropped eight points adrift in the title race following a defeat to leaders Hearts on Sunday.
The club contacted O’Neill to take over on an interim basis on Monday afternoon, he has revealed.
Speaking to talkSPORT’s Jim White on Tuesday morning, he explained: “I got a call late afternoon, early evening yesterday from Celtic from Dermot Desmond, and Dermot asked me would I step in because Brendan had resigned from the football club.
“It’s obviously the kind of shock news really as much as anything else. Shocked me as well too.
“But just to step into the breach and just do it on a short-term basis until a permanent manager is appointed.”
When asked if he hesitated to take up the offer, O’Neill added: “A very good point. Like everything else, I took a gasp of breath and thought, is this real or surreal?
“It’s difficult really to turn down somebody who gave you the job in the first place when he had really some great options a way back 25 years ago.
“So from that viewpoint, maybe by the time that I pulled myself off the floor, I probably thought then maybe I should do it.
“I think they were probably stunned by the news that Brendan left and as a consequence, they maybe might be obviously seeking a permanent manager.
“So this is like a short-term, I’m not going to say a fix, but it’s certainly a short-term fit. Whether it’s a fix or not, it’s another thing.”
O’Neill previously spent five years in charge of the Scottish giants between 2000 and 2005.
During that time, he won three league titles and guided the club to a UEFA Cup final.
However, the 73-year-old has no plans to succeed Rodgers on a permanent basis.
Asked what interim means, he said: “Interim does mean that to me. Absolutely. It’s really as simple as that.
“Celtic are looking for, I would have assumed, a young coach coming in now who has a proven ability and would be wanting to pull the club forward now from their position as it stands.
“That’s how I would view it and I suppose if I was a Celtic fan, I would absolutely see it.”
The former Aston Villa boss continued: “I’ve always said to you on our programme that I have to win football matches and that’s no different.
“At Celtic, it’s always been the case. So you have to try and win some football matches. If we can do that, if we can win some football matches and give us a bit of buying time as it were until a new man is appointed.”
O’Neill is set to take charge of his first match back at the helm on Wednesday as Celtic host Falkirk.
He then faces Old Firm rivals Rangers at Hampden Park in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Discussing his opening run of matches, he joked: “If I’d seen the fixture list, I possibly then wouldn’t have taken it. That’s supposed to be a joke, Jim.
“It is what it is and it’s come as a bit of a shock. I think you can hear from my voice as much as anything else.
“I’m working with Shaun Maloney. Sean and I go back years and years ago when he was a young player with me, but he is experienced in management now and he’s worked as well too with lots of really good coaches.”
As for his previous spell at Celtic, O’Neill added: “I had a super time there. It was an absolute privilege to have managed them before. My time had gone.
“I think I said that to you a long time ago. I can’t emphasise this enough, this is a short term until a permanent manager is appointed.
“I think that Celtic will be searching around, as I said to you, for that young manager with proven ability who has got a bit of a track record. I will just sit in there and keep the seat warm for him.”
Sunday’s semi-final will be followed by a Europa League trip to Midtylland before the visit of Kilmarnock on November 9 ahead of the international break.
talksport.com
