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25th May 2005, 13:22
Martin O'Neill has confirmed he is stepping down as Celtic manager with Gordon Strachan replacing him at the helm.
The Northern Irishman's future has been the subject of intense speculation in the last few days.
O'Neill is understood to be quitting his role at Parkhead to look after his ill wife Geraldine.
The former Leicester manager's assistants John Robertson and Steve Walford have also left the Celtic coaching staff.
Strachan is set to take charge at Celtic from June 1 on a rolling 12-month deal and his first task will be to wrestle the SPL title back from Rangers.
"It is with great reluctance that Celtic plc today announce that manager Martin O'Neill is leaving the club for family reasons after five years in charge," read a club statement.
O'Neill admitted he was leaving the Glasgow giants because of personal reasons.
"I am leaving Celtic purely for personal reasons and I am extremely sorry to be departing in such circumstances," said O'Neill.
"I would like to thank sincerely Dermot Desmond and the Celtic board for giving me the opportunity to manage this fantastic club five years ago.
"It has been an honour and privilege to have served the club and its supporters during that time and being part of Celtic history.
"My time at Celtic has been most rewarding and I have been privileged to have worked alongside a large number of very talented and committed people throughout the club.
"My special thanks to John Robertson and Steve Walford."
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn paid tribute to the role played by O'Neill at the club.
"Martin's contribution to Celtic has been quite immense," said Quinn.
"He has played a central role in the club's enormous success over the past five seasons and he goes with sincere best wishes from everyone associated with the club.
"Whilst it will come as a great disappointment that he is leaving, we fully respect the reasons behind his decision.
"He has continued working for the past 18 months despite great pressure and personal stress.
"I've said many times that people often underestimate the emotional attachment that Martin has for Celtic, and that strength of feeling is undoubtedly reciprocated by the fans, staff, players and the board.
"He had proved himself one of the great Celtic managers and his place in the history of the club is assured.
"He goes with our gratitude and best wishes."
O'Neill has done a remarkable job at Celtic since taking over in the summer of 2000, helping the side to three SPL titles and two Scottish Cup successes.
The 53-year-old won the treble in his first season before leading Celtic to the Uefa Cup final in 2003 where they lost to Porto.
O'Neill will take charge of The Bhoys for the last time in this weekend's Scottish Cup final with Dundee United before handing over the reins to Strachan.
Strachan has been out of work since leaving Southampton in February 2004 due to health reasons.
The former Aberdeen star and Scottish international has been waiting for the right opportunity to get back into management.
He has been linked with several jobs, but he will now be given the stiff task of replacing O'Neill at Parkhead.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell confirmed Strachan's appointment saying: "I can confirm we are delighted that Gordon has accepted the manager's position at Celtic and I think he will do very well for the club."
O'Neill has backed the appointment of Strachan as his replacement
"We now have a new manager in place and he will do wonderfully well," added O'Neill.
"He will take over and will inherit some really good footballers and one or two things that are sometimes not so good."
The Northern Irishman's future has been the subject of intense speculation in the last few days.
O'Neill is understood to be quitting his role at Parkhead to look after his ill wife Geraldine.
The former Leicester manager's assistants John Robertson and Steve Walford have also left the Celtic coaching staff.
Strachan is set to take charge at Celtic from June 1 on a rolling 12-month deal and his first task will be to wrestle the SPL title back from Rangers.
"It is with great reluctance that Celtic plc today announce that manager Martin O'Neill is leaving the club for family reasons after five years in charge," read a club statement.
O'Neill admitted he was leaving the Glasgow giants because of personal reasons.
"I am leaving Celtic purely for personal reasons and I am extremely sorry to be departing in such circumstances," said O'Neill.
"I would like to thank sincerely Dermot Desmond and the Celtic board for giving me the opportunity to manage this fantastic club five years ago.
"It has been an honour and privilege to have served the club and its supporters during that time and being part of Celtic history.
"My time at Celtic has been most rewarding and I have been privileged to have worked alongside a large number of very talented and committed people throughout the club.
"My special thanks to John Robertson and Steve Walford."
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn paid tribute to the role played by O'Neill at the club.
"Martin's contribution to Celtic has been quite immense," said Quinn.
"He has played a central role in the club's enormous success over the past five seasons and he goes with sincere best wishes from everyone associated with the club.
"Whilst it will come as a great disappointment that he is leaving, we fully respect the reasons behind his decision.
"He has continued working for the past 18 months despite great pressure and personal stress.
"I've said many times that people often underestimate the emotional attachment that Martin has for Celtic, and that strength of feeling is undoubtedly reciprocated by the fans, staff, players and the board.
"He had proved himself one of the great Celtic managers and his place in the history of the club is assured.
"He goes with our gratitude and best wishes."
O'Neill has done a remarkable job at Celtic since taking over in the summer of 2000, helping the side to three SPL titles and two Scottish Cup successes.
The 53-year-old won the treble in his first season before leading Celtic to the Uefa Cup final in 2003 where they lost to Porto.
O'Neill will take charge of The Bhoys for the last time in this weekend's Scottish Cup final with Dundee United before handing over the reins to Strachan.
Strachan has been out of work since leaving Southampton in February 2004 due to health reasons.
The former Aberdeen star and Scottish international has been waiting for the right opportunity to get back into management.
He has been linked with several jobs, but he will now be given the stiff task of replacing O'Neill at Parkhead.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell confirmed Strachan's appointment saying: "I can confirm we are delighted that Gordon has accepted the manager's position at Celtic and I think he will do very well for the club."
O'Neill has backed the appointment of Strachan as his replacement
"We now have a new manager in place and he will do wonderfully well," added O'Neill.
"He will take over and will inherit some really good footballers and one or two things that are sometimes not so good."