O'Neill quits Celtic

Strachan to take over

Celtic announced yesterday that Martin O'Neill was stepping down as manager for family reasons, with Gordon Strachan replacing him as team boss at the Scottish Premier League club.

In a statement Celtic said that O'Neill would leave after Saturday's Scottish FA Cup final against Dundee United, as would his assistant John Robertson and coach Steve Walford.

The club also confirmed that former Southampton manager and Scotland international Strachan would be the new Celtic manager on a 12-month rolling contract from June 1.

O'Neill had been expected to end his five-year spell in charge to care for his wife who is seriously ill.

"I am leaving Celtic purely for personal reasons and I am extremely sorry to be departing in such circumstances," the 53-year-old said.

Celtic lost their league title to Rangers on Sunday in the final two minutes of the season but in O'Neill's five years in charge he won six domestic trophies, including three league championships, and a place in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.

He had also been tipped widely to become the next Manchester United manager after Alex Ferguson.

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