Uses the years of EBTs, side letters and dual contracts, which ultimately led to the original Rangers going bust, owing tens of millions - to draw comparisons between two managers on-field achievements. One was playing to the rules the other was financially doped.
Alex McLeish and the myth of Martin O’Neill
https://t.co/E6YWcMg2da
By Mark Dingwall
A myth has grown up amongst Celtic fans that in his first stint at Parkhead that Martin O’Neill swept all before him. In fact, Alex McLeish trounced him in direct managerial battles coming out seven trophies to four ahead of the Northern Irishman.
Both men would win seven trophies each during their tenures - O’Neill 2000-2005 and McLeish 2001-2006. O’Neill\s first season saw him win a Treble against Dick Advocaat.
However, in direct conflict McLeish bettered O’Neill considerably.
It should also be noted that in Advocaat’s reign, before McLeish came in, the club overspent in his four and a half years by £124million - that is revenue versus expenditure - and I’ve always argued that fundamentally undermined the club and led ultimately to the administration event.
Having that financial handicap made McLeish’s triumphs all the more remarkable.
THE TALE OF THE TAPE
In the years of direct competition under these two managers both won the League and the Cup twice and McLeish winning the League Cup three times - Livingston’s League Cup win in 2003-4 stopping complete Old Firm dominance in this period.
Alex McLeish won 7 major trophies while managing Rangers F.C. between 2001 and 2006.
His complete trophy haul consists of the following honours:
2 Scottish Premier League Titles: 2002–03, 2004–05
2 Scottish Cups: 2001–02, 2002–03
3 Scottish League Cups: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
Notable Achievements
The Domestic Treble: In the 2002–03 season, he led the club to a clean sweep of all three domestic trophies.
European History: In addition to his domestic silverware, McLeish became the first manager to guide a Scottish club into the knockout stages (last 16) of the UEFA Champions League during the 2005–06 campaign.
Martin O'Neill won seven trophies during his highly first managerial tenure at Celtic.
His trophy haul between 2000 and 2005 consisted of thesemajor domestic honors:
Scottish Premiership Titles (3): 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2003–04.
Scottish Cups (3): 2000–01, 2003���04, and 2004–05.
Scottish League Cup (1): 2000–01.
Note: In his debut 2000–01 season, O'Neill memorably guided the club to a domestic treble, becoming the first Celtic manager to achieve this since Jock Stein. He also took the team to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville
@PaulJohnDykes@BunbegB@DrMcHeid McCoist got the ball rolling with this excuse making dressed up as corruption when the post split fixtures were announced.Mcinnes cracks started to appear when he raged into the Celtic technical area at tynecastle after Nygren’s goal. Wee guy syndrome from both of them.
@CelticBlog2018@MaccormickPeggy I agree that he’s not done enough, yet, to merit being manager of Celtic. His early days in management show promise, though.
@RohlOut1690 LNS established guilt. It was the SFA that decided no sporting advantage was gained. Of course, it was them that looked the other way with the dual contracts and side letters, so, of course they’d say no sporting advantage. Happy to help.
@AngelaHaggerty Very unsporting of them as well, exiting stage left as soon as they could and not applauding us onto the podium as champions…disgusting…
@AdamMorrisEdin You blew a 9 point cushion with 9 games to play. In the final fixture of the season it was 1-1 at half time. As it stood hearts were champions at that time. Celtic won the game 3-1, end of story. Nobody cheated you. You just weren’t good enough to see it out when it mattered most
@Lattaballix Mcinnes was acting like a wee ticket all Sesson, thinks he’s a hard man. Absolutely glorious to see him get ripped apart in that 2nd half and then run away….that was his best chance he’ll ever get and he shat the bed.
I fucking hate Martin O’Neil. He’s came across very stupid and naive here. A man of all his experience and he’s lying through his teeth. He’s just deflecting. He’s a coward of a man. Lost all respect in the football world now after this.