MARTIN O’NEILL’S Celtic managerial career in derby encounters kicked off with an unforgettable 6-2 triumph in August 2000 and concluded with another victory, this time 2-1, in April 2005.
In total in his first five years, the Irishman was involved in 27 all-Glasgow confrontations and he enjoyed 16 wins while suffering eight losses. After three comeback games, the record now shows 18 successes after two domestic Cup knock-outs.
At the age of 74, O’Neill prepares for today’s noon kick-off and his fourth meeting against Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side with two successes and a draw from the previous three outings spread over his two interim periods in charge.
The veteran gaffer picked up where he left off two decades earlier when he embraced triumph in his first return against Rangers when he guided the Hoops to a 3-1 extra-time Premier Sports League Cup semi-final victory at Hampden in November.
THE START – AND END – OF SOMETHING GOOD…Henrik Larsson celebrates his second goal in the 6-2 romp ovr Rangers at Parkhead in August 2000 and (below) Craig Bellamy comes close to being overcome by delight after his winner in the 2-1 victory at Ibrox in April 2005. The home supporters don’t share his joy.
He was back in place following the disastrous 33-day reign – six defeats in eight games – of Wilfried Nancy for the double-header in Govan in March
O’Neill has already admitted it is unlikely he will experience anything like his first clash with Rangers – the game now known as The Demolition Derby.
Dick Advocaat’s team went into the confrontation after running away with the league the previous season in which the Hoops had parted company with rookie boss John Barnes and had appointed Kenny Dalglish as caretaker in February through to the end of the term.
Doubles from Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson and contributions from Stiliyan Petrov and Paul Lambert saw the hosts thunder to a memorable 6-2 triumph.
The five-year span concluded at Ibrox in April 2005 when strikes from Petrov and Craig Bellamy gave the visitors a well-deserved 2-1 win.
A repeat this time around would be more than acceptable.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Martin O’Neill hugs skipper Callum McGregor after Celtic’s 3-1 extra-time victory in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final in November – 20 years after the Irishman’s previous game against Rangers.
O’NEILL’S COMPLETE RECORD v RANGERS
2000/2001
Premiership:
CELTIC 6 Rangers 2
Rangers 5 CELTIC 1
CELTIC 1 Rangers 0
Rangers 0 CELTIC 3
League Cup: Semi-final
CELTIC 3 Rangers 1
2001/2002
Premiership:
Rangers 0 CELTIC 2
CELTIC 2 Rangers 1
Rangers 1 CELTIC 1
CELTIC 1 Rangers 1
League Cup: Semi-final:
Rangers 2 CELTIC 1
Scottish Cup Final
CELTIC 2 Rangers 3
2002/2003
Premiership:
CELTIC 3 Rangers 3
Rangers 3 CELTIC 2
CELTIC 1 Rangers 0
Rangers 1 CELTIC 2
League Cup Final:
CELTIC 1 Rangers 2
2003/2004
Premiership:
Rangers 0 CELTIC 1
CELTIC 3 Rangers 0
Rangers 1 CELTIC 2
CELTIC 1 Rangers 0
Scottish Cup:
CELTIC 1 Rangers 0
2004/2005
Premiership:
CELTIC 1 Rangers 0
Rangers 2 CELTIC 0
CELTIC 0 Rangers 2
Rangers 1 CELTIC 2
League Cup:
Rangers 2 CELTIC 1 (aet)
Scottish Cup:
CELTIC 2 Rangers 1
2025/26
Premiership:
Rangers 2 CELTIC 2
League Cup:
CELTIC 3 Rangers 1 (AET)
Scottish Cup
Rangers 0 CELTIC 0 (AET; Celtic win 4-2 on pens)
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best in action images from Celtic v Rangers this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
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