Martin O'Neill's return to Celtic produced one of the most dramatic finishes to a Scottish Premiership season in recent memory, and now attention turns to what a complete campaign under the 74-year-old could bring after he was confirmed as permanent manager.
Celtic came within roughly ten minutes of surrendering their title before Daizen Maeda struck a late winner and Callum Osmand added a chaotic goal to seal the championship in a gripping final-day clash with Hearts. A Scottish Cup win followed a week later, capping off a turbulent season during which O'Neill had already served two separate interim spells at the club where he remains a revered figure.
Despite the successful conclusion to the campaign, Celtic's modest transfer activity had again become a talking point heading into summer. That narrative eased somewhat with the club-record signing of striker Kasper Hogh and encouraging pre-season form from fellow new forward Camilo Duran. O'Neill has spoken of wanting to push forward without settling for what has already been achieved.
Celtic's 82 points last season marked their lowest tally as champions across a full campaign since they matched that figure during a one-sided 2017-18 title run. Of those points, O'Neill's two spells in charge accounted for 59 across 23 league matches — a rate of about 2.6 points per game. Extrapolated over a full 38-game season, that pace would produce roughly 99 points, a total in line with O'Neill's title-winning tallies from his first stint in charge more than two decades ago, when he posted figures of 97, 103, 97, 98 and 92 across five full seasons, claiming the league three times.
O'Neill's side also went unbeaten in cup competitions during his time in charge last term, reaching the League Cup final — lost under Wilfried Nancy — before winning the Scottish Cup during his second spell as caretaker. Had Celtic retained O'Neill through the entirety of last season rather than appointing Nancy, it's plausible the club could have secured a domestic treble with an even larger league advantage.
With a full pre-season now behind him, expectations for the level of performance will rise. O'Neill's coaching staff remains largely unchanged, with Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus continuing in their roles. O'Neill, who prefers to delegate much of the on-pitch coaching, has suggested he wants tactical flexibility this season, hinting at using Hogh and Duran together in attack in a shift away from Celtic's usual 4-3-3 setup. The additions of set-piece coach Ross Grant from Hearts further points to increased focus on dead-ball situations.
Recruitment remains a point of scrutiny. Of the 17 players brought in over the past year, only Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren are expected to start regularly next season, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signed a new deal after contributing significantly in the second half of last season. The departures of Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi have frustrated supporters, though the arrivals of Duran and Hogh — costing a combined estimated £15 million — bring notable Champions League experience. Duran scored five of his 15 goals for Qarabag in that competition last season, while Hogh matched that tally for Bodo/Glimt as they reached the last 16.
Europe remains a pressing concern after Celtic's Champions League qualifying exit to Kairat Almaty last year and subsequent Europa League elimination by Stuttgart, despite an away win in Germany that, along with victories at Feyenoord and a draw at Bologna, underlined O'Neill's continued European pedigree. A two-legged Champions League play-off on 18-19 and 25-26 August will determine whether Celtic return to the competition's top tier, something O'Neill will be eager to achieve given the financial and competitive stakes involved, particularly with Arne Engels linked with a departure.
Before that European test, Celtic's Premiership title defence begins with a home clash against Dundee on 3 August, followed by a trip to Kilmarnock the following weekend.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.