Things stalled under Rodgers’ leadership. Celtic were dreadful in the 2-0 defeat at Dens Park and not much better in the 3-1 defeat at Tynecastle.
This proved to be the final straw for major shareholder Dermot Desmond and the board.
It’s been night and day since O’Neill returned to the club where he was revered in his previous stint between 2000 and 2005.
Where Celtic had struggled for goals and creativity in the latter stages of the Rodgers era, they have come under the former Republic of Ireland manager.
Players like Austin Trusty, Callum Osmond and Johnny Kenny were given a chance, who were not given much attention earlier. Guys like Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, who were shadows of their former selves at the beginning of the season, suddenly seem to be reborn.
It now looks a lot like the Celtic of a year ago, when Rodgers’ team were at the peak of their powers, domestic opposition aside, looking like a very decent Champions League team.
While league leaders Hearts have, by their own admission, lost their ‘swagger’ in recent weeks, Celtic have rediscovered their ‘swagger’.
“There has been a reaction,” O’Neill told Sky Sports after the win over Hibs. “Some players can really play this game. They’ve just lost a little bit of confidence.
“Half the team won’t know who I am. They’re thinking, here comes this gentleman, quite old, gray haired. Who is he? And has Father Christmas come early? But being around young people has re-energized me.
“I’ve often thought that, you know, if you can praise players well enough, they’ll accept a little bit of criticism even in this day and age.”
<a href