Overview
- O’Neill’s 1,000th match comes tonight against Stuttgart in the Europa League play-off first leg, with formal induction into the LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club set for May.
- The LMA recognition places the 73-year-old in an elite group of around 40 managers that includes Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp.
- Serving as LMA chair, O’Neill said he was pleasantly surprised when director Sue McKellar informed him of the honour, calling it “really nice.”
- Since returning to Celtic this season, O’Neill has steered a surge in results — 34 points from 36 in the Premiership — and kept European progress alive with two wins, one draw and one defeat.
- Stuttgart arrive as a stern opponent — fourth in the Bundesliga and in the German Cup semi-finals — though their Europa away form has stuttered with defeats at Basel, Fenerbahce and Roma without scoring.