Martin O'Neill admits missing Celtic manager role as he opens up on his Parkhead love affair 17 years on

Martin O’Neill might have managed the Republic of Ireland but part of his heart will always remain in Scotland.

A particular corner of it, to be specific.

It’s been 17 years since O’Neill’s five-year reign at Celtic ended but the bond has never been broken.

The Northern Irish manager’s silver laden spell in charge has made him a fans’ favourite forever but these days the feeling is mutual.

O’Neill is a supporter as well – and he admitted his family are even bigger die hards now than they were when he was in the dugout.

But he might not win a popularity vote in his own house if he’s up against current boss Ange Postecoglou.

The 70-year-old is looking forward to both of his adopted countries clashing in Dublin in the Nations League tomorrow and he said: “I have two daughters and one of them is now a bigger Celtic fan now than when I was manager, which is a major disappointment to me!

“She’s running around, 'Ange, Ange, Ange'. She’s got a three year old who is in front of the TV shouting, ‘come on Celtic!’”

O’Neill is now based in London but the nostalgia circuit drags him back along with punditry duties.

And he admits Glasgow still feels like home – and it always will.

O’Neill said: “I’ve honestly missed it so much. Seriously.

“My wife, who hated every place she’d been to in her life, absolutely loved it in Scotland.

“If she ever goes to heaven – which she won’t – she’d complain about that as well!

“But she loved it here and I was the same. It was great.

“You’d wake up and look out the window and not know if it was June or October.

“But that didn’t matter to us coming from Northern Ireland.

“I came up to do the Motherwell game [on the final day of the season] with Stiliyan Petrov and the atmosphere and the singing, it