Martin O’Neill being centre stage alongside Yang as the South Korean winger posed for the cameras at Lennoxtown after signing a new contract to remain at Celtic until summer 2030, hints at the interim Celtic manager looking to extend his stay at the club…
The Celtic support will march with O’Neill to Hampden
The Celtic support will march with O’Neill to Hampden tomorrow as Martin looks to win the Scottish Cup against Dunfermline Athletic to complete a sensational and unlikely double for the Hoops.
This week Martin O’Neill has led from the front defending Celtic and also the supporters from the bitter attacks of bad losers from both Tynecastle and Ibrox. Facing up to the attacks and calling out the garbage is such a fleshing thing to witness from the support who know that the Celtic Board will say nothing.
They might have got away with it if it wasn’t for Martin O’Neill, who also revealed that his mobile number had maliciously been leaked – a criminal offence right there – and as a result he received around 250 horrible messages and text from our supporters of bitter rivals.
Martin O’Neill will discuss his future at Celtic with Dermot Desmond next week
Martin also revealed that he’d talk to Dermot Desmond next week about his future, refusing to draw a line under his second interim spell by saying he’d definitely be leaving after the Cup Final bring the domestic season to a close.
Instead he is standing alongside Hyunjun Yang as a delighted looking Celtic winger poses for the cameras having signed his new contract, one that incidentally is well deserved.
“I love this club and my future is here,” Yang
Not only has Yang signed a new and improved contract he’s also picked up another Scottish Premiership winners medal and has been recalled to the South Korean squad for the 2026 World Cup – after of course he helps Celtic fight it out tomorrow for the Scottish Cup against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline side.
Speaking to Celtic TV earlier today Yang said: “I’m so happy to sign the new contract. I love this club and my future is here.
“I’m happy, and though the season was a little bit hard, we are Champions and hopefully next season it will be easier.
“I also want to show better performances in the European games.”
Yang thanks the Celtic support
Yang also had a message for the Celtic support. The 23-year-old, who was recently voted Young Player of the Year by the fans, said: “I know when I play, the fans always supported me and I’m really happy to be here, so I want to say thank you very much.”
Martin O’Neill recalled the chaotic events on the closing day of the transfer window last summer when Yang was down south about to complete a £3m deal to join Birmingham City. That fell through with Chris Davies instead opting to bring Paddy Roberts in and the former Celt has been a popular player for the Championship side.
Celtic’s most consistent winger this season
Whatever the circumstances were at the time, won’t concern Martin O’Neill now but he’s certainly pleased that as things transpired, Yang had to remain at Celtic, liking it or not. And to be fair to him, he simply got on with the job and has probably been Celtic’s most consistent winger this season.
“I’m absolutely delighted, because on transfer deadline day he was down at Birmingham City, so I’m pleased that didn’t go through,” Martin O’Neill admitted.
“He maybe just needed a bit of confidence-boosting,” Martin O’Neill
“Obviously, I didn’t know him at that time, but there was something about him in training that you felt he’s got a bit of something – he can go past players, he can deal with the ball, all those particular things.
“He maybe just needed a bit of confidence-boosting as much as anything else, but he’s done wonderfully well.’
“It’s how you deal with the situations. I think that confidence is a major thing and if you’re going into games with a lack of confidence as a wide player, and I know this myself, the last thing you want to do is lose the ball a couple of times.
“Because you just go into your shell and you don’t want to take people on in case you lose it again. What you’ll do is just do the safe thing and pass the ball back.
“He’s done wonderfully well,” Martin O’Neill
“So, a lot of that there definitely needs encouragement, but then when you know that you have it and you feel that people are on your side, that’s the lovely thing about it, and he’s done wonderfully well.”
Martin O’Neill added: “The reason that he has done well is that he’s got big, big goals for us at big moments, and he’s brave as well. He takes the ball under pressure. The parts of his game that we talk about when we go through his clips each week, sometimes we ask, can you do this, can you do this.
“He’s super and he’s worked his way back into the South Korean squad.”
“He tries to improve his game,” Yang
Martin O’Neill has no doubt that there is more to come from Yang in a Celtic jersey. “The very obvious thing is improvement. He tries to improve his game, he tries to visualise situations when he’s got the ball wide, when players are coming in to crowd him out, what does he do there?
“The last thing you want to do is come inside and flick a silly little ball to somebody that doesn’t exist. So those are the types of things that I think he definitely can improve in, but in terms of confidence, he’s got it this season.
“People believe in him and that’s very important, but the overall improvement in his game, I think he can take it a stage further, and obviously that’s what I’m hoping.”
And we’re all hoping you’re hanging around to mentor him Martin! One more year, please…
✍️ Yang extends his stay with Celtic until 2030 🇰🇷#Yang2030 | #CelticFC🍀🏆
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 22, 2026
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