Martin O'Neill reiterated that he is open to remaining in charge of Celtic next season, having capped off the Bhoys' 2025-26 campaign by winning a domestic double.

After edging out Hearts to win the Scottish Premiership on the final matchday last weekend, Celtic defeated second-tier Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in Saturday's Scottish Cup final.

It is the seventh time in the last 10 seasons that Celtic have won a league and cup double, and the third time they have done so under O'Neill (also in 2000-01 and 2003-04 in his first stint).

There were multiple points of the season where any silverware – nevermind a double – had looked unlikely.

Brendan Rodgers explosively stepped down in October, and after a short stint with O'Neill as interim head coach, Celtic endured a miserable spell under Wilfried Nancy, who lost six of his eight games – including the League Cup final versus St. Mirren – before being sacked.

O'Neill then returned for his second stint of the season, and the 74-year-old has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that he is open to staying on for 2026-27.

He repeated those claims on Saturday, telling BBC Scotland at Hampden Park: "If the season was to start tomorrow, I couldn't do it, but the season doesn't start tomorrow. 

"The Scottish season does start quickly though, and I'm getting old!

"What I have is a passion for the game. I don't think that will ever leave me, even in my final days. That's always been me. I have a desire to win.

"I've done the learning in the last three or four months. Some tactics I saw befuddled me, but I'm learning. It's good at my age."

Asked if he had held any talks with Celtic's hierarchy since the Premiership title win, O'Neill said: "There were no discussions about that at all.

"Next week I might get to speak to the owner. If you're asking me whether I could step in after a three-day holiday, I wouldn't have that about me.

"[Majority owner] Dermot Desmond brought me back in the first place, I owe him a great deal, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

Dunfermline had to eliminate top-tier opponents Aberdeen and Falkirk to reach the showpiece match, but their head coach Neil Lennon – a four-time Scottish Cup winner during two spells as Celtic boss – said overcoming the champions was just beyond them.

He said: "The better team won. Quality counts and I think that was the difference today.

"We're a Championship team and we have moved mountains this season. It was just one mountain too many for us."