Veteran Coaches Back O'Neill's Bid for Success, Says Goodwin Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has expressed confidence in interim Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, suggesting that older coaches are rooting for the Northern Irishman to prove he can still achieve success in the league. O'Neill, 74, has a storied history with Celtic, having led the club to significant achievements in the early 2000s. This season, he took temporary charge of the team in October after Brendan Rodgers resigned, only to be replaced by Wilfried Nancy, who was later sacked after a challenging spell in charge. O'Neill returned to Parkhead to complete the season alongside Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham. Despite the turbulent campaign, O'Neill's side remains second in the league table, just two points behind leaders Hearts. Goodwin emphasized that age is not a barrier to success, noting that many experienced coaches are cheering O'Neill on to demonstrate their ability to thrive in the modern game. He praised O'Neill's extensive experience and his remarkable success during his first tenure at Celtic, calling him one of the most accomplished managers in the club's modern history. Goodwin also highlighted O'Neill's resilience, pointing to his recent efforts to rescue the team during the season. Dundee United, currently seventh in the league, are aiming to recover from a recent derby defeat against Hearts. Their next fixture is a crucial away match against third-placed Rangers. Goodwin stressed that the focus for his team is on securing points to improve their position, rather than influencing the title race. He acknowledged the pressure on Celtic to challenge Hearts and Rangers but emphasized that Dundee United, as the home team, have confidence from their previous strong performance against Celtic at Tannadice.#martin_oneyll #celtic #jim_goodwin #dundee_united #hearts
Kasper Schmeichel: Celtic Goalkeeper 'Could've Played Last Game' with Two Operations Needed Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel may have played his "last football game" due to the severity of his shoulder injuries, though he remains determined to fight for his career. The 39-year-old Denmark international, who has made 88 appearances for Celtic, last played on 22 February and is set to undergo the first of two surgeries later this month. The procedures will sideline him for his country’s World Cup play-off semi-final against North Macedonia on 26 March. Schmeichel, who is out of contract at the end of the season, faces up to a year of recovery. Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, Schmeichel expressed the emotional weight of the situation. "I could've potentially played my last football game," he said. "It's devastating. It's very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment. I got the message [on Tuesday] that it could potentially be the end of my career. By the time I could get back fit, I could be plus 40." Despite the bleak outlook, he vowed to give everything to regain fitness. "It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could ever get back from an injury like this. I'm going to fight, I'm going to try everything I can. I'm going to do the rehab." Schmeichel’s injuries are described as extensive. He will require two surgeries to address a torn bicep, torn rotator cuff, dislocated shoulder, and torn labrum. The damage is likened to an outfielder suffering both an ACL and Achilles injury simultaneously. The recovery process is expected to take 10-12 months, leaving him with limited time to return to the sport he has dedicated his life to. "Football means everything to me. It's been my whole life, it's been my whole identity," he said.#kasper_schmeichel #celtic #peter_schmeichel #denmark #world_cup_play_off_semi_final
Kasper Schmeichel faces the possibility of ending his career after sustaining a severe shoulder injury that requires multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery period. The 39-year-old Celtic goalkeeper revealed the extent of his injury during a recent visit to a specialist, describing it as a "devastating" diagnosis. Schmeichel, who has been playing through pain since hurting his left shoulder during a Denmark match last year, aggravated the injury during a recent game against Stuttgart. The damage has now forced him to sit out the last five matches for Celtic under manager Martin O'Neill. The specialist confirmed the severity of the injury, stating that Schmeichel will need two surgeries to address the multiple issues, including a torn bicep, torn rotator cuff, dislocated shoulder, and torn labrum. The recovery process is expected to take between 10 to 12 months, leaving him uncertain about his ability to return to the sport. Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo Network, Schmeichel expressed the emotional toll of the diagnosis. He admitted that the thought of potentially playing his last ever football game was "devastating," as he has dedicated his life to the sport since he was a child. "You don't really know how to react to this," he said. "I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I've been a footballer since the day I was born. That kind of thought is devastating. It's very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment." Despite the grim outlook, Schmeichel vowed to fight for his career. He emphasized his determination to give his absolute best during the rehabilitation process, calling it "one of the greatest feats of my career" if he can recover. "I'm going to fight, I'm going to try everything I can," he said.#manchester_united #kasper_schmeichel #martin_oneyll #celtic #peter_schmeichel
