Martin O’Neill: Is the 73-year-old the long-term answer for Celtic?

Perhaps only Jock Stein is held in higher esteem by Celtic fans than O’Neill. Young supporters have now seen a fourth league win to go with O’Neill’s tale of the previous three.

And in between will be games that go down in folklore, so many of them are sealed with late goals.

Wednesday’s controversial late win over Motherwell, after which O’Neill made a point of going to the away end and revitalizing them ahead of Saturday’s decider against Hearts, somehow contributed even more drama to an extraordinary story.

When O’Neill left after his first spell this season, he said he was Take the tracksuit He was worn on the touchline. A reminder of an unexpected chapter. He’s back in work clothes, and now he has a trophy with him.

The club legend has made no secret of how surreal and meaningful his unexpected return is.

On top of that, he represents a unifying figure amid the tumult of fans aimed at the boardroom. The atmosphere at Parkhead on finals day was almost unimaginable not too long ago.

But is there more to come from O’Neill? He was asked directly about his future after the Hearts win, but refused to commit.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “Has anyone spoken to me? No, but I wasn’t expecting it. There will be time for conversation after the cup final.

“I’m quite old so it takes it away from you.”

His record this season shows he still has the Midas touch, but whether he has the appetite to go again is another matter.

“I think he did what he could,” said former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner. “I don’t think he needs to go again. The club needs to go in a different direction.

“Martin O’Neill has reached the pinnacle at 74. He will go down in history.”

If he decides to step down, his successor has big shoes to fill.