Martin O’Neill has revealed the role Sir Alex Ferguson played in getting him into the managerial seat at Celtic Park back in 2000.

O’Neill, currently the Republic of Ireland manager, was recommended to Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond by the former Manchester United manager.

"I got a call, initially from Alex Ferguson, saying would I have an interest - that essentially the owner Dermot Desmond would like to speak to me," O'Neill said.

Read more: Champions League nights the best of your career, says Paul LambertGlasgow Times: Sir Alex Ferguson looks on from the directors box at Bootham Crescent. Picture: Gordon Clayton

"I consequently found out - Dermot knew Sir Alex very well at that time but didn't know me at all - and really Sir Alex was the one that actually recommended me for the job.

"I went to see Dermot and the board members in London and for once in my life I must have done alright at the interview."

O’Neill went on to win seven trophies as Celtic manager and delivered Celtic’s first domestic Treble since the Jock Stein era, although arguably his greatest achievement was in taking the club to the UEFA Cup final in Seville in 2003.

"Childhood days, naturally from where I was you were either Celtic or Rangers, brought up in Northern Ireland, and of course I was heavily into Celtic,” O’Neill told BBC Scotland.

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"So this opportunity to go and manage the club was something I didn't feel I could possibly turn down. Plus the fact they were in a bit of difficulty - I think Rangers had won the league by about 20 points and were really dominating Scotland.

"So here was this opportunity - a fantastic club, playing second fiddle to Rangers for some time and an opportunity to turn the tables."

O'Neill's family also encouraged him to make the move, while a poignant memory also played a role.

"I remember the words of my father who did say 'if you ever get the opportunity to play for Celtic, then go and take it'," added O'Neill, who left Celtic in 2005.

"Unfortunately he wasn't around the time I was going to go and manage them.

"I think there's always a wee bit too much made of making people proud but I think if my father had been around, I think he would have been, he would have been absolutely delighted."