BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Martin O'Neill was named manager of Aston Villa on Friday.
The former Celtic and Leicester coach succeeds David O'Leary, who was fired last month after three seasons with the Premier League club.
O'Neill returns to soccer management after leaving Celtic 18 months ago to care for his sick wife.
In five seasons at Celtic Park, O'Neill won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup. He also took Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final, where it lost 3-2 in extra time to FC Porto, coached by current Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
O'Neill began his coaching career at non-league Grantham in 1987, after a highly successful playing career where he won 62 caps with Northern Ireland.
The midfielder played at Norwich, Manchester City and Nottingham Forrest, where he won the League title, two League Cups, and two European Cups under manager Brian Clough.
O'Neill made his name managing Wycombe Wanderers, before moving to coach Leicester in 1995 and guiding the Foxes to four successive top-10 finishes in the Premier League and two League Cups.
Villa has received a number of offers to buy the club, including one from Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.
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Good choice for Aston
The former Celtic and Leicester coach succeeds David O'Leary, who was fired last month after three seasons with the Premier League club.
O'Neill returns to soccer management after leaving Celtic 18 months ago to care for his sick wife.
In five seasons at Celtic Park, O'Neill won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup. He also took Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final, where it lost 3-2 in extra time to FC Porto, coached by current Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
O'Neill began his coaching career at non-league Grantham in 1987, after a highly successful playing career where he won 62 caps with Northern Ireland.
The midfielder played at Norwich, Manchester City and Nottingham Forrest, where he won the League title, two League Cups, and two European Cups under manager Brian Clough.
O'Neill made his name managing Wycombe Wanderers, before moving to coach Leicester in 1995 and guiding the Foxes to four successive top-10 finishes in the Premier League and two League Cups.
Villa has received a number of offers to buy the club, including one from Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.
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Good choice for Aston
