O’Neill awarded honorary Queen’s degree

Former Queen's University student Martin O'Neill, one of football's most successful managers, has returned to the campus to receive an honorary degree.

The former Northern Ireland international attended Wednesday’s graduation ceremony were he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of the University for services to sport.

Delivering the citation, Queen's Registrar James O'Kane described the former Celtic manager as "an outstanding ambassador for Northern Ireland and for his profession, as both a player and a manager."

"He has demonstrated many qualities - charisma, energy, enthusiasm, intensity, inspiration, passion, resourcefulness, tactical awareness and, most importantly, an insatiable desire for success,” Mr O’Kane said.

Born in Kilrea in 1952, Martin started his football career at Rosario before he was snapped up by Irish League club Distillery where his reputation as a player quickly grew.

He eventually signed for Nottingham Forest in 1971 where he would go on to win the European Cup twice, the League Championship, the League Cup twice, the European Super Cup and the World Club championship.

He also captained his country at the 1982 World Cup and in an unforgettable night Northern Ireland defeated the host nation Spain 1-0.

In his subsequent managerial career he came to prominence at Wycombe, where he won the FA trophy twice and took the club from the Vauxhall Conference to promotion to Division 2, after which he moved to Leicester via a short spell at Norwich. Leicester was promoted to the top division in his first season in charge.

Glasgow Celtic was the next challenge and in his first season, 2000-01, Celtic won the treble - the first time in 32 years.

He also took the Parkhead side to the final of the UEFA Cup losing out in a five goal thriller to Porto.

Martin recently stepped down from the hotseat step to care for his ill wife Geraldine.

(MB/GB)