Celtic manager Martin O'Neill modestly attributed his OBE to staff at the Parkhead club. The Hoops boss was given the accolade in the New Year's Honours List for guiding the club to their first European final since 1970 last season.
Celtic were beaten in the UEFA Cup final by Porto in Seville but the award recognises O'Neill's achievements at Parkhead and in previous jobs at Wycombe Wanderers and Leicester City. O'Neill has previously won a European Cup winner's medal as a player with Nottingham Forest and played in the 1982 World Cup finals with Northern Ireland.
But the ex-midfielder has earned even greater success in his managerial career. He took the non-league Chairboys into the Football League in 1993 before guiding Leicester to two League Cup wins and European competition.
But O'Neill has achieved legendary status at Parkhead where his trophy haul nears the success enjoyed by the late Jock Stein. O'Neill lead the team to a domestic treble in his first season in charge before their first-ever Champions League group stage appearance which included a famous win over Juventus.
However, the Derry born 51-year-old etched his name in Celtic folklore last season when Blackburn, Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool were among the big names beaten on the way to the UEFA Cup final.
O'Neill humbly accepted the honour as part of a team effort. He said: "As a club, Celtic has enjoyed success in the past few years, culminating in the appearance at the UEFA Cup final last summer. This recognition belongs to all those who have made a vital contribution to that success and I am honoured to accept it on their behalf."
Celtic executive director Peter Lawwell maintains the OBE for O'Neill is horoughly deserved after three seasons of success for the club. He added: "This is a further recognition of the tremendous contribution that Martin has made to Celtic and to Scottish football in general. His inspirational leadership has been a central factor in Celtic's success in recent years and, on behalf of the club, I would like to congratulate him on this honour."
Other notable figures receiving recognition from Queen Elizabeth II were Ulster and Irish rugby international David Humphreys, Evelyn Greer for services to the 2003 Special Olympic World Games, Clive Woodward, who received a knighthood, and the victorious England Rugby World Cup winning squad, tennis star Tim Henman and former athlete Tessa Sanderson, who is currently vice chairman of Sport England.
Filed by Shane Murray
