O’Neill, Martin – The Bell Bookshop

The Changing Game

Emma — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This is a book about the development of football in the last half century. Changes in life are inevitable. So why not football? And I have witnessed many changes in the professional game, some good, some not so good.

In The Changing Game stellar manager Martin O’Neill offers his unique perspective on decades of footballing history. Bringing his sharp instincts and intellect through his tenures as a manager for Leicester City, Celtic and the Republic of Ireland, fans will enjoy the first-hand anecdotes of how to prepare for and play against the titans of the game. Martin explores every aspect of contemporary football at the highest levels, including how we deal with injuries, foreign influences on the British game, the changing roles of managers, coaches and agents and the effect of social media and wage structures on players.

Charting the evolution of the top levels of professional football from the beginning of O’Neill’s career in 1971 all the way to the present day, this book is an unmissable companion for all lovers of the beautiful game.

On days like these

Emma — Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Martin O’Neill has had one of the most incredible careers in football – winning European Cups, captaining his country at a world cup, and decades as a hugely successful manager. On Days Like These tells his fascinating story in his own words for the first time.

‘Entertaining . . . An extraordinary career’ – The Guardian

A key part of Brian Clough’s legendary Nottingham Forest team in the ’70s and early ’80s, Martin also represented Northern Ireland more than 60 times and led them at the 1982 World Cup. As a manager he took Leicester City to two League Cups, Celtic to seven trophies, and the Republic of Ireland to the European Championship in 2016.

Martin tells of his exhilarating highs and painful lows; from the joys of winning trophies and promotion to making the difficult decision to retire as a player, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and being fired. Written with his trademark forthright honesty and humour, On Days Like These is a must-read for any fan of the beautiful game.

On Days Like These

Emma — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Martin O’Neill is one of the most fascinating and respected figures in football. In On Days Like These, he tells the story of his remarkable career.

‘You’ll never get your head out of this . . . The stories are fantastic’ – John Motson

For the first time, Martin O’Neill reflects on one of the most varied and successful football careers in the British Isles. With a journey spanning over fifty years, Martin dives into the exhilarating highs of trophies, promotion and World Cup fights – and the painful lows of fan confrontations, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and getting fired.

Read fascinating stories from across his journey as a player, from his breakthrough with Distillery in Northern Ireland, to joining Brian Clough’s legendary Nottingham Forest team as it rose from the Second Division all the way to winning back-to-back European Cups.

Go behind-the-scenes on his international career for Northern Ireland, playing alongside and getting to know the Belfast Boy himself, George Best.

Then, Martin delves into his work as a manager, including his celebrated leadership of Celtic – retaking dominance from Rangers in his very first Old Firm match.

And on more recent times, lessons are learned in England – as he led Wycombe from Conference to the League, and Leicester City and Aston Villa to unprecedented highs – before joining forces with Roy Keane and taking the Republic of Ireland to the second round of the Euros for the first time in their history.

Written by Martin himself with his trademark honesty and humour, On Days Like These is an insightful and captivating autobiography from a true icon of football – and a must-read for any fans of the beautiful game.