So after 15 months in the football wilderness, one of the game's most charismatic managers is back.
 O'Neill has brought success to Wycombe, Leicester and Celtic |
Martin O'Neill was linked with the England, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland jobs during his time away, but he finally plumped for troubled Aston Villa.
Since Brian Little's departure in 1998, managing the Birmingham side has been something of a poisoned chalice with John Gregory, Graham Taylor and, more recently, David O'Leary failing to revive the golden era of the early 1980s.
And to be completely blunt, the three managers did not even come close.
Villa have been poor for a number of years and the club reached its lowest ebb last month when there were reports of a players' revolt, further calls for chairman Doug Ellis to step down and vehement cries for O'Leary's sacking.
Wycombe wonder
O'Leary has gone, Ellis may be ready to give up his position and new owners are set to come in, as a new chapter begins in Villa's history.
So for O'Neill this is his chance to be make a big impact in Villa's revival.
 O'Neill and Leicester's Matt Elliott celebrate a League Cup win |
It is not unfamiliar territory for the 54-year-old. He has shown an uncanny knack for turning ugly ducklings into swans.
He first performed the trick at Wycombe. After taking the helm in 1990, O'Neill helped the non-league side to two FA Trophy triumphs before winning promotion to Division Three in 1993.
The club were riding on a crest of a wave and a second successive promotion followed.
After narrowly missing out on another promotion via the play-offs, he packed his bags and left for Division One side Norwich.
His time at Carrow Road was brief - six months to be exact. Despite taking the Canaries into promotion contention, disagreements with chairman Robert Chase over transfer funds contributed to him leaving for the bright lights of Leicester City.
Leicester heroics
Not that the Foxes were flush with cash. But he made the most of what he had and brought out the best in Muzzy Izzet, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon and Emile Heskey.
It was at Filbert Street where his reputation grew, a dramatic Steve Claridge goal in the play-off final against Crystal Palace took Leicester into the Premiership, where O'Neill guided the side to four successive top-10 finishes and two League Cup triumphs.
 O'Neill revived Celtic's fortunes |
He had instilled a dogged determination, exemplified by midfielders Izzet, Lennon and Savage.
But without the neccessary financial clout to take the team on to the next rung in the top flight, O'Neill began to listen to offers, and when Scottish giants Celtic approached him, he took flight.
Celtic was a different challenge. With respect to Wycombe and Leicester, the Bhoys of Glasgow were in the big league.
He was now not faced with helping paupers punch above their weight, but with reviving the fortunes of Celtic who had won one Scottish Premier title in 13 years.
And yet again O'Neill delivered - and in some style. Celtic won the domestic treble in his first season in charge.
He was there for five seasons, helping the Celtic Park outfit to three SPL titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
The former Nottingham Forest player also took Celtic to the Uefa Cup final where they were beaten by Jose Mourinho's Porto.
Celtic resurgence
O'Neill seemed set for a long reign, but in 2005 he announced he would be quitting the club to look after his ill wife Geraldine.
It was a surprise to Celtic fans, but an understandable decision.
His media appearances had been as rare as sightings for the Loch Ness Monster, but he finally re-appeared as an analyst for the BBC during the World Cup.
The dry wit and sharp barbs were back, but whether a new club was also going to benefit from his words of wisdom remained to be seen.
He had an interview for the England coach's job but was never offered the role.
Everybody knew O'Neill was back in the hunt, including Villa who approached the bespectacled man from Kilrea.
He accepted and now it remains to be seen whether the new backers will give their new manager a big enough transfer kitty to help take the club back into the big time.
But O'Neill has succeeded with meagre funds in the past and Villa fans will be hoping his magic touch has not deserted him.
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News conference: New Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill
