Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, is the bookmakers’ favourite to take the role permanently, with O’Neill and Maloney closely behind.

Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen is also quoted, along with former Manchester United pair Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

O’Neill last managed in 2019 during a brief spell with Nottingham Forest after his time as Republic of Ireland manager came to an end the year before.

However, he said that “football has been an addiction and you can’t shake it off” but added he would not have come out of football punditry work “for many other clubs”.

Speaking of “nervous excitement”, O’Neill revealed: “It’s a bit surreal for me. I knew about this less than 24 hours ago. I look forward to it immensely.”

Having won three league titles, three Scottish Cups, a Scottish League Cup and steered Celtic to the Uefa Cup final in his first tenure, O’Neill can expect a warm reception in his first game in charge against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday.

That is quickly followed by Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against city rivals Rangers.

“If there is some sort of clapping for me, I’m well aware in this game that that lasts about 15 minutes,” O’Neill said.

“In this game, you have to win. It’s in Celtic’s DNA.

“I cannot possibly think about the Rangers game. We have a match tomorrow and, if I don’t get a result, I might not even be in charge for the Rangers game.”

Rodgers’ exit was followed by a blistering statement from major shareholder Dermot Desmond, who described the actions of O’Neill’s fellow Northern Irishman while in the job as “divisive, misleading, and self-serving”.

O’Neill said “I can’t comment on that” as “that’s something outside my remit” but praised Rodgers for the job he did during his own two spells with Celtic.

The Scottish champions are eight points behind early pacesetters Hearts after losing 3-1 at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Celtic have also had a modest European campaign and an underwhelming transfer window.

However, O’Neill pointed out that it is not long since Celtic ran Bayern Munich close in the Champions League and he suggested that “creating more chances” would be his immediate target.

Former Hibernian and Wigan Athletic head coach Maloney had returned to Celtic this summer in a player pathway managerial role.

Asked how their working dynamic would be, O’Neill added: “If this had been 20-odd years ago, I’d definitely be dishing out all the instructions.

“But, since this young man has been a manager, I will be listening more to him. He might be giving me the instructions.”