Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager following a bitter dispute with the club’s leadership, culminating in a public clash with major shareholder Dermot Desmond. The abrupt departure occurred after Desmond criticized Rodgers for what he termed “divisive, misleading and self-serving” behavior.
Celtic confirmed that former manager Martin O’Neill and ex-player Shaun Maloney will temporarily oversee first-team duties. The club has begun searching for a permanent replacement, with ex-boss Ange Postecoglou reportedly among the leading candidates.
The resignation came less than 24 hours after Celtic’s 3-1 defeat to Hearts. This result leaves the reigning Scottish champions eight points behind their Edinburgh rivals in the league standings.
In an official statement, Celtic acknowledged Rodgers’ contributions: “Brendan leaves with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success. We wish him further success in the future.”
Rodgers returned to Celtic Park in 2023 after four years away. He secured back-to-back Premiership titles, mirroring his earlier successes in 2017 and 2018. However, this season has been marred by disappointing performances.
The team’s shock Champions League elimination against Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty increased pressure. Tensions escalated when Rodgers publicly criticized Celtic’s transfer strategy after a historic 2-0 loss to Dundee.
“We’ve lost significant firepower and goals. You can’t enter a race with a Honda Civic and expect Ferrari performance. It’s simply unrealistic,” Rodgers stated.
Desmond responded strongly to these comments: “Despite opportunities, Rodgers failed to show where the club obstructed him. His narrative didn’t match reality. His actions became divisive and self-serving, creating toxicity around the club.”
Rodgers previously managed Swansea, Liverpool, and Leicester before his initial Celtic tenure from 2016 to 2019. During that period, he achieved an undefeated domestic season and consecutive trebles. His second spell added two more league titles and cup victories before the recent fallout.
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