Brendan Rodgers resigns as Celtic manager
Celtic announced on Monday that Brendan Rodgers has resigned as manager, and his departure is effective immediately. The club expressed gratitude for his contributions over his two spells at Celtic, while former manager Martin O’Neill and ex-player Shaun Maloney will step in on an interim basis.
Rodgers’s resignation comes amid mounting pressure after a disappointing start to the season. The final straw appears to have been a 3-1 defeat to Hearts, which left Celtic eight points behind the league leaders in the Scottish Premiership. Earlier in the season, Celtic had also suffered a shock exit in Champions League qualifying against Kairat Almaty.
In remarks shortly after his departure, Celtic’s principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, issued a sharp critique of Rodgers, accusing him of acting in a “self-serving” manner and creating a toxic atmosphere within the club. Desmond claimed Rodgers had publicly undermined the club despite being offered a contract extension and holding control over transfer decisions.
Celtic paid tribute to Rodgers, acknowledging his successes during his tenures, which include league titles and domestic cups. The club also confirmed that the process of identifying a permanent replacement is underway.
With O’Neill and Maloney at the helm temporarily, Celtic will look to steady the ship, especially as they face upcoming cup fixtures and a challenging league campaign ahead.
