Rodgers resigns as Celtic manager with O’Neill returning

Martin O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers have agreed to take over as Celtic manager, with Rodgers stepping down as manager.

Rodgers, 52, won two titles at Celtic Park in 2023 to go along with his 2017 and 2018 league victories.

After nine Scottish Premiership games, the former boss of Liverpool and Leicester City leaves with Hearts eight points behind.

Additionally, he accuses Dermot Desmond, the largest shareholder at Celtic, of “divisive, misleading, and self-serving” behavior.

O’Neill, 73, served as Celtic’s manager from 2000 to 2005, winning three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups, and one League Cup.

Rodgers repeatedly reaffirmed that he would honor the contract because his previous departure in February 2019 had caused a lot of hostility and agreed to a three-year deal upon his return.

He insisted that there had not been a formal offer when questioned about the extension of that agreement in August.

However, Desmond has now stated his opinion of the situation, stating that Rodgers’ club was “impressed” to continue playing after the campaign’s conclusion and “reaffirm the club’s full backing and commitment to him.”

Rodgers’ claim that no offers had been made was “simply untrue,” the Irish businessman continued.

Desmond continued to say Rodgers had created a “toxic atmosphere” at Celtic Park in response to the backdrop of anti-board protests this season.

Rodgers’ apparent dismay over transfer business, as well as numerous references to underwhelming recruitment over the summer, were another feature in the opening months of this term.

After the team lost by 2-0 to Dundee on October 19; he said: “There’s no way you’ll enter a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, “I want you to drive it like a Ferrari.” It won’t occur, of course.

However, Desmond stated that Brendan had full knowledge, approval, and endorsement for every player he signed and sold during his tenure. Any other inference is utterly false.

His subsequent public statements regarding club operations and transfers were entirely out of the blue. He had never raised any of these issues prior to those remarks.

He was actually given the upper hand in all football decisions, and he was consistently supported throughout the hiring process, including his own record of investment in players he had identified and approved.

Since being fired by Nottingham Forest in June 2019, O’Neill hasn’t run a club.

After a brief stint on the Belgian coaching staff, Maloney took his first job with Hibs in 2021.