Brendan Rodgers steps down as Celtic boss

Celtic confirmed on Monday that Brendan Rodgers has quit as their manager following a disappointing beginning to the campaign for the Scottish powerhouse.

The team will be led temporarily by ex-manager Martin O'Neill and ex-player Shaun Maloney until a new head coach is brought in.

Rodgers' return stint at Celtic wrapped up after the 3-1 loss to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday which saw them trailing Edinburgh rivals by eight points.

A club statement read: "Manager Brendan Rodgers submitted his resignation today and will depart the position right away."

The message continued: "We thank Brendan for his contributions during times of ongoing achievements at the club and extend best wishes for his upcoming endeavours."

Celtic noted that efforts to find a successor are in progress.

"In the meantime we are glad that ex-Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and former Celtic player Shaun Maloney have stepped up to handle first-team duties," the statement added.

Aged 52 Rodgers came back to Celtic Park in 2023 securing back-to-back championships to build on his earlier successes in 2017 and 2018.

Prior roles included Swansea Liverpool and Leicester before he replaced Ange Postecoglou at Celtic in June 2023.

The Northern Irish coach was with Celtic from May 2016 to February 2019 achieving consecutive league and cup doubles.

During his initial year the side amassed a record 106 points and became the first Scottish team since 1899 to go unbeaten in a top-division campaign.

Rodgers maintained Celtic's home dominance with league wins in 2023-24 and 2024-25 plus victories in the Scottish Cup and League Cup.

However issues mounted this term as Celtic exited the Champions League against Kazakh outfit Kairat Almaty.

Transfer Tensions

Rodgers seemed at loggerheads with the board regarding their approach to summer signings.

Post a first loss to Dundee in 37 years earlier this month he remarked that the squad had "shed considerable scoring power and goals".

"You cannot enter a competition handed the keys to a Honda Civic and expect to handle it like a Ferrari. That just will not work."

Majority owner Dermot Desmond responded claiming Rodgers' comments were unexpected.

"He had not voiced any such issues to me Michael Nicholson the chief executive or anyone on the board or executive prior to that," Desmond stated.

"In truth he held ultimate authority on all football decisions and received steady support in signings including major funding for players he chose and endorsed himself."