Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager, with Martin O’Neill agreeing a temporary return to the club as his replacement.
Rodgers, 52, returned for a second spell at Celtic Park in 2023, winning successive titles, to go with his league triumphs from 2017 and 2018.
However, the former Liverpool and Leicester City boss departs with the champions trailing Hearts by eight points after nine games of this season.
A club statement revealed that Rodgers offered his resignation, which was accepted with immediate effect.
Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s largest shareholder, then added a blistering message of his own, accusing Rodgers of “divisive, misleading, and self-serving” behaviour.
O’Neill, 73, managed Celtic from 2000-05, winning three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups, and a League Cup.
He will be joined by Shaun Maloney, who had two spells as a player with Celtic and has management experience with Hibernian and Wigan Athletic.
Rdgers agreed a three-year deal on his return and repeatedly stressed that he would honour the contract since his prior departure in February 2019 had caused so much rancour.
When quizzed about extending that agreement in August, he insisted there had been no formal offer.
But Desmond has now given his side of events, saying the club were keen to keep Rodgers on beyond the end of this campaign to “reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him”.
Credit: BBC Sport
