Celtic’s manager Brendan Rodgers has officially stepped down following the team’s recent 3-1 loss against Hearts. The Scottish champions have revealed that former Hoops boss Martin O’Neill and ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney will temporarily take over the managerial duties.
The defeat at Tynecastle has put Celtic eight points behind league leaders Hearts after nine matches. Additionally, Celtic has encountered challenges in the Europa League, currently ranking 21st in the group stage with only one victory.
With Rodgers’ unexpected departure on Monday, Celtic is now in search of a new manager. The club expressed gratitude for Rodgers’ contributions during his successful tenures and wished him well in his future endeavors.
Former Leicester City, Liverpool, and Swansea City manager, Rodgers, returned to Celtic Park in 2023, securing consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018. However, the team is facing tough competition from the impressive Hearts squad led by manager Derek McInnes.
Despite the setback against Hearts, Rodgers emphasized his commitment to the team’s improvement and expressed confidence in turning around their performance levels as the season progresses.
As the search for a new permanent manager begins, O’Neill and Maloney will oversee Celtic’s first-team affairs on an interim basis. Sky has also announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering over 1,400 live matches, including at least 215 Premier League games.