Brendan Rodgers Resigns as Celtic Boss After Hearts Defeat Shakes Title Hopes
Brendan Rodgers has stepped down as Celtic director, drawing the curtain on his alternate spell in charge of the Scottish titleholders.
The shock abdication came just a day after a painful 3 – 1 loss to Hearts left the Hoops eight points adrift at the top of the Premiership table.
In a statement released on Monday, the club confirmed: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation.”
“Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect,” it added. The club expressed gratitude for his contribution, saying,
“Brendan leaves with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the club, and we wish him further success in the future.”
The statement also revealed that the quest for a new director has formally begun. Also, Celtic stalwarts Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will steer the platoon on an interim basis.
“We are pleased that during this interim period, former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neil, and former Celtic player, Shaun Maloney, have agreed to take charge of Celtic first-team matters,” it said.
Rodgers’ return to Celtic Demesne in 2023 had sparked excitement among suckers. His first stint between 2016 and 2019 brought record-breaking triumphs, including back-to-back domestic trebles and an unbeaten league season that cemented his place in Celtic myth.
During his alternate term, the Northern Irishman added further flatware, guiding the club to consecutive league titles and lifting both the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. Yet, this season, instigation faltered.
A humiliating titleholders League exit at the hands of Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty set the tone for a crusade riddled with inconsistency. Sunday’s defeat in Edinburgh was putatively the final straw.
At 52, Rodgers leaves behind a mixed heritage, one defined by dominance at home but recreating struggles on the European stage.
His political faculty and calm address converted Celtic’s style, yet addictive frustration had been mounting as the gap to Hearts widened and performances dipped.
This abdication marks a major turning point in the club’s season. With O’Neill’s experience and Maloney’s ultramodern touch, Celtic stopgap to undergird the boat snappily before the title race slips down fully.
Rodgers, who previously managed Liverpool, Leicester City, and Swansea, departs Glasgow with his character complete but with questions moping about what comes next, both for him and for the green and white half of the megacity.
For now, the focus shifts to stability. The Bhoys face a pivotal many weeks that could define the direction of their crusade, and maybe the future of Celtic Football Club itself.
