Brendan Rodgers’ second era at Celtic has come to a dramatic and controversial end, as the Northern Irish manager resigned from his post on October 27, 2025, just a day after Celtic suffered a damaging 3-1 defeat away to Hearts. This loss not only widened the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to eight points in favor of Hearts, but also intensified the mounting pressure on Rodgers and the club’s leadership, culminating in his immediate departure and the appointment of Martin O’Neill as interim manager alongside former Celtic player Shaun Maloney.
Rodgers’ resignation has sent shockwaves through Scottish football, not least because of the acrimonious circumstances that surrounded his exit. In a strongly worded statement, Celtic’s largest individual shareholder, Dermot Desmond, accused Rodgers of being “divisive, misleading, and self-serving,” arguing that his words and actions since the summer transfer window had “contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the board.” According to Desmond, “What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others.”
The tension between Rodgers and the Celtic board had been simmering for months, particularly after a summer transfer window that left many supporters disappointed. Rodgers himself publicly criticized the club’s recruitment, famously remarking, “There’s no way you’ll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, ‘I want you to drive it like a Ferrari.’ It’s not going to happen.” This analogy, while colorful, did little to ease the frustrations of fans or the board, who believed Rodgers had been given both full backing and final say over football matters, including record investment in players he personally identified and approved.
The club’s official statement confirmed the resignation, stating: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation. It has been accepted by the club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. The club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the club and we wish him further success in the future.” The statement also announced that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney would take interim charge of first-team matters, with O’Neill’s tenure set to begin on Wednesday night against Falkirk.
Rodgers’ departure marks the end of a tumultuous second spell at Celtic Park. His return in June 2023, following a four-year stint at Leicester City—where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021—was met with optimism. Rodgers had previously managed Celtic from May 2016 to February 2019, a period of unprecedented domestic success that included consecutive league and cup trebles and the club’s first undefeated season in the Scottish top flight since 1899. His win rate and trophy haul made him one of the most successful managers in Celtic’s modern history.
During his latest tenure, Rodgers continued to deliver silverware, guiding Celtic to league titles in 2024 and 2025, as well as lifting the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. However, cracks began to appear this season. Celtic’s Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, as the club was knocked out in the play-off round by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty in August 2025—a result described by many as a shock and a major setback. Domestically, Celtic’s form faltered, with back-to-back league defeats—including the crucial loss at Hearts—leaving them second in the table, trailing Hearts by eight points with just 17 points from nine matches.
Fan unrest had been growing throughout the autumn, with banners and chants of “sack the board” heard during the 2-0 defeat by Dundee and again after the Hearts loss. Club captain Callum McGregor attempted to shoulder some of the responsibility, telling reporters, “The players always have to take responsibility, I’ve been saying it since day one. Even with the distraction of the [protests about the] board and [lack of] signings and everything else, I’ve been the one who has said, ‘No, no, no, the players have got to take responsibility’. The only guys who can fix it are the guys on the pitch. Yes, I understand, we’re in a difficult moment, but the only people who are coming to save you is yourself.”
The decision to bring back Martin O’Neill has been met with a mixture of nostalgia and intrigue. O’Neill, now 73, last managed Celtic from 2000 to 2005, winning seven trophies—including three league titles—and famously leading the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2003. His win rate of 75.5% remains the highest in the club’s history. O’Neill’s managerial pedigree is unquestioned, with spells at Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and the Republic of Ireland national team. Shaun Maloney, aged 42, brings his own experience as a former Celtic player and manager of Hibernian and Wigan Athletic.
The context of Rodgers’ departure is further complicated by events elsewhere in Scottish football. Rangers, Celtic’s fierce Glasgow rivals, recently sacked manager Russell Martin and appointed Danny Rohl, underscoring the volatility at the top of the Premiership. Outside of Celtic and Rangers, no other team has won the Scottish top division since Aberdeen’s triumph under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1984-85. Now, with Hearts leading the league by eight points, the traditional duopoly faces a genuine challenge.
For Rodgers, the end of his Celtic journey is a bitter one. Despite his impressive record—winning the league title in each of his four full seasons and amassing multiple domestic trophies—his legacy is now clouded by accusations of divisiveness and a breakdown in relations with the board. Celtic’s Champions League struggles, domestic stumbles, and the high-profile public spat with Dermot Desmond have all contributed to an atmosphere of uncertainty and frustration at Parkhead.
Looking ahead, O’Neill and Maloney have little time to steady the ship, with their first test coming against Falkirk on Wednesday night. The club’s search for a new permanent manager is already underway, as confirmed in the official statement: “The process to appoint a new permanent manager is underway and the club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible.”
As the dust settles on Rodgers’ controversial exit, all eyes will be on Celtic’s interim management team to see if they can restore stability and close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership. With the title race wide open and fan sentiment at a boiling point, the coming weeks promise to be some of the most pivotal in recent club history.
