Brendan Rodgers stepped down on Monday night as the football world was shocked at the Celtic after his second tenure in the club after a mixed beginning to the season. The Scot champions affirmed that ex-boss Martin O’Neill, at 73 would come back to lead on temporary basis with the help of former player Shaun Maloney.
The news was only issued a day after Celtic had been beaten 3-1 by Hearts following the defeat, which left the champions eight points behind the pace setters and worsened the mood at Celtic Park. Rodgers was already under pressure by the club, which had a poor time in Europe and a frustrating transfer market.
Later, in a late-night announcement, Celtic announced that Rodgers has tendered his resignation and would also step down immediately. The club recognized the contribution he made to a spell of sustained success and said they owed him their debt of gratitude, but assured that they were already seeking a permanent replenishment.
But what next happened made the night still more dramatic. A few minutes later, the normally secretive major shareholder of Celtic Dermot Desmond issued an unprecedented public letter, which directly contradicted the version of the events given by Rodgers. Desmond refuted reports that Rodgers had been refused control over his transfers or that he had been offered an extension of his contract, instead charging him with failing to demonstrate self-preservation by others to his own detriment.
The departure of Rodgers is the culmination of a chequered second season in Glasgow. Having spent time with Liverpool and Leicester, the Northern Irishman came back in June 2023 and helped Celtic to two consecutive league titles, in addition to winning the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. However, the failure in this season, even a sensational exit in the champions league to the Kazakhstan Kairat Almaty, seemed to wear down the morale, as well as the patience.
No secret was made about his disappointment with the transfer policy used by the club. Rodgers previously thought the recruitment of Celtic was like offering to drive a Honda Civic like a Ferrari after the Dundee loss earlier this month. The remark did not sit well with the board – nor with Desmond himself, who was adamant that Rodgers was entitled to the full support of the board and the last word in all matters pertaining to football.
The reappearance of O’Neill is a nostalgic episode to the fans. Twenty years later after his initial tenure, the veteran manager has returned to the managerial seat where he has been given the responsibility of stabilizing the ship at a club that is suddenly plunged in a whirlwind. It remains to be seen whether his presence will be able to hold together a divided Celtic dressing room, however, one thing is definite, it is never silent at Celtic Park.
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