Next Celtic manager odds: Postecoglou favourite as Rodgers resigns after Hearts defeat

Rangers aren’t the only Glasgow giant who’ll make a managerial change this season. Russell Martin was sacked as Gers boss in early October, and Celtic have followed suit.

Brendan Rodgers resigned from his role as Bhoys head coach on Monday night after Celtic’s 3-1 loss at league leaders Hearts on Sunday. It’s been a poor title defence for the champions, who are now eight points off the Jam Tarts, having now lost back-to-back league matches for the first time since 2023.

With the games coming thick and fast – Celtic are back in action on Wednesday night when they face Falkrik – Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have taken interim charge at Celtic Park.

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Attention, though, will turn to the next permanent manager market as Celtic gear up to replace Rodgers.

Ange Postecoglou

Fresh from an ill-fated 39-day stint as Nottingham Forest boss, Ange Postecoglou is the early frontrunner to take over at Celtic Park. The Australian enjoyed a trophy-laden two-year spell as Celtic head coach between 2021 and 2023 before taking over at Tottenham a little over two years ago.

Postecoglou’s reputation has taken a hit following Spurs’ 17th-placed finish last season combined with a disastrous stint at the City Ground. The 60-year-old is at a best price of 7/4 with bet365 to succeed Rogers permanently, but as short as evens with William Hill to suggest it’s only a matter of time before Postecoglou returns.

Kieran McKenna

Having been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea last summer, Kieran McKenna opted to remain at Ipswich. While the Tractor Boys struggled in their first Premier League season back in the top-flight since 2002, McKenna is held in high regard.

There are understandable concerns over whether the 39-year-old would be prepared to swap the Championship for the Scottish Premiership at this stage of the season. However, the Celtic job is a huge opportunity for McKenna to test himself at another level, with the Ipswich boss currently at 5/1 with William Hill to take over the Celtic reins permanently.

Shaun Maloney

Alongside Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney has taken interim charge of Celtic for the foreseeable future. Maloney has a little managerial experience both sides of the border having overseen Hibs in 2021 and then Wigan in 2023. The 42-year-old has been out of work since March, however.

A former Celtic player, Maloney’s return to the club at least buys the board some goodwill and gives the ex-midfielder a chance to prove his credentials to take on the role permanently. Even so, Maloney is at 15/2 with Paddy Power to be next Celtic boss, but that will likely shorten if he impresses in temporary charge.

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Stephen Robinson

Of the favourites to succeed Rodgers, Stephen Robinson is leading the way of the current Scottish Premiership managers. Robinson took over at St. Mirren back in 2022 after spells with Oldham, Motherwell and Morecambe. Whether Celtic would look to replace one Northern Irishman with another remains to be seen.

Robinson has had St. Mirren punching above their weight in recent seasons having secured back-to-back top six finishes, doing so with a limited budget. With expectations much, much higher at Celtic, though, turning to the 50-year-old would be a risk. Even so, he’s at 8/1 with William Hill to be next Celtic head coach.

Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill has been out of managerial work since leaving Nottingham Forest in 2019. That said, Celtic believe the 73-year-old is a temporary fix as they seek a permanent successor for Rodgers. O’Neill spent a fine five-year spell in Glasgow between 2000 and 2005, winning the Scottish Premiership three times, all the while taking the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2003.

O’Neill, though, is viewed as an archaic manager, and one whose methods haven’t evolved owing to a lengthy stint out of the game. While he’ll be working alongside Maloney briefly to ease the burden, there’s a reason why O’Neill is out at 10/1 with Ladbrokes to take over permanently.

Next Celtic manager full odds