Ange Postecoglou's Future Takes New Twist After Being Tipped For Celtic Role

Ange Postecoglou's managerial future has taken a fresh twist amid links to a reunion with former club Celtic.

Postecoglou was sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier in October after just 39 days in charge, making him the shortest-serving permanent manager in Premier League history.

The Australian had made a relatively swift return to the dugout after he was sacked by Spurs in June, but now again finds himself out of work.

On Tuesday morning, Celtic announced that Brendan Rodgers had resigned from his role as manager of the reigning Scottish champions.

What followed was a bombshell statement from Celtic majority stakeholder Dermot Desmond, who accused Rodgers of being 'divisive, misleading and self-serving' in regards to his comments to his press over the club's transfer strategy.

He added that those comments had 'contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board'.

Rodgers' final game in charge was Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Hearts, who lead Celtic by eight points at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Martin O'Neill, 73, has returned to the club he managed with great success between 2000 and 2005 as interim manager while Celtic chiefs search for a permanent replacement for Rodgers.

Martin O'Neill arrives at Celtic Park ahead of taking interim charge at the club.

Follow his first press conference live on the BBC Sport website 💻#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/KweW3n1eve

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) October 28, 2025

But according to talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs, any ambitions Celtic might have had of appointing Postecoglou for a second spell as manager may need to be toned down.

It is claimed that sources close to the Australian have 'played down' a return to Parkhead, where he won five trophies in two seasons.

Who is favourite to take over at Celtic?

Postecoglou remains the bookmakers' favourite to take over at Celtic Park, however, with Ipswich's Kieran McKenna also tipped to be a frontrunner for the job.

McKenna stayed at Ipswich despite their relegation from the Premier League, but has had a mixed start to life back in the Championship.

The Tractor Boys have recorded big home wins over Sheffield United and fierce rivals Norwich, but have failed to win in seven of their 12 matches including a surprise 3-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Charlton last weekend.

Ex-Wigan boss Shaun Maloney is the current third favourite, having been appointed as assistant to O'Neill for his interim spell in charge.

Maloney graduated through Celtic's youth academy and played for the first team between 2001 and 2005.

He then returned to Glasgow for a second spell with the club in 2008, leaving again three years later to join Wigan, who were then playing Premier League football.

Maloney's first managerial role at Hibernian was not a major success as he was sacked after just 19 games in charge, having won six of those matches.

He was appointed as Wigan boss in January 2023 but, with the club enduring significant financial issues, could not help them to avoid relegation from the Championship amid several points deductions.

Maloney stabilised the Latics in League One, after another eight-point deduction, in 2023/24, but failed to make significant progress last season - amid criticism of his style of play - and was sacked in March.