Clear Favourite to Become Next Celtic Boss Emerges After Brendan Rodgers Exit

A clear favourite has emerged to become Celtic’s next permanent head coach following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation.

Rodgers, 52, resigned from his role as Hoops head coach on Monday (October 27), with the Scottish champions currently second in the Scottish Premiership, eight points behind leaders Hearts.

The 52-year-old’s exit draws his second spell as Celtic head coach to an end, with Rodgers having guided the side to four Scottish titles, three Scottish Cups, and four Scottish League Cups during his two stints as boss.

Despite being one of the club’s most successful managers in history, the 52-year-old leaves under a cloud, with Dermot Desmond, the largest individual shareholder of Celtic, accusing Rodgers of creating a “toxic atmosphere” in a lengthy statement posted to the club’s website.

Desmond claimed that Rodgers’ “conduct and communication” had not “reflected” the “trust” and faith put in him by the club in recent months.

Later in the statement, Desmond also suggested that Rodgers was offered a new contract in June, only to imply in future press conferences that no commitment was made, something the club branded as “simply untrue”.

Brendan Rodgers has resigned (Credit:Getty)

The club’s largest shareholder then added that Rodgers’ “words and actions” have been “divisive, misleading and self-serving”, which in turn have “contributed to a toxic atmosphere” and “fuelled hostility towards members of the board”.

It has since been confirmed that former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will take temporary charge, having previously managed the Glasgow club between 2000 and 2005, a period during which the Hoops won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup, as well as reaching the 2002/03 UEFA Cup – now Europa League – final.

But who will become the next permanent Celtic head coach following Rodgers’ dismissal?

According to BetVictor, former Spurs and Nottingham Forest head coach and Rodgers’ predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, is currently the favourite to become the Scottish side’s next permanent manager, returning odds of 7/4.

Ange Postecoglou is favourite to become Celtic's next head coach (Credit:Getty)

O’Neill is the second favourite at 5/2, while Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy returns odds of 4/1, with ex-Celtic star Shaun Maloney fourth at 13/2.

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic completes the top five at odds of 12/1, having been without a coaching role since departing the Bundesliga side in 2024.

Next permanent Celtic manager odds

Ange Postecoglou – 7/4

Martin O’Neill – 5/2

Wilfried Nancy – 4/1

Shaun Maloney – 13/2

Edin Terzic – 12/1

*Odds via BetVictor and correct at time of publishing