Celtic Next Manager: 18 Favourites to Replace Brendan Rodgers Named
The odds for Celtic’s next manager have emerged following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation from the Scottish outfit. With Martin O’Neill set to take charge of The Bhoys until a permanent decision is made, a handful of tactical minds are in the running to take over.
An unusually poor start to the season for Celtic has seen the Hoops lose three of their last five games, as they sit second in the Scottish Premiership, a seismic eight points adrift from first, and 21st in the Europa League table.
Similar to Russell Martin at Rangers, a toxic environment grew from bad form, and with no sign of things turning around, fan anger reached a boiling point. Brendan Rodgers, who was in his second spell as manager of the Celtic Park outfit, tendered his resignation late on Monday night, putting an end to his combined five-year association with the Scottish giants.
With plenty still to play for in Celtic’s season, the next manager to grace the highly atmospheric Celtic Park dugout will need to be a perfect fit if the club stand any chance of turning their season around. With names such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick missing out on the top ten favourites for the role, the list features an abundance of names that Celtic fans would be pleased with, as per WilliamHill’s odds.
10. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 11/1
Tied on 11/1 with Celtic legend Scott Brown, Ruud van Nistelrooy has been without a coaching role since his departure from Leicester City in June 2025. A move that would be a reversal of Rodgers, who went from Celtic to the Foxes. The former PSV manager is still new to the dugout, but would be an investment for the present and future.
Still highly thought of in the coaching game, his senior career would certainly grant him the respect of the Celtic players. Having dealt with the pressure of being on the sidelines of a huge club, as the assistant coach at Manchester United, he may be well-suited to bringing his tactics to Scotland.
9. Kieran McKenna – 9/1
Currently embarking on an instant return to the Premier League with Ipswich Town, Kieran McKenna finds himself as an outside shout at odds of 9/1. Just 39 years old, an age considered remarkably young in management, the former Manchester United youth coach has taken the Tractor Boys from mid-table in League 1 to the heights of the Premier League.
Having previously been linked to Chelsea and Manchester United, it is clear he is highly thought of within the game. His high-pressing 4-2-3-1 would be taken kindly by the Scottish outfit, as, despite results, they possess a talented group of players able to pull off that style of football.
8. Robbie Keane – 9/1
Joining McKenna at odds of 9/1 is former Celtic player Robbie Keane. Experiencing the pressure of the Scottish club for just four months, as he arrived on a short loan, the Irishman managed to score 16 goals in 19 appearances, instantly making him a fan favourite.
Possessing a more rogue coaching career, Keane has managed Mohun Bagan and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with whom he won the Israeli Premier League. Currently with Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros, he has the side seventh in the Europa League and fifth in the domestic league. An untraditional managerial route, it might be time for Keane to take the step into a more mainstream job, with Celtic offering him that.
7. Kjetil Knutsen – 8/1
The first of three options at odds of 8/1, it is only a matter of time before Kjetil Knutsen gets a move to a ‘bigger’ club. Having been with Bodo/Glimt since 2017, the Norwegian has managed well over 300 games in that time, winning north of 200 of them.
Bringing the side to the top flight of Norwegian football, Knutsen has won the Eliteserien on four occasions, as well as bringing European football to the club. Possessing a traditional 4-3-3, his high-possession and short-passing management style has proved to be a success. With a move away from Bodo/Glimt seemingly in Knutsen’s future, a switch to Celtic could offer the coach more experience.
6. Stephen Robinson – 8/1
Having just parted ways with one Northern Irishman, Celtic could replace him with another, with Stephen Robinson ranked sixth favourite for the role. Currently working with St. Mirren, a poor start to the season for the Buddies could offer Robinson a way out and into Celtic.
Having achieved top-six finishes for three consecutive seasons with the side, and even getting the side into the Conference League, Robinson has proved he can work wonders on a tight budget. With Celtic offering more in terms of finances, but also pressure, it could be a risk worth taking for the Hoops.
5. John McGlynn – 8/1
Another manager who plies his trade in the Scottish Premiership, John McGlynn, has gained a stellar reputation for himself following his work with Falkirk. Having taken over as manager of the Bairns in 2022, he guided his team out of League One in 2023/24, doing so undefeated. This season was followed by another league success, as he got Falkirk straight into the Premiership at the first time of asking.
Having also worked at Raith Rovers, where he achieved immense success, McGlynn’s knowledge of Scottish football is second to none, and if there is a manager more fitting of turning things around, it could be the 63-year-old.
4. Shaun Maloney – 13/2
Having got his break in management as the coach of Celtic’s Under 19s squad, the resignation of Rodgers could mark a full circle moment for Shaun Maloney, who has been out of a job since March 2025. A former Scottish international, Maloney played over 100 times for the Bhoys, across two spells, and is highly thought of by Celtic fans.
As a coach, Maloney has taken the reins at Hibernian and Wigan Athletic, notably doing so whilst the latter went through countless issues off the pitch. Proving he can manage through adversity would make him an ideal fit for Celtic in their current state.
3. Edin Terzic – 6/1
Among the top three favourites for the Celtic role is former Borussia Dortmund coach, Edin Terzic. Possessing just one club on his managerial CV, his lack of experience may be the only red flag the German possesses.

Having operated as an interim manager and a technical director before becoming a permanent manager, Terzic may be best remembered for the iconic final day drama of the 2022/23 season, in which Borussia Dortmund lost the league on goal difference. Having guided the club to a Champions League final, he has proven his possession-based football can work; he just needs to deliver this at another club to establish himself more.
2. Martin O’Neill – 5/2
Having just been appointed as interim manager of the Hoops, O’Neill is already the second favourite to get the permanent role. Managing in his fourth decade, the Northern Irishman hasn’t stepped foot in a dugout since 2019, when he managed Nottingham Forest.
Unknown if he still has what it takes to manage in modern football, but his CV of two Scottish Cups, three Scottish Premierships, and one League Cup as Celtic manager is enough to buy him enough time to figure things out. Having represented the Bhoys as manager from 2000 to 2005, he is adored by the Celtic faithful and is the right interim choice to bring positivity back to the club; it just remains to be seen if this is a smart long-term move.
1. Ange Postecoglou – 7/4
A list that features some of the game’s astutest tactical minds, leading the way as favourite, and by a seismic margin, is Ange Postecoglou. Similarly to O’Neill, the Australian has managed at Celtic Park before, winning five trophies in the two years he spent with the Hoops.
Having since gone on to win a trophy with Tottenham Hotspur, the former Australia head coach is out of a job, having been most recently sacked by Nottingham Forest. Leaving the Scottish outfit in 2023 on good terms, fans of the Celtic Park outfit would welcome the Australian back with open arms, a move that seems destined to happen. See the full odds for Celtic’s next manager below (correct as of 28/10/25):
| Celtic’s Next Manager Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Manager | Odds |
| 18. | Craig Bellamy | 22/1 |
| 17. | John Kennedy | 20/1 |
| 16. | Frank Lampard | 18/1 |
| 15. | Lee Carsley | 16/1 |
| 14. | Damien Duff | 16/1 |
| 13. | Ole Gunnar Solksjaer | 12/1 |
| 12. | Michael Carrick | 12/1 |
| 11. | Scott Brown | 11/1 |
| 10. | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 11/1 |
| 9. | Kieran McKenna | 9/1 |
| 8. | Robbie Keane | 9/1 |
| 7. | Kjetil Knutsen | 8/1 |
| 6. | Stephen Robinson | 8/1 |
| 5. | John McGlynn | 8/1 |
| 4. | Shaun Maloney | 13/2 |
| 3. | Edin Terzic | 6/1 |
| 2. | Martin O’Neill | 5/2 |
| 1. | Ange Postecoglou | 7/4 |