Celtic’s next manager: Kieran McKenna, Ange Postecoglou and Craig Bellamy are candidates for Hoops manager after Brendan Rodgers leaves | Soccer News

Kieran McKenna, Ange Postecoglou and Craig Bellamy are among the candidates to replace Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.

The search for a new manager is in full swing, with Martin O’Neill and Sean Maloney set to take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis, with Celtic set to approach potential candidates this week to take charge of the club permanently.

It is understood that a number of targets had already been identified ahead of the expected changes in the summer, but Rodgers’ shock resignation has forced the club to accelerate its investigation sooner than expected.

Celtic are thought to be keen to hold talks with former manager Postecoglou, but it remains to be seen whether the Australian wants to rejoin management and Celtic immediately following his sacking from Nottingham Forest.

Ipswich Town head coach McKenna is also a name the club are very keen on.

The Irishman, who has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton in recent seasons, has a contract until 2028.

It is understood that around £5 million in compensation will be required.

Sky Sports News understands that Ipswich do not want to lose their manager but will not stand in the way if he expresses his desire to go.

It is believed that McKenna would require considerable persuasion to leave Ipswich midway through the season.

McKenna, 39, led Ipswich to promotion to the EFL and their first Premier League campaign at Portman Road in 22 years. That season ended in relegation, with Ipswich finishing 12th in the Sky Bet Championship.

Bellamy is Celtic’s respected manager

Meanwhile, Welsh manager Bellamy, who played for Celtic in 2005, is also one of the managers the club respects. He is currently preparing for Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia next month.

The Scottish champions are chasing Bodø/Glimt’s Ketil Knudsen and Club Brugge’s Nicky Heyen, but it could be difficult to unseat them from the incumbents midway through the season.

Celtic are also rumored to have links with former striker Robbie Keane and former manager Damian Duff.

Both Irish nationals have strong ties with major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Kean is currently the manager of Ferencvaros, who won the Hungarian title last season. He also won the Israeli League with Maccabi Tel Aviv the previous season.

Duff was highly regarded as a coach at Celtic and left the club in 2020 to become assistant manager at the Republic of Ireland. He continued to manage Shelbourne, winning the League of Ireland in 2024, but stepped down earlier this year.

Former Celtic manager O’Neill and former player Maloney are acting as caretaker managers, with Celtic playing Falkirk on Wednesday and Rangers in the Old Firm League Cup semi-final on Sunday.

O’Neill said he intends to return to the club until a permanent manager is appointed and believes Celtic are looking for a “young manager with proven ability and proven ability”.

Sutton: Ange made a smart choice to replace Rodgers

Chris Sutton said Mr Postecoglou was the “obvious choice” to replace Mr Rodgers at Parkhead.

“I think Ange Postecoglou is going to be a really smart pick. He was loved from the first round,” Sutton said.

“His brand of football was not well received in Glasgow and he is unemployed.

“It’s a very obvious choice, a good choice and it will bring a lot of positivity to Celtic, which they need right now.”

‘I had 10 minutes to decide’ O’Neill on ‘surreal’ return to Celtic

Manager Martin O’Neill has revealed he had “10 minutes to decide” whether to return to Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ shock decision to resign.

The former manager returned to the Parkhead club for the first time in 20 years to take charge of the team on an interim basis while a search for Rodgers’ permanent successor takes place.

Former Hoops player Sean Maloney also joins Celtic, who play against Falkirk on Wednesday before facing Rangers in the Old Firm League Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Asked about his feelings, the 73-year-old said: “Nervous excitement.” “I want to do the best I can. I’m looking forward to it. I think so.”

“This is a position for which they are looking for a permanent manager. At the moment I have been called in to do the job. I am interim manager at the moment and that will continue to be the case.”

“I didn’t need to be told what was needed. Late in the afternoon, in the evening, I got a call from Dermot Desmond (Celtic’s majority shareholder) who told me that Brendan had resigned.”

“People were surprised by it. Everyone thought nothing was going to happen until the end of the season. They asked me if I could come down here and continue the process until they found a permanent manager. I had 10 minutes to make a decision, which I did.”

‘Toxic’ – How Rodgers’ relationship with Celtic’s board soured

The breakdown in Brendan Rodgers’ relationship with the Celtic board was brought to light with the sudden resignation of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond in an extraordinary statement.

Rodgers was accused of misleading fans over contract negotiations and the club’s transfer business, claiming Desmond’s “divisive” behavior had “incited hostility” towards the board and management.

Desmond said Celtic’s recent woes were due to “an individual’s desire for self-preservation”, with the Scottish champions already eight points behind league leaders Hearts, who missed out on Champions League qualification.

Mr Desmond accused Mr Rodgers of “encouraging a toxic atmosphere” at Celtic amid fan protests calling for his sacking.

Sky Sports details Desmond’s shocking comments and why their relationship soured.

Celtic’s upcoming fixtures

Falkirk (H) – Scottish Premiership – Wednesday Rangers (N) – League Cup Semi-Final – Sunday Midtjylland (A) – Europa League – 6 November Kilmarnock (H) – Scottish Premiership – 9 November St Mirren (A) – Scottish Premiership – 22 November – Live on Sky Sports