Wigan Athletic re-appointed ex-Celtic centre-back Gary Caldwell

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The Celtic Star

·17 February 2026

Wigan Athletic re-appointed ex-Celtic centre-back Gary Caldwell

Wigan Athletic have appointed ex-Celtic centre-back Gary Caldwell as their new head coach, marking a return to the club where he previously made his name as a player…

Celtic’s Gary Caldwell (CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images)

The former Scotland international featured for the Hoops between 2006 and 2010 before enjoying a memorable spell at the DW Stadium, where he captained the Latics to their historic FA Cup triumph in 2013.

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Caldwell also played a key role in Wigan’s League One title-winning season in 2015/16 as manager and now comes back to the club after most recently managing Exeter City.

The Lancashire side are currently sitting in the relegation zone in League One but remain within touching distance of survival, trailing safety by just two points with 16 fixtures remaining in the campaign.

16 April 2008, Celtic v Rangers Celtic Park, David Weir and Gary Caldwell involved in a brawl at the end of the game. Photo Rob Casey Photography

Since retiring, the 43-year-old has built a respectable coaching CV. Alongside his time at Exeter and a previous stint with Wigan, he has also held managerial positions at Chesterfield and Partick Thistle.

Caldwell has previously credited former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan as a major influence on his transition into management, revealing during his first spell at Wigan in 2015 that the pair have remained in regular contact.

Manager Gordon Strachan of Celtic takes a training session at the Lennoxtown training ground ahead of their Champions League match against Manchester United on November 4, 2008. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

He said: “Since I left Celtic, he is still one of the first people that I would phone for some coaching or management advice. I like to meet up with him for a game of golf every now and then.”

“He is somebody that made me see the potential that I had and dragged that potential out of me.”

“He has had a big impact on my career… He made me the player I am today, he gave me the belief. He took my game to the next level.”

Last week in an exclusive interview with The Celtic Star, Gordon Strachan named Gary Caldwell as one of his top three signings for Celtic over his four years in charge of the Hoops.

Celtic and Wigan have current connections with Martin O’Neill’s number two, Shaun Maloney, previously playing for and managing the Latics.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order