Celtic’s Turbulent Season – Rodgers and Out

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The Celtic Star

·16 avril 2026

Celtic’s Turbulent Season – Rodgers and Out

Brendan Rodgers’ second spell as manager of Celtic, which began in June 2023, had initially produced domestic dominance, but the 2025/26 season quickly became turbulent and ultimately ended in his abrupt resignation in late October 2025…

Brendan Rodgers talks to the media after the match. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Rodgers entered the 2025/26 campaign on the back of significant success. Celtic had won consecutive Scottish Premiership titles in 2023/24 and 2024/25, reasserting themselves as Scotland’s leading side. However, despite that domestic strength, warning signs were already evident as the 2025/26 got underway.

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European performances became a real case for concern when crucially, in August 2025 Celtic failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after a shock play-off defeat to FC Kairat. This failure not only had huge financial implications but also increased scrutiny on both Rodgers’ tactics and Celtic’s recruitment strategy led by CEO Michael Nicholson.

Michael Nicholson, Celtic CEO and Chris McKay, Celtic CFO, look on from the stands during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The early months of the league season compounded these issues after the Board appeared reluctant to unlock the PLC’s multi-millions in reserve, backing Rodgers with a transfer budget that felt like loose change. For context on just how far that money doesn’t stretch in modern football, even a Nintendo store card on Eneba offers gamers more purchasing power and flexibility than Celtic’s recruitment budget appeared to allow their manager. Celtic struggled to find consistency, and by late October they had slipped to second place in the Scottish Premiership, trailing leaders Hearts by eight points. A decisive moment came with a 3–1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle, which turned out to be Rodgers’ final match in charge of the club he supports. That result left the champions with back-to-back league defeats and mounting pressure from supporters and mainstream media alike.

Beyond results, a deeper breakdown in relationships within the club played a crucial role in his departure. Throughout the summer and early autumn, Rodgers had publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Celtic’s transfer activity, suggesting that the squad had not been sufficiently strengthened.

These comments contributed to growing unrest among supporters, some of whom directed protests toward the club’s board who had failed to replace striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who left the club in January 2025. This public airing of grievances created a visible rift between the manager and the club hierarchy.

The situation escalated dramatically in the days surrounding his exit. Rodgers formally offered to resign on 27 October 2025, with the club immediately accepting his decision. However, the tone of the aftermath suggested that this was far from an amicable separation.

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Dermot Desmond, largest shareholder and Michael Nicholson CEO are seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic’s majority shareholder, Dermot Desmond, issued an unusually strong and public criticism of Rodgers, accusing him of “self-serving” behaviour and of undermining the club despite receiving full backing and even discussions over a contract extension.

Desmond also claimed that Rodgers’ conduct had contributed to a “toxic” atmosphere, highlighting a severe breakdown in trust between manager and board. The Celtic support in the main reckoned that the toxity was coming from one source only and that was from Desmond and his yes men in the Celtic Boardroom.

Thus, while Rodgers technically resigned, the circumstances resembled a constructive dismissal: poor results, strained internal relationships, and public criticism from senior figures combined to make his position untenable. His earlier assurances in 2023 that he would see out his contract only added to the sense of a dramatic and unexpected collapse in relations.

In footballing terms, the 2025/26 season under Rodgers was brief and disappointing. Tactical questions persisted from previous European failures, recruitment issues left the squad arguably weaker than rivals, and domestic form dipped at a critical stage. Off the pitch, his communication strategy—particularly public criticism of the board—proved damaging, isolating him from key decision-makers as he sought to assemble a squad that could compete in European football particularly at Champions League level. That however costs money and the Celtic Board, hoarding some £77m in the bank, simply did not wish to spend it on mere footballers.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, waves to fans as he arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

So Brendan Rodgers’ exit in October 2025 was not caused by a single factor but by a convergence of issues: disappointing early-season results, failure in Champions League qualification, disputes over transfers, and a complete breakdown in trust with the Celtic board. Together, these created an environment in which resignation – or sacking – became the only viable outcome, bringing a turbulent end to what had initially been a successful second tenure.

Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Following his departure, former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill returned on an interim basis, assisted by Shaun Maloney, as the club sought stability ahead of crucial fixtures. We’ll look at that stage of Celtic’s turbulent season next on The Celtic Star…