Darren O’Dea leaves Championship side months after Celtic exit

Darren O’Dea has left Swansea City just months after his departure from Celtic. The Irishman left the Scottish Champions after being offered the Assistant Manager role with the EFL Championship club alongside Alan Sheehan.

Sheehan was sacked earlier this month and despite O’Dea taking the team at the weekend, he has been relieved of his duties. Swansea confirmed Vitor Matos as Sheehan’s permanent replacement on Monday afternoon, as they revealed O’Dea had departed.

The central defender made 70 appearances for Celtic after coming through the Academy. Since retiring, O’Dea has had several roles at Celtic Park, working as U18 manager, B Team coach and then latterly as First Team Pathways Manager – a role assumed by Shaun Maloney.

Celtic are yet to confirm Brendan Rodgers’ replacement with Wilfried Nancy expected to be announced imminently. The Frenchman is likely to be in the dugout for Celtic’s home game against Dundee next week with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney remaining in interim charge for the away games against Feyenoord and Hibernian.

Nancy is looking for a coach with a Scottish/Celtic connection and it remains to be seen who is offered a role in the new setup. Gavin Strachan, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus are contenders but given his relationship with the club alongside the board’s liking of bringing in people they know, O’Dea could potentially end up back at Celtic Park in some capacity.