Looking beyond Brendan Rodgers for the next Celtic Manager

It’s no secret that Brendan Rodgers is heading into the last year of his contract, and with the current mood around the club at the moment, it looks rather unlikely that he will be seeking to extend that period and the summer of 2026 will most likely see the Irishman exit Celtic Park for the second time, this time with his head held high.

There’s been some whispers that Brendan could be ready to end his stay right now, but he has already reiterated his desire to see out his three years, as he has on many occasions since he returned for a second spell back in 2023, and we have no reason not to take his word. He made a promise and will see it through unless he is ’emptied’ by the Celtic Board who apparently briefed against him in the Sun newspaper on Friday.

If our board had any credibility about them, then they would currently be sounding Brendan out about his future plans whilst contemplating a new long term deal for the Irishman, but we all know that they aren’t going to do that when the manager has been talking about ambition and signing players to make us competitive in the Champion League. That would involve for instance signing the striker to replace Kyogo who left in January. They now have had two transfer windows to sign a replacement striker and failed miserably. That’s not a sign of the ambition Rodgers is looking for to extend his own stay beyond his three year promise. He is, as he said himself, not a maintenance manager.

Brendan signing a new deal would be great, something that would instantly galvanise the support and give us a much needed feel good factor, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely as the days go by. That makes it all the more imperative that the club starts the search for his successor, even at such an early stage.

This board will probably leave it to the last minute, or even more alarmingly promote John Kennedy or/and Shaun Maloney, or heaven forbid turn yet again to Neil Lennon. Jobs for the Bhoys sort of thing.

What we need is a like for like replacement. Brendan is an elite coach and we need someone cut from the same cloth if we want to remain successful and make an impact in Europe.

Names such as Bodo Glint’s Kjetil Knutson, Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen, or the currently out of work Marco Rose should be on our radar, coaches of that Ilk. But once again those in the board will most likely just sit on their hands waiting for things to play out, just as they always do, then appoint a manager that is in the job because of them and is entirely working to their brief from day one.

That will effectively end any hopes of Celtic returning to the top table in European football. Munich was Celtic’s last hooray.