Darren O’Dea set for Celtic exit to take coaching role at Swansea City

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·10 May 2025

Darren O’Dea set for Celtic exit to take coaching role at Swansea City

Brendan Rodgers has held discussions with Darren O’Dea regarding a potential move to Swansea City…

Darren O’Dea (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

The Irishman, who featured 62 times for Celtic, now serves as the club’s loan and player development manager. Reports yesterday suggested that Swansea have identified Darren O’Dea as a prime candidate and presented him with a substantial offer to join the club as an assistant coach.

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Rodgers had a two-year spell at Swansea, during which he guided the team to promotion to the English Premier League. He has now addressed the possibility of O’Dea making the switch to a role in England. Speaking at yesterday’s mainstream media conference the Celtic manager provided an update on the development that seems likely top see Darren O’Dea leave Celtic.

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor is beaten as a header from Celtic defender Darren O’Dea opens the scoring during the CIS Insurance Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on March 15, 2009. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“I spoke to Darren yesterday on that,” said Rodgers. “He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like. Obviously I know Swansea as a club and the city, better than most. So yes, I think there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach I think. “In his heart, he still sees himself as that. Probably the role he’s in now he’d probably only do that at a club like Celtic. But I think in his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on. So yes, he just asked my opinion on it. So we’ll see what happens on that,” Brendan Rodgers said.

Steven Davis of Rangers is tackled by Darren O’Dea of Celtic during the Scottish Premier League match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox stadium on May 9, 2009 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

After joining Celtic from Dublin’s Home Farm in 2005, the former centre-back broke into the first team the following year. After a mix of first-team appearances and loan spells over four seasons, he eventually made a permanent switch to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

O’Dea went on to play for Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine, Mumbai City in India, as well as Blackpool and Dundee, before hanging up his boots. He began his coaching career at Motherwell in 2019, but within a few months, he returned to Celtic Park to take charge of Celtic’s under-18s team.

Darren O’Dea at Celtic Park. Photo Celtic FC

O’Dea later joined the B team setup, initially as a coach and eventually as manager, before transitioning into his current position, where he has collaborated closely with head of football operations Paul Tisdale.

While both he and Sheehan featured for Republic of Ireland youth sides, O’Dea was the only one to progress to the senior squad, earning 20 international caps. O’Dea is well regarded in coaching circles and has been mentioned in connection with several managerial vacancies at Scottish clubs in recent years.

If Darren does move on he will leave Celtic with everyone’s best wishes.

Here’s Brendan’s media conference ahead of today’s Scottish Premiership match against Hibs, the first game back at Celtic Park since becoming Champions of Scotland in season 2024/25 two weeks ago today.

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Darren O’Dea set for Celtic exit to take coaching role at Swansea City | OneFootball

Darren O’Dea set for Celtic exit to take coaching role at Swansea City

Brendan Rodgers has held discussions with Darren O’Dea regarding a potential move to Swansea City…

OneFootball Videos

Here’s Brendan’s media conference ahead of today’s Scottish Premiership match against Hibs, the first game back at Celtic Park since becoming Champions of Scotland in season 2024/25 two weeks ago today.

Celtic

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