Ronny Deila Reflects on Celtic Struggles, Success, Pressure, and Losing Himself

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·8 juillet 2025

Ronny Deila Reflects on Celtic Struggles, Success, Pressure, and Losing Himself

Ronny Deila Reflects on Celtic Struggles, Success, Pressure, and Losing Himself…

Celtic’s manager Ronny Deila sits on the bench prior to the UEFA Europa Leage football match Molde FK vs Celtic FC in Molde on October 22, 2015. Photo SVEIN OVE EKORNESVAAG/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s been nine years since Ronny Deila left Celtic and only recently he was able to open up and discuss his time at the club. The Norwegian manager was hired in 2014 because he was seen as a fresh and modern thinker yet after his first days at Parkhead, the reality of managing a club like Celtic quickly hit home.

Vidéos OneFootball

Even though he won two league titles and a League Cup, Deila has stated that the constant pressure to win changed him. Since he was always trying to meet the expectations of fans, media, and the club itself, he lost sight of who he was as a coach and as a person.

Ronny Deila the manager of Celtic chats with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the head coach of Molde prior to kickoff during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between Celtic FC and Molde FK at Celtic Park on November 5, 2015. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This kind of pressure isn’t just limited to football. It’s also common in other high-stakes environments, too. The world of sports betting is a great example since many bettors find themselves restricted by national gambling regulations, just like Deila felt boxed in by the winning culture at Celtic. It’s no wonder that PokerStrategy experts often point out that betting sites not on GAMSTOP give users more benefits, control, and flexibility. The freedom to follow your ideas without someone constantly looking over your shoulder or limiting your choices can make a huge difference. The same goes whether you are placing bets or coaching a football club as world famous as Celtic.

Celtic Manager Ronny Deila (L) with assistant manager John Collins during the UEFA Europa League group D match between Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb at Celtic Park on October 02, 2014. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

In an in-depth interview, Deila explained that he came to Celtic with the idea of building a strong team chemistry based on trust, long-term development, and open communication. While this was a great idea, everything didn’t go as planned. He quickly found out about a climate of fear, where one bad result – like the penalty shoot-out defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final against lower tier side theRangers could throw everything into question. Since the fans eagerly expected dominance, the media wanted drama, and the board wanted results yesterday, the pressure was nothing like what Deila had ever experienced. Under the pressure, he had to abandon his principles just to keep up and keep going.

Since the situation was recognised by many, Deila’s departure was no surprise. In 2016, he decided to leave the club at the end of the season. The departure wasn’t dramatic, but in hindsight, it was one of the most honest exits the modern football world has ever seen. He walked away when he was winning the Scottish Premiership title because he knew it was taking him further away from the coach or person he wanted to be.

This kind of self-awareness is rare, especially in today’s football world.

Ronny Deila Celtic manager with coach John Kennedy (right) during the Pre Season Friendly between Celtic and De Bosch at St Mirren Park on July 01, 2015. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)

Since leaving Glasgow and Celtic, Deila has gone on to manage in the United States and mainland Europe. Just last December, Atlanta United announced him as their new head coach. What’s great is that he’s done so with a renewed sense of purpose. He learnt a lot from his time at Celtic. It’s clear that he now knows more about football tactics and, most importantly, how critical it is to stay true to your skin and identity, even when the world might be trying to change you.

In the end, Deila’s story isn’t just a football story. It’s about pressure, personal values, and the challenge of keeping your head when everyone else is demanding results. It also shows how hard the role of a football club’s manager can be.

Manager Ronny Deila of Celtic Glasgow talks to Mikael Lustig during a break on the touchline during the Pre Season Friendly between SK Rapid Wien and Celtic Glasgow at Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadium on July 6, 2014 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

Best of luck to Ronny at Atalanta, where he’ll be a better manager than before arriving in Glasgow because of the harsh footballing and life lessons he picked up at the Scottish Champions who are of course the most decorated football club in Britain. Ronny played his part and will always be a popular figure among the worldwide Celtic family.