Celtic have officially parted ways with manager Brendan Rodgers after a poor run of results, casting uncertainty over Kelechi Iheanacho’s future at the club.
Rodgers, who returned to the Scottish champions in 2023, had an impressive start to his second spell, guiding Celtic to consecutive Scottish Premiership titles. However, the new season has been far from ideal.
The Hoops suffered an early exit from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers after a shock defeat to Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan.
Domestically, their form has dipped sharply, Celtic currently sit second in the table, eight points behind surprise leaders Hearts.
The final blow came with a 3-1 loss to Hearts over the weekend, prompting Rodgers to tender his resignation on Monday evening. The club has since confirmed that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will take charge on an interim basis.
Iheanacho’s Future up in the air
For Kelechi Iheanacho, Rodgers’ departure could prove crucial. The Nigerian striker, who joined Celtic after leaving Sevilla in the summer, was widely believed to have been signed due to his strong relationship with the Northern Irish coach, under whom he previously thrived at Leicester City.
Iheanacho hit the ground running in Scotland, scoring two goals and one assist in his first three appearances. However, his form has cooled in recent weeks, with just one goal in his last five matches.
Rodgers’ trust ensured Iheanacho regular minutes and a central attacking role, but that could now change. With a new manager set to arrive, the 29-year-old may need to re-establish himself and prove his worth all over again.
Waiting for the next chapter
While uncertainty looms, Iheanacho remains hopeful that the incoming coach will continue to place faith in him. His vast experience and technical quality could still make him a key figure as Celtic look to regain form and mount another title challenge.
