Ange Postecoglou could return to former club Celtic after Brendan Rogers quits

Ange Postecoglou’s successor as Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has resigned, with former boss Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney put in temporary charge at the Scottish giants.

The move has prompted swift speculation that Postecoglou could return to the club which he led in two highly successful seasons before moving to England in 2023.

He was recently sacked from his second English Premier League job with Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers’ second spell at Celtic ended after Sunday’s 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat at Hearts left them eight points adrift of the Edinburgh side.

The beleaguered champions have dropped 10 points in their opening nine matches.

A club statement late on Monday read: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation.

“It has been accepted by the club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect.

“The club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the club.

“The process to appoint a new permanent manager is under way and the club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible.”

Postecoglou won both back-to-back Scottish League titles with Celtic and the domestic treble in 2022-23 before moving to English club Tottenham.

Despite leading Spurs to a breakthrough Europa League triumph earlier this year he was sacked shortly afterwards, primarily due to a poor league record.

The 60-year-old then lasted only eight winless games at Nottingham Forest before being dumped for the second time in five months.