Brendan Rodgers, the man who gave Kelechi Iheanacho a new football life, has stepped down as Celtic manager after a string of disappointing results in the Scottish Premiership, Footynaija.com reports.
Celtic confirmed the Northern Irishman’s resignation on October 27, 2025, bringing an end to his second spell at the club. The Hoops have looked a shadow of themselves this season, sitting eight points behind Rangers after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.
That loss, coupled with a shaky run in Europe and rising tension behind the scenes, was enough to push Rodgers to walk away. As confirmed by Reuters, the club statement thanked him for his service but noted that both parties agreed it was time for a change.
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For Iheanacho, the timing could not be worse. The Super Eagles forward had only just started to find rhythm again under a familiar face. Rodgers was the same manager who helped him rediscover his touch at Leicester City, guiding him through a period of lost confidence after his struggles at Manchester City.
At Leicester, Rodgers showed faith when others had given up. Iheanacho thrived in the 2020-21 season, hitting double digits in all competitions and scoring memorable goals in the FA Cup run that ended with Leicester lifting the trophy.
That connection mattered, and it was no surprise when Rodgers brought him to Celtic on September 3, 2025, in what was seen as a fresh start.
In an interview with Celtic TV on September 9, Iheanacho had called Rodgers “massive and really important” in his career, adding that the manager “looked after me when I was at Leicester.”
Before joining Celtic, Iheanacho’s career had dipped alarmingly. After Leicester’s relegation, he drifted without a steady run in Europe. Even for the Super Eagles, his name had faded from starting line-ups as new faces took over under Eric Chelle.
In Glasgow, Rodgers’ system seemed perfect for his revival. But Celtic’s collapse in form meant the whole project lost its spark before it could properly lift off.
Now, with Rodgers gone, Iheanacho faces yet another uncertain chapter. A new manager could mean new plans, new tactics, maybe even another fight for relevance.
