Darren O’Dea could be set for a return to the dugout after reports linked the former Celtic defender with a coaching role at Slovan Bratislava under Yaya Toure.
According to a report from the Daily Record, O’Dea has been identified as a leading candidate to become assistant manager if Yaya Toure is appointed by the Slovak champions.
The 39-year-old has been out of football since leaving Swansea City, where he worked as assistant to Alan Sheehan. Before that, O’Dea spent several years at Celtic, coaching within the academy setup and taking charge of the club’s B team.
The move would represent another step forward in a coaching career that has steadily developed since his retirement from playing.
Slovan Bratislava are regular contenders for domestic honours and have become familiar faces in European competition. A role there would offer O’Dea the chance to work at a club expected to compete for trophies while also testing itself on the continental stage.
The report claims O’Dea has already travelled to Slovakia alongside Toure for discussions.
While Toure’s managerial career is still in its early stages, the former Manchester City midfielder has built coaching experience in several roles since hanging up his boots. He is currently part of the Saudi Arabia coaching staff and is now being linked with his first senior management position.
For O’Dea, the interest highlights the reputation he has built behind the scenes.
Whether he ultimately joins Toure in Bratislava remains to be seen, but the report suggests another interesting opportunity has emerged for one of Celtic’s former academy coaches.
