Danny Röhl Exits as Martin O’Neill Has Last Laugh

Rangers have confirmed Danny Röhl has left Ibrox for RB Salzburg, bringing another managerial spell across the city to an early end.

The German has departed by mutual agreement and will take charge of the Austrian side, with Rangers now set to move for Derek McInnes as his replacement.

For Celtic supporters, the timing is hard to ignore.

Martin O’Neill has only just been confirmed for another season at Parkhead. Across the city, Rangers are already moving on to another manager after Röhl failed to make it through a full campaign.

That alone tells its own story.

Röhl arrived at Ibrox with plenty of noise, but his record against O’Neill’s Celtic did not exactly back it up.

He faced the Hoops four times under O’Neill and failed to win any of them.

Celtic beat Rangers in the League Cup semi-final after extra time, came from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the league, knocked them out of the Scottish Cup on penalties, and then rounded things off with a 3-1 win at Celtic Park.

It was not the kind of record Rangers supporters will look back on fondly.

Now, with Röhl heading for Salzburg, Rangers appear ready to turn to McInnes.

That is where the Celtic angle becomes even more interesting.

McInnes led Hearts through a season where, for long spells, they looked capable of doing something remarkable. They were right in the title race and had Celtic under serious pressure.

But when it mattered most, Celtic found a way.

O’Neill’s side surged through the closing weeks of the campaign and eventually claimed the title on the final day. Hearts faded, Rangers never did enough, and Celtic finished the season where they usually do.

On top.

Now the manager Celtic overtook in that race is set to be handed the Rangers job.

That will not be lost on the Hoops support.

McInnes deserves some credit for the job he did at Hearts, but the final weeks of last season still matter. His side had a chance to make history and could not see it through.

Rangers now appear to be betting that he can deliver at Ibrox, in a job where second place is never enough and patience rarely lasts long.

From a Celtic point of view, the contrast is obvious.

O’Neill is staying. Celtic have clarity in the dugout. The manager knows the club, knows the pressure, and ended last season by dragging his team over the line when it really mattered.

Rangers, meanwhile, are changing direction again.

Röhl has gone. McInnes is expected to come in. And another summer rebuild is now waiting at Ibrox.

Football has a habit of writing these stories.

Celtic kept their nerve. Rangers are starting again.