Darren O’Dea has paid tribute to Celtic as he continues his coaching journey, now in a senior role with Swansea City after spending several formative years working at Lennoxtown.
O’Dea spent years within the club’s academy setup following his retirement in 2019, first managing the under-18s, then the B team, before stepping into the role of Professional Player Pathway Manager. During that time, he worked under both Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, figures he says were instrumental in shaping his approach to coaching.
O’Dea reflected on the long road from hanging up his boots to stepping into a first-team environment in the English Championship. He credited both Celtic and Motherwell, where he began his coaching career, for giving him the tools to progress.
The Irishman also made a point of highlighting the support he received from key figures at Celtic, and the special connection he feels with the club after years in various off-field roles.
He said: (The Herald), “Where I am now is down to seven years of really hard work. What I learned at Motherwell and Celtic has been superb.
“Brendan was a pleasure to work under and he was so helpful and generous with his time.
“Ange was incredible. He was a huge influence on me. He mentored me and I’ll always be appreciative of the insight and knowledge he passed on to me.
“My time at Celtic was great. It’s a brilliant football club with an unbelievable fan base.
“I’ll always look back with great fondness of my few years there in the various roles.”
O’Dea’s coaching career has steadily grown in stature, with his time at Celtic helping lay a solid foundation. The move to Swansea marks a natural next step, offering him experience in a competitive first-team environment alongside head coach Alan Sheehan.
While he’s now based in Wales, O’Dea’s connection with Celtic remains clear. His comments reflect the respect and gratitude he holds for the club, supporters, and the mentors who shaped his time there.
The Championship will offer fresh challenges, but O’Dea is well-placed to meet them, drawing on years of experience developing young talent and learning from some of the best in the game.
As he embarks on this new chapter, Celtic fans will no doubt keep an eye on his progress, knowing full well he remains one of their own, and a name that could yet return to the club in years to come.
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