Celtic coach Darren O’Dea completed his Celtic exit on Friday, after it had been in the rumour mill for a month or so.
After his move to Swansea was confirmed, Darren O’Dea penned a heartfelt farewell to Celtic, and the people at the club.
The former Republic of Ireland defender, who made 70 appearances for the Hoops during his playing days, departed his role as the club’s Professional Player Pathway Manager to become assistant manager at Championship side Swansea City under Alan Sheehan.
O’Dea’s influence at Celtic stretched well beyond the pitch. After retiring from playing, he moved into coaching within the club’s academy structure, eventually rising to oversee the development path between the B team and the first team after he had been on the sidelines with the Colts.
Taking to social media platform X, O’Dea offered an emotional tribute to those who helped shape his post-playing career at Celtic, name dropping some of the top men at the club, inisting it’s in good hands.
He wrote: “It’s time to take another step in my career, which means leaving the club I love. I’ve had an incredible time and been given the best education, and there are so many people I’m grateful to.
“Peter, Michael, Ange, Brendan, Paul are just a few and a special mention for Chris McCart, who’s always supported me so much. I’ll just be a fan again, and I can honestly say the club is in a great place and the people there make it what it is – family.
“Not a ‘goodbye’ but a ‘see you again’.”
— Darren O’Dea (@odea_darren) June 13, 2025
O’Dea’s influence was widely felt at Lennoxtown, and his departure comes at a time of broader changes behind the scenes. His move to Swansea provides him with the opportunity to work at first-team level while continuing his coaching progression
