Darren O’Dea issues classy exit message to Celtic fans and reserves ‘special’ praise for one coach

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Former Celtic professional player pathway manager Darren O’Dea has joined Swansea City.

O’Dea was linked with Swansea in early May as new manager Alan Sheehan targeted the Irishman to be his new assistant coach.

Brendan Rodgers held talks with O’Dea and on Friday, the deal was finally announced with both Celtic and Swansea confirming the news.

O’Dea was previously head coach of Celtic B before taking on the player pathway gig, with Stephen McManus replacing him.

Now, he’s at Swansea City and left a classy farewell message on his X account to the Celtic fans.

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O’Dea issues statement to Celtic fans after Swansea move

O’Dea is a boyhood Celtic fan and admitted the decision to leave was ‘difficult’, yet the challenge at Swansea was one he couldn’t turn down.

Writing on X, he said: “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 (Lawwell), Michael (Nicholson), Ange (Postecoglou), Brendan, Paul (Tisdale) 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”.

What Brendan Rodgers said about O’Dea to Swansea

Rodgers was, of course, manager of Swansea City once upon a time and his stint there led him to becoming manager of Liverpool.

Speaking back in May, Rodgers said O’Dea’s heart was in coaching and not in an upstairs position.

He said: “I spoke to Darren on that. He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like.

“Obviously, I know Swansea as a club and a city better than most. So, yes, I think that there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach. I think in his heart, he still sees himself as that.

“Probably the role he’s in now is probably only do-able at a club like Celtic. But I think his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on.

“So, yes, he just asked my opinion on it.”