Luka Modric’s Swansea City set to make Celtic coach ‘big offer’ to join EFL Championship club

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In mid April, Swansea City made an announcement that shocked the footballing world.

The EFL Championship club secured mid-table safety this season and appointed a new manager in Alan Sheehan as they seek promotion to the Premier League next season.

But they also managed to attract the investment of Real Madrid star and Croatia legend Luka Modric, who bought a minority stake in the club.

The 39-year-old wants to be a key part of Swansea City’s future and a current Celtic coach could be joining him on that ambitious journey.

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Swansea City ‘launch move’ for Celtic’s Darren O’Dea

The man in question is Celtic employee and former player Darren O’Dea, who is currently the professional player pathway manager at Parkhead.

Sheehan and O’Dea have a connection given they are both Irish and the Swansea boss, according to The Scottish Sun, wants him as his assistant.

O’Dea was previously manager of Celtic B before stepping into his current position and allowing Stephen McManus to take charge of the youngsters.

In his role, O’Dea has stepped away from on-the-grass coaching and is working closely with Paul Tisdale, who is Celtic’s head of football operations.

But Swansea are reportedly on the verge of offering O’Dea a big opportunity to become their new assistant manager for next season and beyond.

O’Dea’s playing career at Celtic

Of course, former central defender O’Dea turned out for the Celtic first-team between 2006 and 2012. The Hoops initially recruited him from Home Farm FC in Ireland.

O’Dea went into the Celtic academy in 2005 and was promoted to the senior ranks just a year later, making his debut against St Mirren in the League Cup.

He suffered a number of injury problems at the club and between 2009 and 2012, he spent most of his time out on loan to Reading, Ipswich Town and Leeds United.

O’Dea made 20 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team and first went into coaching at Motherwell, as he took charge of their U18s in 2019.

Celtic then made him their U18s boss before being promoted to the Celtic B manager for two years.