New Swansea City assistant head coach Darren O’Dea has revealed that Brendan Rodgers played a big part in his decision to walk away from Celtic.
The 38-year-old O’Dea has officially been named assistant at Swansea, working alongside new boss Alan Sheehan ahead of the 2025-26 Championship campaign.
While the role marks a new chapter, O’Dea revealed it was a difficult call to leave Celtic.
“Obviously I have been with a club I have grown up in, so it was difficult to come to terms with the decision in terms of leaving,” he admitted.
“But once I spoke to [Alan] and had an insight into what the club is wanting to do, I wanted to join.”
O’Dea’s connection to Celtic runs deep. Having risen through the youth system to play at senior level — including Champions League nights and trophy wins — he returned post-retirement in various coaching roles.
Yet, it was Rodgers — who famously guided Swansea to the Premier League and is now back in the Celtic dugout — whose words helped tip the scale.
“Speaking to Brendan, who has been brilliant in all this, he talked about the fanbase having a big understanding of their football,” said O’Dea.
“He could not have spoken more highly of the club and the city, and the DNA of the club. That is a real big driver in me wanting to come here, it’s really important to me.”
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His endorsement of Swansea resonated with O’Dea, who says the club’s identity and ambition made the decision feel right despite the personal difficulty of leaving Glasgow.
“I had a good understanding of the club anyway, but it’s a really exciting project, one I wanted to be a part of and I am delighted it is done now,” he explained.
“I would not have left Celtic unless it was for something I felt very strongly about.”
While the move marks a significant change, O’Dea believes he and Sheehan share a clear footballing alignment.
“I think Alan and I are similar in terms of how we work and how we see things. He will be the one making the decisions, but I was clear I did not want to work in a way where I would sacrifice principles that I have got, and the conversations I had mean I know we are not going to be doing that.”
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The former defender also reflected on his past encounters with Swansea, recalling a particularly painful — and memorable — moment from his playing days.
“I played against Swansea a few times, and there are some that stand out,” he recalled.
“When I was with Ipswich, I came up against Nathan Dyer, who was on the right wing. Now, obviously, he is a lot smaller than me and I just could not get hold of him, so I tried to kick him.
“But, ironically, he left a bit on me and I was the one who went off injured. I got second prize that day for sure!”
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