logo
Swansea to appoint Celtic's O'Dea as assistant boss

Swansea to appoint Celtic's O'Dea as assistant boss

Yahoo22-05-2025

Swansea City are close to finalising a deal to make Celtic's Darren O'Dea their new assistant boss to head coach Alan Sheehan.
In March, Sheehan added former team-mates Richard Stearman and Mark Fotheringham to his backroom team on short-term deals.
But after being appointed Swansea's head coach on a permanent basis, Sheehan said further changes to his staff were likely during the close season.
He has been targeting his fellow Irishman O'Dea since taking over as Swansea's interim head coach in February.
The 38-year-old is currently on Celtic's staff under former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers.
As a player, O'Dea represented the likes of Celtic, Reading, Leeds United, Blackpool and Dundee as well as having spells in Canada, Ukraine and India.
Dublin-born O'Dea won 20 caps for the Republic of Ireland having played international youth football in the same sides as Sheehan, who is also 38.
O'Dea began his coaching career at Motherwell before returning to Celtic in 2019.
He was initially under-18s boss before stepping up to take charge of Celtic B in 2021, and became player pathway manager in 2024.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kelleher leaves Colchester for Cork
Kelleher leaves Colchester for Cork

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Kelleher leaves Colchester for Cork

Colchester United defender Fiacre Kelleher has joined League Of Ireland side Cork City after turning down a contract extension. The 29-year-old has agreed what Cork say is a "long-term" deal after making 32 appearances for Colchester last season and scoring three goals. Advertisement He began his career with Scottish giants Celtic and also had spells at Oxford United, Macclesfield, Wrexham, Bradford City, before joining Colchester in January 2023. Cork is Kelleher's home city and he told the club website: "It's been a few weeks in the pipeline, so it's nice to get something sorted." The deal will take effect on 1 July when his contract with Colchester expires.

Shane Lowry has hot-mic meltdown during disastrous US Open performance: ‘F–k this place'
Shane Lowry has hot-mic meltdown during disastrous US Open performance: ‘F–k this place'

New York Post

timea day ago

  • New York Post

Shane Lowry has hot-mic meltdown during disastrous US Open performance: ‘F–k this place'

Shane Lowry likely won't be used in any promotional materials for Oakmont Country Club. The 38-year-old Irishman had a hot-mic meltdown during Friday's U.S. Open at the Pittsburgh-area course after missing a close putt for par on his fourth hole en route to his 17-over par finish. Advertisement 'F–k this place,' Lowry said before tapping in the bogey to place him at 14-over. 'F–k this place.' Oakmont is known for being a course that can mess with some of the world's best and this year's edition has been no different. Lowry missed the cut by posting a 79-78 in his 36 holes, joining the likes of Phil Mickelson (8-over), 2016 winner Dustin Johnson (10-over) and 2024 champion Bryson DeChambeau (10-over) as standouts who will not be in action Saturday. In 2016, Lowry had a much better run at the course by finishing tied for second with a 1-under showing. Advertisement 4 Lowry misses the putt for par. @MattBellner/X Warning: NSFW language He didn't come close to replicating his effort this year. Advertisement Lowry bogeyed five holes and double bogeyed three times while finishing 9-over during his first 18 holes, before bogeying five holes again and double bogeying a pair to tally an 8-over mark Friday. Thursday's action featured Lowry taking out his frustrations on a microphone at the 17th hole after he could not get his ball out of the rough. The broadcast captured Lowry seemingly smacking the microphone. Advertisement 4 Lowry missed the cut after posting a 17-over score. @MattBellner/X Friday also featured Lowry making a mental blunder when he grabbed his ball on the 14th hole but failed to put his marker down, resulting in a one-stroke violation. 'Probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done,' Lowry said with a laugh, per Yahoo. 'I picked the ball up, had the ball in my hand, turned around to (caddie) Darren (Reynolds) and he basically said to me, 'What the f–k are you doing?' … By then, maybe my mind was somewhere else.' This poor showing comes after Lowry finished second in a pair of events this year, including the Truist Championship last month. He acknowledged before the tournament began that Oakmont can be 'exhausting.' 4 Shane Lowry finished second in the 2016 U.S. Open. Getty Images 'I don't know to be honest,' Lowry said of his showing, per Yahoo. 'I drove it in play a lot (Thursday), did what I was supposed to do off the tee, and then just didn't have my game that I've had for the last while. And then I really struggled on the greens (Thursday), and the round got away from me out here, and that was it. Advertisement 'They let it sort of do what they said it wouldn't do, but that's all fine, that's the U.S. Open. I just made obviously too many doubles, too many big mistakes, and then when I got a couple chances, I didn't convert them. I didn't really do much right to be honest, other than I drove the ball as good as I've probably driven the ball in a long time. So, yeah, weird couple of days.' 4 Shane Lowry had been playing well entering the tournament. Getty Images Sam Burns is the course's leader at 3-under entering Saturday's action, while the scorching Scottie Scheffler needs a run at 4-over.

Rodgers a 'big driver' in O'Dea's Swansea move
Rodgers a 'big driver' in O'Dea's Swansea move

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Rodgers a 'big driver' in O'Dea's Swansea move

Darren O'Dea says Brendan Rodgers played a pivotal role in his decision to leave Celtic to become assistant head coach at Swansea City. Former Republic of Ireland international O'Dea held the role of player pathway manager with ex-Swans boss Rodgers' side but has now linked up with compatriot Alan Sheehan at the Stadium. Advertisement "This club is similar to Celtic in that it has a real identity, it is not just enough to come in here and just win, there needs to be more. There needs to be a product on the pitch that the fans relate to," said O'Dea. "Speaking to Brendan, who has been brilliant in all this, he talked about the fanbase having a big understanding of their football. "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." Following Luke Williams' exit in February, Swansea collected 24 points from 13 matches at a rate of 1.85 points per game under Sheehan last season, the joint-third highest points tally in the Championship over that period. Advertisement And O'Dea says he regularly watched Swansea last term as part of his role with Celtic. "The guys here did a fantastic job over the final part of last season, I watched a number of games last season while I was at Celtic as it was part of my responsibilities to be monitoring and watching football across Europe," he added. "I am well versed in what the team looks like, and the players, I am looking forward to getting to know them."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store