EX- RANGERS MANAGER NOW FAVORITE TO SUCCEED BRENDAN RODGERS AT CELTIC AFTER WILFRIED NANCY SHOCK U-TURN

In a twist that has sent shockwaves through Scottish football, former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has emerged as the shock frontrunner to take over at Celtic Park following Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure last month.

The Dutchman’s odds have plummeted to 2/1 with bookmakers, overtaking a host of names after Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy executed a dramatic U-turn on advanced talks with the Hoops.

Rodgers’ exit came amid a trophyless start to the season and mounting boardroom pressure, leaving Celtic nine points adrift in the Premiership. The club had pinned hopes on Nancy, the 2023 MLS Coach of the Year, whose attacking philosophy and success in leading Crew to the Supporters’ Shield made him an exciting prospect.

Sources close to Parkhead revealed negotiations were “all but sealed” last week, with compensation agreed at £2.5 million. But in a bombshell statement yesterday, Nancy cited “personal commitments” and loyalty to his current squad as reasons for pulling out, leaving Celtic scrambling just weeks before the January transfer window.

Enter van Bronckhorst, the 48-year-old who orchestrated Rangers’ title triumph in 2021, shattering Celtic’s dreams of ten consecutive championships. His Rangers tenure, though brief, was marked by Europa League heroics and a domestic double chase. Since leaving Ibrox in 2022, he’s rebuilt his reputation at Besiktas in Turkey, guiding them to a solid mid-table finish last season. “Gio knows Scottish football inside out,” said a Celtic insider. “His tactical nous and man-management could reignite our title bid.”

The appointment would be seismic. Celtic fans, still scarred by van Bronckhorst’s Old Firm masterclasses, have flooded social media with outrage. “From Rangers reject to our savior? This is madness!” tweeted one supporter, while petitions against the move garnered 5,000 signatures overnight. Yet, pragmatic voices argue his experience trumps sentiment—especially with Rangers firing on all cylinders under Philippe Clement.

Bookies now list van Bronckhorst ahead of Ange Postecoglou (5/1) and Kieran McKenna (7/1), with interim boss Martin O’Neill drifting to 10/1. Celtic chiefs are reportedly accelerating talks, eyeing a deal by mid-December. If confirmed, van Bronckhorst’s first task? Silencing the Ibrox roar on January 2. In the cauldron of the Old Firm, redemption or revolution awaits.