This is the first time in modern history that Celtic and Rangers have both changed managers mid-season.
Not only that, but they have both done it mid-season. Whilst many saw Russell Martin’s sacking coming, Brendan Rodgers’ resignation came completely out of the blue.
Tensions behind the scenes were well-documented, but the situation just exploded on Monday. Less than an hour after the resignation was announced, Dermot Desmond released a scathing statement which laid into Rodgers’ actions in recent months.
It has sent shockwaves through Scottish football and gained attention everywhere in the football globe, overshadowing the interim appointment of Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney.
Danny Rohl would’ve expected to face Rodgers in this Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final – but with his opposite number now gone, he has been asked about the news in the media.
Rangers boss Danny Rohl on Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic resignation
Celtic’s match at Tynecastle on Sunday dominated Scottish football conversation this weekend.
Rangers faced Kilmarnock at Ibrox and won their first home league game of the season. Despite this, they are 13 points behind leaders Hearts and five behind Celtic.
READ MORE: The remarkable accolade that Martin O’Neill has claimed on his unlikely Celtic return
Photo by PAUL S. AMUNDSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Edinburgh to face Hibernian, Rohl was asked about the change in the Celtic Park dugout.
He said: “I’ll be honest, I know it’s a big, big topic for everyone in Scottish football at the moment.
“But you have to understand that my focus at the moment is my team. I think we have a lot of things to do to make the next step tomorrow.
“I spoke after the game about the small step, and tomorrow we have the next chance for the next step.
“I think the pressure’s always on here for a manager. I think this is football. It’s never nice when a manager gets sacked or something like this.
“We are all together, the managers in this business, but yeah, it’s football. I think we like this sometimes, and sometimes we don’t like it.”
Rohl has managed just 91 games in his career – for comparison, O’Neill has as managed an incredible 967.
Experience isn’t everything, but the difference between the two men who will be in the respective dugouts on Sunday will be telling.