The former winger applied for the newly created player pathway position in 2024, a role designed to help bridge the gap between Celtic’s academy and first team.

Speaking to CeltsAreHere, McGeady revealed that his former teammate Darren O’Dea ultimately beat him to the position. He said: “This is the first time I’ve spoken about it. But when that role was created, it was Darren O’Dea and I who were the last two in the interview process for it.

“I interviewed for it, and to be honest I knew Darren was going to get it because he was already at the club as the B team coach, so Darren was probably the outstanding candidate.

“But that role is something I was really passionate about.”

McGeady came through Celtic’s youth ranks himself before establishing himself in the first team and spending six years at senior level with the club. He left in 2010 for Spartak Moscow in a big-money move before eventually returning to Scottish football later in his career.

O’Dea, meanwhile, was promoted from his position with Celtic’s B team to take up the player pathway role in April 2024. He remained in the position until leaving Celtic in May 2025 to become Alan Sheehan’s assistant at Swansea City.

Shaun Maloney subsequently occupied the pathway position before moving onto Martin O’Neill’s first-team coaching staff.