Ronny Deila was drunk. He got into a taxi. Then everything fell apart.
Let me tell you about the wildest 48 hours in Israeli football history.
Ronny Deila — the former Celtic boss who won two league titles at Parkhead — is done at Maccabi Tel Aviv . Not because of results. Because of a taxi driver. A bottle of alcohol. And words he admits he said but can’t remember .
The Norwegian coach, 50, was placed on “leave of absence” this week following a sexual harassment complaint filed by a female taxi driver in Tel Aviv . She says Deila made inappropriate sexual comments during a late-night ride. Deila’s response? “I do not remember the details of the incident, as I had too much to drink and therefore chose to take a taxi” .
Then he apologized. Sort of.
“If my words offended the taxi driver, I apologise to her sincerely and wholeheartedly for that,” he said in a statement .
That’s not exactly a denial. And the police are now investigating .
The Breakdown
Let’s rewind.
Thursday night: Deila has too much to drink. Gets into a taxi. The female driver later files a complaint alleging sexual harassment .
Saturday: Maccabi Tel Aviv loses 4-2 to Beitar Jerusalem. Deila is on the sideline like nothing happened .
Sunday: Deila releases a statement. Admits “an incident occurred.” Says he was too drunk to remember details. Apologizes. The club announces he’s taking “a leave of absence for personal reasons” .
Monday morning: Deila gathers the players at training. Says goodbye. Reportedly bursts into tears .According to Israeli media, he told them: “I’m sorry. It hurts very much that I cannot finish what we started together. I am sad that we have to part this way.” Then he walked out. Cameras caught him at Tel Aviv airport, boarding a flight to Spain under a shady cap .
Monday night: Kenny Miller takes over with a few hours’ notice. Wins 4-0 .That’s a movie script. But it really happened.
Kenny Miller Speaks
The former Rangers and Scotland striker has been Deila’s assistant since January 2025, first at Atlanta United and then at Maccabi . Now he’s the interim boss. And he didn’t ask for it like this.”It’s been a tough 48 hours,” Miller said after the 4-0 win .He hasn’t even spoken to Deila yet.I haven’t spoken to Ronny because I have been very busy preparing the team,” Miller admitted . “It’s hard for me because he wasn’t just the head coach, he is a friend. I’m also very sad because I’m very grateful to him for everything he gave me.”
Miller said he’s focused on finishing the season strong. There are six games left, plus a cup final .
“I am sure Ronny will want me to succeed,” Miller added. “We have a very good relationship so I’m sure I can turn to him for any advice I need.”
What the Players Are Saying
Maccabi defender Roy Revivo spoke about the emotional rollercoaster inside the dressing room.”We went through three not-so-simple days,” Revivo said after the 4-0 win. “To be honest, it was a bit frustrating because Ronny was a coach who was very connected to the players and many liked him.” But football moves fast. And Miller already has their respect.”I really like Kenny regardless of the situation,” Revivo said. “I think he has that passion that makes us want to fight for him and give everything on the pitch, and I think we saw that today.”
The Bigger Picture
Deila’s contract runs out at the end of June. Israeli media is already reporting that his time at Maccabi is effectively over .This is how a once-promising season ends. He took over in January. Won 9 of 12 matches. The team was fighting for the title and in a cup final. Now he’s gone. Crying on a plane to Spain .And in his place? A Rangers hero. Managing the team that just hired a former Celtic boss.Football is strange. This is stranger than most.
The Bottom Line
Ronny Deila was drunk. He got into a taxi. He said things he shouldn’t have said. Now he’s unemployed — or close to it.Kenny Miller stepped in with no warning and delivered a 4-0 win.The players say they’ll fight for him. The season isn’t over. Six games left. A cup final to play.But nobody in Israel is talking about trophies right now.They’re talking about the Norwegian who cried his way to the airport.
