I reckon that 1,574 days have passed since Brendan Rodgers broke Celtic fans hearts and joined Leicester City. Alienated from sections of the Celtic support and labelled “Never a Celt, always a fraud” by the Green Brigade, yet here we sit today as the Irishman has agreed a return to Parkhead on a three-year-deal.
However, the context behind his return to his boyhood club is in stark contrast to what he inherited when he first joined the club in 2016.
Rodgers took over a side who had been beaten in the Scottish Cup semi-final by the resurging Rangers, failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season and finished last in their Europa League group.
An unbeaten first domestic season, UEFA Champions league group stage football two years running and three trebles in a row later and Rodgers had solidified himself in modern Celtic folklore.
Murmurings of discontent over his lack of control over recruitment and the board’s unwillingness to invest in order to compete more in Europe led Rodgers to destroy his legacy at Celtic in the eyes of many as he left to south of the border. But what is different this time?
This time, the Irishman takes over a club who is better equipped in almost every department. A squad that won a treble last season, guaranteed Champions League group stage football, an extremely healthy financial situation, and in particular a willingness to invest along with a competent Head of Recruitment Mark Lawwell all comes together to provide enough excitement and potential for an elite manager such as Rodgers to want to return to Celtic.
The 50-year-old Irishman has demanded assurances of financial backing. Talks of five year plans and aims to take the club to a European final should only entice and excite fans further.
Brendan Rodgers was a lot of younger Celtic fans first taste into what supporting Celtic is all about, memories of Moussa Dembele’s double against Manchester City and Kieran Tierney’s meteoric rise to Celtic stardom cloud the judgement and opinion of many of these younger Celtic fans.
Many fans will not forgive Rodgers and that is not something I disagree with, his commitment to the club will deservedly be continuously questioned over the following years. But is he any worse that Ange Postecoglou who didn’t even stay around as long as Rodgers did the first time around?
To me Brendan’s return can be summed up in one single quote: “Better the devil you know than devil you don’t”.
But on the other hand, why not refresh your memory for the better side of Brendan managing Celtic by watching this…
James French
HUGE SAVINGS IN THE CELTIC STAR’S SUMMER SALE!
The Celtic Star’s book promotion has been so successful, with hundreds of books at great prices being posted to Celtic fans all over the world, that we’ve decided to continue with the sale until the end of July. We’ve reduced all six books currently available from their usual retail price of £20 and prices are as low as £6 (see below).
All books are high quality hardback, with some signed by the author. And it’s also worth noting that you only pay postage on one book, so it’s free for the second, third and so on. ORDER HERE or click on The Celtic Star image above…this is how it feels to be Celtic!
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- Summer Sale – Just £11
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- Summer Sale – Just £11
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- Harry Hood – Twice as Good
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- Summer Sale – Just £6
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- Summer Sale – Just £6
Every one knows he was the top candidate if Celtic board never tried for him we would be spiteful now dermit knows the reason for brendan leaving abd he is willing to to back him in big business you cant afford to be spiteful the have signed the man that always said he has Celtic.F.C at heart in europe it didnt work out cause some of our players foldid stupid mistakes personally its champions league he wants improvement we all ready have a team to do well in spl we just to strenghten squad 18 first team players