Former Rangers midfielder Graham Dorrans has hailed ex-Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers. The Irishman was at the Celtic helm for two and a half years before moving to Leicester City in February 2019. Celtic quest for a tenth successive title was stopped during a COVID-hit 2020/21 season under Rodgers’ replacement, Neil Lennon.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound, as reported by the Daily Record, Dorrans said that he thinks his former employers would have struggled to stop 10IAR if Rodgers had stayed in Glasgow as he referred to him as ‘the best manager in the country for years’.
“It was tough. Celtic were ahead of us and if Brendan Rodgers had stuck around at Celtic, I think Rangers would have found it a little bit tougher to stop 10-in-a-row.
“He had a really good team and he’s a really good manager, probably the best manager in this country for years.
“I think Graeme Murty was thrown in the first time but I don’t think he was the second time and really wanted to keep it. It was a tough time on the pitch, off the pitch.
“Rangers were finding their feet after being out the league for so long, building up to the success under Steven Gerrard.”
The ex-Liverpool manager won seven trophies in a row, an Invincible Treble, a 69-game unbeaten run and numerous other successes before being replaced by Neil Lennon when he left for Leicester in February 2019. Supporters will likely recognise how impressive Rodgers’ time at the club was and a lot of people realised that there were issues at a boardroom level that lead to his departure, which was emphasised by the off-field mess of last season.
Rodgers has enjoyed success with Leicester, finishing fifth twice and winning an FA Cup; however, he will likely be unable to match the intensity of the Celtic job wherever he goes. It is a case of what might have been with Rodgers and 10IAR but the reasons for Rodgers switching from Glasgow appeared to crop up last year.
