No-one is buying Brendan Rodgers’ phoney outrage

Today amongst other things that went on in the football world, you might have missed Brendan Rodgers distancing himself from the Manchester United job and slamming ‘disrespectful’ rumours of him having a behind the scenes agreement to become the next manager of the English giant.

Rodgers retorted in angst at these rumours claiming they were completely out of order in respects to there being a manager already in situ at the Red Devils. However, his transparent and frankly ridiculous attempt to show he is a character of higher principles and integrity is an utter fallacy. He may perceive that he is the only shrewd man on the face of the earth, whilst he infantalizes those in the media and the rest of the football world. But those of us who have witnessed his past transgressions are more than aware this is merely a show.

Brendan, by the admission of most Celtic supporters, acknowledge that he was under constraints at Celtic Park thanks to the all-seeing eye of Peter Lawwell and his massive ego. Having said that, Brendan also left Celtic Football Club in no man’s land – dangling in the wind in the February of 2019. All while we were merely a few points ahead in what was turning out to be the closest title race we had had in years from anybody. The Northern Irishman done a midnight flit to the town of Leicester without so much as a ‘bye’ or ‘leave’.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Leicester City acknowledges the fans following victory in the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Millwall and Leicester City at The Den on September 22, 2021 (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

After leading the Celtic Support up the garden path with talk of how he always dreamed of being at Paradise, Brendan could not help but be tempted by the allure of the bright lights of the Premier League. His profile raised again in Scotland, Celtic had given him what he needed, then he left like a thief in the night. He will do the same to Leicester when a bigger opportunity arises. He is a shameless careerist and a mercenary. Not to mention a narcissist to boot.

So please, Brendan, save us all the ‘holier than thou’ spiel mate. You’ve done it once, you’ll do it again. Something as puerile and insignificant as integrity can’t stand in the way of progress, can it?

Paul Gillespie

About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

7 Comments

  1. The guy was off to China to treble his wage , fell thru , left his boyhood club celtic aye right for Leicester yes Leicester! But don’t worry Leicester fans hes there for life ha ha .

  2. Full marks for this article! I would have more respect for the man if he had simply said that he wanted more money! Disrespectful? What respect did he show to those who adored him and whom he suddenly left in the lurch? “Always a phoney, never a Celt”, and yet he did so well for us! The horrors of 2020/21 would never have happened, if he had stayed! Crerand, Dalglish, Nicholas and Tierney and others who left us for more money – you are entitled to do that, but please be honest, and do NOT insult our intelligence by saying how much you really love us!

    • What are you trying to say David. You give the players you mention a pass ?, but Brendan does not deserve the same ?. In my opinion he never left for money, he went to a better league as a career choice, with a view to doing well with them, and moving on to a top 4 club down there, or Europe. Granted the way he went left a bad taste, but Celtic fans who renamed him the rat overnight should be ashamed. Why was Tiernay not labelled a rat ” the green brigade are part of me ” with his loudspeaker, and all the while was trying to get a move down south, remember Everton mate, if anyone should be labelled a rat it should be k.t. Bite your tongue and be thankful we had Brendan and k.t, who both love Celtic in their own way, and neither of them are rats in my opinion.

    • Paddy Crerand stood at the entrance to Celtic Park and wept openly. The board sold him to Manchester United for cash-he didn’t want to go and broke down on the way out. He did and does love Celtic. Compare that to Brendan…

  3. If you remember BR’s speech after our invincible first Treble,he included the words that this was as good as it would get,raising concerns for me immediately.Ultimately,Scottish football wasn’t big enough a challenge for him,similar to big Virgil who strolled through games and left with our best wishes.You only have to look at the way BR treated his ex-wife and the way he operates within football to see exactly the character he is.When his new partner was asked about his love of Celtic,she stated that she had never heard him mention them…

  4. Good article. Completely agree. He did practically the same as SG did with his “Do I look happy?” – as soon as SG said that I knew he was off. They think they’re the smartest men in the room when they give these politician-like answers & the deluded fans lap it up. Never fooled me for a second.