Brendan Rodgers wants Celtic to grow under his stewardship and stressed he isn’t manager just to maintain levels.
The Northern Irishman has now entered into the final year of his contract which was signed when he returned to the Hoops in 2023.
Rodgers has insisted that he will see out the three-year deal, but has remained coy over what the future holds for him beyond the summer of 2026.
Talks between Rodgers and the Celtic hierarchy were held in the summer, but the Bhoys boss has confirmed he hasn’t been offered a new deal yet.
Rodgers speaks about his future at Celtic
Rodgers spoke to the press on Friday as he prepares his side for Flag Day on Sunday against St Mirren as the new Scottish Premiership season begins.
He was quizzed directly about his future and contract, but explained clearly that there’s been no movement as of yet.
Rodgers explained, however, that he won’t stay on as Celtic manager if the club were simply to maintain current levels in performance.
He said: “There’s no further (contract) update no, and for the sake of honesty and clarity I can tell you exactly where we’re at.
“So I said when I came here first that I’d do three years minimum. People had me out the door at the end of last season or going various places.
“I said then and I’ll say it now – there’s nowhere to go. I love being here. I’ve done two years. I’ve got one more year to go.
“Dermot (Desmond) and Michael (Nicholson) and I had a conversation over the summer on where we were at and where it sits with myself and everything else and I said I’m very happy here.
“There’s conditions we want in to be able to improve and be better because I’m not the type of manager that’s good at maintaining anything.
“If it’s just something to maintain, I’m not the manager for Celtic. It’ll be someone else. But to build and grow and develop and push, then of course I love being at Celtic.
“So when that time comes, when the club offer me a deal or not, then it doesn’t make a difference to me. Because every single day of my life I’ll give everything here to the very last day.
“So when the club feel there’s that time to make an offer then they will do, but as I said it’s slightly different from a manager’s perspective to a player.
“Players and clubs need to ensure they’re tied in especially at this time of the year when there’s maybe only six months left.
“It’s slightly different for a manager but it doesn’t change my hunger and desire here for the work.”
Longest-serving Celtic managers of 21st century
By signing a new deal, Rodgers would likely go on to become one of the longest-serving Celtic managers in the current century.
Martin O’Neill was the third Celtic manager of the 21st century after John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish, and the Irishman still remains the longest-serving with five years of work.
Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon’s first spell both spanned four years at the helm, while Rodgers was three months shy of three years’ service for his first spell.
Tony Mowbray is the shortest-serving since 2000 having spent just nine months as the manager of the Parkhead giants.
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