Brendan Rodgers’ two spells at Celtic both came to an abrupt ending.
The Irishman infamously proclaimed that he was a boyhood Celtic fan when he made the move to replace Ronny Deila in 2016.
Rodgers’ record of eleven trophies in roughly five years is massively impressive – it could well have improved if it weren’t for the Hoops boss’ shock resignation on Monday.
Dermot Desmond’s explosive statement accused Rodgers of being “self-serving, divisive and contributing to a toxic atmosphere at the club.” We have never seen a manager so scathingly described by a Celtic owner in history.
Rodgers, on the other hand, made a big deal out of his commitment and affinity to the club. But how happy was he at Celtic?
Si Ferry on whether Brendan Rodgers ‘loved’ it at Celtic
Tensions between Rodgers and the Hoops hierarchy were well-established, with the Irishman’s media comments being widely interpreted.
He condemned the ‘cowardly action’ of a club insider who briefed against him after the summer transfer window, making it clear that all wasn’t well.
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Rodgers’ decision to leave Celtic Park for Leicester in February 2019 left scars that never quite healed for some, and his 2023 return was awkward.
It was the opposite move that his interim replacement, Martin O’Neill, made in 2000. Fans will remember the crowds which gathered out the stadium for his arrival.
For Si Ferry, speaking on Open Goal, there was never a feeling that Rodgers enjoyed life at Celtic as much as O’Neill.
He said: “Even guys like Martin O’Neill, when he was at Celtic, you felt like it was a pure pleasure for him to be there.
“I never felt that with Brendan Rodgers. Martin O’Neill came from the Premier League, he was flying at Leicester.
“He came to Celtic, and he was like, ‘this is the biggest job of my life’. I never got that feeling with Rodgers, that he loved being at Celtic.”
It’s an interesting observation which would likely be disputed by Rodgers, who is the second-most successful Hoops manager in history.
Though he will never be held in the same regard as O’Neill, as his hero’s welcome this week has shown.
Where does Brendan Rodgers rank among Celtic managers?
Before the modern era, the likes of Willie Maley, Jimmy McGrory and Jock Stein established legacies that could never be touched by anyone today.
But where does Rodgers rank among modern managers? Neil Lennon’s playing spell and European success as a manager could rank him above the Northern Irishman.
He was far more successful than Gordon Strachan in terms of trophies, but Strachan’s back-to-back Champions League knockout appearances and three-in-a-row against a financially dubious Rangers team cannot be overlooked.
If Ange Postecoglou were to return in Rodgers’ place, even he could have a go at outdoing his reputation, but reports suggest that this is unlikely at the moment.
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