Not everyone is able to make it at Celtic.
Some go on to be a massive success, whereas others continue their footballing journey elsewhere.
For Brendan Rodgers, the job of telling someone that their future lies elsewhere, away from Celtic Park is never easy, but one former Hoops academy player has lifted the lid on how the conversation went and why he will always have the utmost respect.
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Sam Wardrop explains why he respects Brendan Rodgers
Sam Wardrop is one of the many who came through the Celtic academy but was unable to break into the first team.
Wardrop captained the youth side to the 2017 Youth Cup final win against Rangers but never made an appearance at senior level.
His time at Celtic came to an end one year later and while it was gutting to hear, Wardrop praised Rodgers for how he went out of his way to look after him.
“I had a couple of meetings with Rodgers and even him giving me time and space was something he didn’t need to do,” he told the Daily Record.
“That’s something that’s always stuck with me, just in terms of how to respect and treat people.
“I’d imagine it’s still the exact same. It’s probably one of the best environments I’ve been in.
“Even though I wasn’t directly part of the squad, being in the same building, training ground and having conversations with him.. he’s just got high standards and I took a lot of those lessons moving on in life.”
Who does Sam Wardrop play for now?
After leaving the Hoops in 2018 the defender then moved on to Dundee United before spells with Dumbarton and Airdrieonians.
His most recent venture took him to Sweden to sign for Ljungskile SK, but he left at the end of 2024.
As well as his footballing journey, the 27-year-old is also an active content creator and documents his life in and away from football.
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