Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed a trophy-winning career, including at Celtic after starting his journey with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
12 months after Mourinho’s Porto beat Celtic in the UEFA Cup final in 2003, he was on Chelsea’s doorstep as a Champions League winner and the next big thing on the coaching scene.
The self-proclaimed ‘special one’, who is now coach of Turkish giants Fenerbahce, would appoint Rodgers as the coach of the youth team and that began the Irishman’s journey into the big time.
It wouldn’t be until 2016 that Rodgers stepped foot into the Celtic hotseat and went on to dominate in Scotland like nobody before.
Fast forward to the present, and upon the 52-year-old’s return to Glasgow last season, Rodgers is pushing for the Treble, as the Hoops close in on another Premiership title.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 29 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 87 | 17 | 70 | 75 |
| 2 |  RangersRangers | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 59 | 26 | 33 | 59 |
| 3 |  HibernianHibernian | 29 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 43 |
| 4 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 29 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 42 |
The Celtic job is Rodgers for as long as he wants it, and hopefully, he doesn’t repeat history by making the daft mistake he did with Leicester City in 2019.
But he can’t remain in the Celtic Park dugout forever, so when he does leave, does Mourinho want the gig?
READ MORE: Jose Mourinho shares Celtic ‘respect’ in classy response to Rangers question
Jose Mourinho hails Brendan Rodgers and doesn’t rule out becoming Celtic manager
To, one day, have a name of Mourinho in the Scottish circles would be incredible for the game and he hasn’t ruled it out.
The two-time European Cup winner stated that a club like Celtic has ‘big expectations’ and he loves the ‘passion’ in the Scottish game.
Mourinho also described Rodgers as a ‘fantastic’ coach, as he told his pre-match press conference ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League clash against Rangers.
“In this moment, no, because I have a job that motivates me and a job that demands loyalty,” responded Mourinho to taking the Celtic gig one day.
“But, why not in the future? People can say that the Scottish league is a league of two teams. But it is a league of passion.
“And, for me, passion in football is everything. To play in empty stadiums and play in competitions where there isn’t that fire of the passion, for me, it doesn’t make any sense.
“Celtic and Rangers, they are big clubs, with big fanbases, big emotions, big responsibility and big expectations. Why not?
“But, at this moment, I have a job. Celtic has a fantastic coach like Brendan (Rodgers). Rangers have Ferguson now, so full respect for them and I am not searching for a new job.”
What Rodgers once said about Mourinho
Rodgers owes a lot to Mourinho for where he is today because the work with the Portuguese helped him grow to where he is now.
Celtic are bearing the fruit of it all, as Rodgers spoke highly of Mourinho back in 2022, as posted by Sky Sports.
“There is a lot said about Jose over many years,” said Rodgers in 2022. “But, for me, he is such a special manager. One of the greats of our generation.
“I suppose, when I was a young coach, and I look back on all the managers I ever worked with, probably none of them would say that they felt they were mentors to me.
“But, certainly, what I did was consciously simulate as much of their great know-how and work. Observe, watch, learn and study.
“At that time, if you think about Jose back in 2004 when I joined Chelsea and he had just joined in the summer. Jose was the guy that everyone wanted to be like – he just had the X-factor.”
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