Brendan Rodgers’ second spell as Celtic boss has certainly had more bumpy roads than his first.
Despite the issues, on and off the pitch, Celtic have still picked up four trophies, and unlike his first spell, he won’t be facing Steven Gerrard.
That’s because Gerrard turned down the chance to manage Rangers following Russell Martin’s sacking, as those inside Ibrox are still looking for a new coach.
But with Gerrard not coming back, Peter Grant explained why Rodgers is a ‘lucky’ man in the Celtic Park dugout.
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Brendan Rodgers ‘lucky’ to return to Celtic
There aren’t many cities in the footballing world that can match the pressure of Glasgow because the scrutiny that comes with being a Celtic or Rangers manager is palpable.
Speaking on Go Radio, Grant thinks you should only get ‘one chance’ to manage a club like Celtic, and given how Rodgers left in 2019 and the fact that he has returned, he should count himself ‘lucky’, as he compared the situation to Gerrard and Rangers.
“I didn’t see that with the people getting mentioned with Rangers, with Steven Gerrard,” said Grant. “People were talking about Beale, the last time. His brain as a coach.
“For the Rangers job and the Celtic job, you get one chance. You are a very, very lucky man if you get a second chance.
“That goes for Brendan as well. I said that, at the time, Brendan walked out, he came back up, and he was available.
“But for him to be asked that question again to go back. Big Billy (McNeill) did it. Absolutely (one of my mentors). These guys knew they had that aura. When they walked back in, they knew their strength and weaknesses.
“I think Rangers need more than that, at this moment in time. I don’t see that leadership on the pitch. You look at Muscat getting mentioned with it, and I look at his CV and say, ‘yeah.’ People will knock his CV, but it doesn’t matter.”
Rodgers’ record in his second spell as Celtic manager
Celtic’s defeat to Dundee on Sunday has put a dark cloud over Rodgers because he is now taking flak for the team’s performances.
Yes, the Celtic fans are right to protest, but time and time again, what the team is producing just isn’t good enough, and he has to take the heat.
Saying that, it shows Celtic’s power that they have still picked up four trophies during Rodgers’ second spell in charge.
- Games: 121
- Wins: 82
- Draws: 20
- Losses: 19
- Goals scored: 210
- Goals conceded: 127
- Trophies: 4
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