Scottish Premiership boss shares how Brendan Rodgers took his career to ‘another level’

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has been around the block in management, and he is still finding new ways to innovate after 16 years patrolling the dugout.

Now back in Glasgow after four years at Leicester City, the Irishman will hope to build on claiming the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup in the first campaign of his second spell in charge.

Domestically, Celtic are on a nine-match winning streak and have yet to concede in league action this term, building their foundations for another title tilt on domination in both boxes.

With a trip to Ross County on the cards this Sunday before the international break, the Bhoys’ bruising Champions League defeat in Dortmund will provide all the motivation required for Rodgers’ side to get back on their horse following their first wobble of the campaign.

The Irishman’s experience will be invaluable in navigating the post-mortem. Ross County manager Don Cowie has now opened up on how his counterpart helped him during his playing days while both worked together at Watford.

Don Cowie’s unique insight on Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers

Speaking ahead of Celtic’s trip to Dingwall, Cowie has revealed Rodgers helped to take his playing career to ‘another level’ after the Irishman signed him for Watford on deadline day circa January 2009.

He said [Press & Journal]: “He gave me an opportunity to take my playing career to another level by moving to England.

“I had an excellent six months working under him. We were very successful in that period, which is why Reading came along and took him off us at Watford.

“I learned an awful lot from him – he opened my mind massively in terms of how I see football and the extra detail that goes into making a team work. He was a big influence in my career, and he’s someone I can still lean on and speak to now, which is really important.

“His detail in how he wanted his team to play on the pitch, and his manner off the pitch, were the two stand-out things for me.

“He made everyone feel part of the football club. Ultimately, 11 start a game at the weekend, so you’ve got an awful lot of players beyond that who you have to keep on side to create that togetherness. It can be really difficult when you’re not playing.

“I was playing under him, but I could see the effect it had on other people. Brendan’s personality kept everyone on board, and we were all ready to play at any given time.”

Celtic fans will be encouraged by Rodgers’ Ross County record

The importance of Celtic getting back to winning ways against Ross County this weekend cannot be understated, especially with the Bhoys’ intense fixture run set to unfold on the other side of the international break.

Luckily, history could be a good omen for the visitors. In 42 competitive meetings between the Hoops and Staggies since 2010, Celtic have come out on top in 31, with Ross County claiming five victories and the other six being stalemates.

Adding to reasons to be optimistic on Sunday, Celtic boss Rodgers is also unbeaten against the Staggies across his two spells in Scotland, winning eight and drawing the other of his nine encounters.

Looking at some of their upcoming clashes, back-to-back tussles against Aberdeen and Atalanta will go a long way to shaping their position domestically and in Europe.

Even at an early stage in the season, you want to take advantage of opportunities to build into a position of strength. That starts this weekend in Dingwall, where Ross County won’t be a straightforward task, but three points must be the priority.