John Kennedy

I could see him staying for a year to help with continuity, then managing an SPL or English Championship team. If he did well as a manager in his own right, I could see him coming back here as boss one day.

Think he's got to prove himself as a manager before getting the big job here.

 

Absolutely was delighted when I saw this on top of Rodgers returning.

 

I said he’s well within his rights to seek a new opportunity but I’m thrilled he’s staying.

 

Him and Strachan staying will help a lot with the initial continuity for the squad.

Think it's a big win for us.

 

Can’t understate enough how big it is keeping Kennedy here, continuity is huge and he’s obviously the key man on the training pitch for us.

He’ll go at somepoint but glad he’s still here.

 

That may well have entered his thought process, and I would understand if it did, because it’s a very valid point. England is well known for the managerial merry go round. It’s not far fetched to think Ange may well be out a job in 6 or so months time.

 

There's been a lot of talk over John Kennedy as your assistant. A wanted man it seems. Just how crucial was it that you keep him by your side and obviously a man who knows this club better than most?

Yeah, it was very important. I had spoken to Michael (Nicholson) about that when we met. I think that over the course of my career I've always come into clubs, some I've come in on my own, some I’ve come in with staff. But I've always felt that coming back here that it was really going to be really important for John to be here because he knows how I work. He knows the rhythm of my days and how I can work. He is steeped in Celtic. He's an incredible worker. He's a great football man. He has the respect of the players. He has respect for all the staff. So, for me to be able to have him here was important. So, when I spoke to John and try to convince him to stay. I was really pleased and happy that he wanted to. He’s a great guy, a great football man, and we worked well together last time we were here and hopefully, it can be the same this time.

 

I wouldn't underestimate what he's turned down here (and I don't mean the money). Really grateful to him for that.

 

Really glad he's staying at least the players will see a familiar face when they return.

So get it up ye Ange

 

Rodgers has also been reunited with John Kennedy, who will fill the assistant manager’s role.

One of the few staff members who did not move to Leicester with Rodgers in 2019, Kennedy was keen to follow Postecoglou to Spurs this summer but was blocked from doing so by a contractual clause.

‘I spoke to John on that initially but at that time I wasn’t in discussion with Celtic,’ said Rodgers. ‘We were close — I helped him when I was here and I’ve always been there for him.

‘We had a meal a number of weeks back, myself, him and Woodsy (goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods).

‘I was aware of his situation but as soon as I realised there was a possibility to come back I made sure to call him.

‘He’s very underrated. He’s a top guy, very humble but he works tirelessly. He’s got great innovation as a coach, I can trust him. When I first came here, I did a lot of the coaching for that first year so everyone could see the philosophy and how we would work.

‘But I know I can come in and trust him to control that aspect of it.

‘Whilst I set the vision and the strategy and will coach, I know he will understand exactly where I’m at because of how we worked before. I’m really happy he decided to stay.’

 

Lets be honest, I have full faith in Ange’s ability but it’s a club that deeply engrained in failure that Conte and Mourinho couldn’t get the mentality changed.

Maybe too defensive for a traditionally attacking side but they are two thoroughbred winning managers, with an Iron Mentality and know what’s needed for a World Class level of club that Spurs aspire to be.


But look what he done here in a * bigger mess we somehow managed to find ourselves in. It’s possible, either way, he can do it without Kennedy and Strachan - they’re oors.

 

Genuinely think there is a chance he'll be our manager after Brendan now. I can see it.

 

When Brendan Rodgers assesses the first-team squad at his disposal, he will find a group of young, hungry and talented winners.

Of course, having watched on as a supporter he already knows what they can all offer, but in practice, there are only a few players in Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Mikey Johnston and Scott Bain that played minutes for the manager during his previous time at Paradise.

Off the park, however, the backroom staff he will work with to deliver more silverware has plenty of former colleagues amongst it, with John Kennedy still in the dugout from his first spell.

The former central defender was part of Brendan Rodgers’ coaching staff from 2016 to 2019 and the 39-year-old assistant manager can’t wait to get down to business with the Irishman again in pre-season.



Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, John Kennedy said: “Brendan's terrific for the club. I know him very well and have a great working relationship with him from the past.

“I know him very well and the standards he sets are very high, so it’s a terrific addition for the club to build on what we have already done here.

“Knowing the levels and standards he works to, I know he will only enhance that.

'He knows the club inside out and he will work with a new group of players that are hungry and striving for success, so he will enhance the whole process.'

“He’s a terrific guy to work for, so it’s terrific for the club to have him back and I’m sure it will be a successful period.”

It’s a new challenge for the group, according to the assistant manager, to come in and prove themselves all over again and he insists the manager will ensure the squad are hungry again for more success.

He continued: “Brendan is a different character altogether in the way he likes to be more involved in being around people a bit more socially.

“That’s how he gets the best out of people’s minds, but Ange was different in how he drew the best out of people.

“It’s two different styles, both very successful and good at what they do. For the players, it’s a change and they will have to prove themselves again and hopefully, that will be a huge stimulus to really kick on in pre-season.

‘When Brendan won a Treble, he went on and delivered another one, so he knows through experience what it takes to go again.’

“It won’t catch him by surprise, he knows what the club demands and he will be hungry for more success. He won’t let anyone slip into the mindset that they have achieved.

“The reality is that you’ve achieved (last season), you respect that and you park it. We have to achieve again, which is what the club demands.”

 

John Kennedy has opened up on his decision to stay at Celtic instead of opting to join Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.


Kennedy had the chance to move down south to the Premier League with the Aussie, but instead, he opted to stay in Glasgow with new boss Brendan Rodgers.

The pair worked alongside each other during Rodgers' first stint as manager at Celtic and the strong relationship then helped Kennedy make his mind up this time around.

He told Sky Sports: "When I was first team coach under him [Rodgers], we had a very fluid relationship. In his time away, we always kept in touch, meeting for dinner and having discussions. It's good to have him back and I have a good relationship with him, hopefully that bodes well.



The summer was interesting. Obviously Ange decided to move on to Spurs. I've been there a few times when managers have changed, there's the uncertainty. You never know what's around the corner or if the club are in discussions with other people.

"I was in close contact with Ange and there were different possibilities, but Brendan was coming back to Celtic, the club and Brendan wanted me to stay and be part of this going forward. Being part of this club is a great privilege. I know what it's all about here, you know, and I've got a good understanding of it and I know the players and Brendan really well and that was a big pull in terms of sticking around and being part of that. I know Brendan works, the level of his work, so, it's great to still be here.


There was possibilities, you can never look back on it and say that would never have happened, the way things worked it, it wasn't to be. The club got Brendan back in quickly and to get someone of his calibre was good by the club."

On Postecoglou, Kennedy added: "I learned a lot from him. He has a different style to Brendan and he's very successful in the way he does that and he's a very humble guy I've kept in touch with spoke through pre-season, see how things are going at both ends


I'm pretty sure he'll do a fantastic job down there because he's a terrific manager, he knows what he wants. I'm pretty sure the Spurs fans and the club will learn very quickly how he likes to operate and they'll see a different team down there.

 

* ditched me on Fm23 to go to St Johnstone only got 100k lol

Had to get a regen coach with awesome stats cause Henke won't come atm

Also rocking the spider fringe look , I had that back in 1998 myself