Callum McGregor

Callum is going to be vital in keeping players around this season, he needs to be really selling Rodgers to anyone thinking of leaving

 

I just hope the players take to it. Will be different for them

 

Hard to think of reasons why they wouldn't.

 

Meanwhile, Rodgers revealed that captain Callum McGregor - who blossomed under his earlier tutelage - played a key role in his return, the pair meeting at his holiday home in Mallorca. Asked if he would be pivotal for his squad now, Rodgers said: “He was pivotal back then. Just seeing a young player develop his personality and bring that personality to be a very important player for Celtic. And obviously seeing him continue to make that growth is really pleasing. And I have to say he was a big part of my decision to come back as well. Because I had lunch with him for a few hours in Mallorca, just to understand the squad and where it was at, and where he felt the club was at. He gave me some great feedback - that the group is young, hungry, and ready to keep pushing forward. For me, Callum is an absolutely brilliant player on the pitch. His brain, his view of the game is right up there with the very best I’ve worked with. He’s robust, he plays many games, he’s the ultimate professional.”

 

Think it’s kind of gone under the radar and under appreciated so far the role Cal played in getting Rodger’s back, the man flew out to Mallorca when he should have been resting and apparently had a very important chat with Brendan that helped assure him it was right to come back. What a captain we have.

 

Great point. Wee man has got legendary Celtic manager written all over him.

 

BRENDAN RODGERS has opened up on his failed bid to sign Callum McGregor from Celtic four years ago.

Newly installed as the manager of Leicester City after his controversial flit, Rodgers returned with an enquiry that would potentially have seen McGregor move south for a fee in excess of £20million.

With Arsenal already hovering around Kieran Tierney, Celtic resisted Rodgers’ advances and McGregor stayed put, going on to assume the captaincy under Ange Postecoglou.

Now 30, McGregor is set to retain the armband following Rodgers’ return to Glasgow and the manager admits he is now delighted his efforts to buy the midfielder in 2019 were rebuffed.

‘At the time, you had Callum and Kieran and I was keen to get Callum,’ said Rodgers. ‘Whichever one went, the other was never going to get away. Obviously, Kieran was the one who left.

‘Callum was perfect for the Premier League. He could impose how I wanted to play and understand how I wanted to work, could play in different positions. He’s tactically brilliant. But I’m really glad he stayed now!’

A midweek scorer as Scotland took another step towards qualification for Euro 2024, McGregor is now a lynchpin for both club and country. Before assuming the captaincy at Parkhead he deputised for Scott Brown — and Rodgers believes both could easily have cut it in England’s top flight.

‘There’s no question of that,’ he continued. ‘When people talk about Broony and say that he’d never cope in the Prem — he’d have played in a top-six team in the Premier League and Callum is the same.

‘They stayed here, their happiness is here.

‘Callum is happy here and progressed in my first time. He’s continued to progress and now he’s so important for his club and his country. For me, he could fit into any of those top teams because he can play football.’

One of the hallmarks of Rodgers’ first spell at Celtic was the improvement he effected in players such as McGregor, Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie.

James Forrest also blossomed under the coach’s influence. Used sparingly in Ange Postecoglou’s two years, the 31-year-old is not likely to re-emerge as a regular starter.

‘It’s only Callum, James and Scott Bain from my time before,’ said Rodgers.

‘James is at the stage of the career where it’s slightly different. For him, it’s all about staying fit.

‘It’s been a challenge for him, but I’ve seen snippets of him where, when he’s fit and ready, he is fantastic.’

 

Joe Hart insists Callum McGregor's undying dedication to Celtic is second to none.

Hoops idols McGregor and James Forrest became the first players in world football to win FIVE trebles after completing yet another clean sweep last season. McGregor now has 20 major honours to his name and is fifth in the club's all-time list, two behind fellow academy graduate Forrest and five behind the record-holder Bobby Lennox


Having just turned 30, McGregor still has plenty of years left in the tank as the Parkhead side look to continue their dominance of Scottish football. Yet while the classy midfielder is on course to become the club's most decorated player in history, McGregor's career could've turned out differently had he agreed to follow Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City.


Rodgers - who sealed a sensational return to Celtic Park last month - admitted that he attempted to lure the Scotland star to the King Power four years ago, only for McGregor to underline his loyalty to Celts by penning a bumper new long-term contract.




Following Scott Brown's departure, McGregor was always the natural successor to take on the armband and drive the Hoops to even more success. And he's done just that, lifting five out of six domestic trophies as skipper. Former England and Manchester City No1 admits it's a pleasure to share a dressing room with McGregor and paid the ultimate tribute by confessing he's never seen a player so devoted to a football club.

Hart told the Celtic View: "I've never seen anyone as committed to a club as Callum, and it's very special to be around. I love people like that, I love people who are not only committed and obviously a big fan of the club, but he's a really good player - like he's a top, top player




He drives every single standard of every training session and, of every match. He's really valued here and he really values Celtic. So it's a superb position for him to be in, and hats off to him, I think he's a real credit to the club."

 

Well, when he wins the quadruple this season it means he'll only be one behind.

 

Aye he’s an intelligent guy and a can definitely see him as a good manager in the future.

 

I actually remember having this conversation with someone back in Rodgers' first stint here, he's had something about him even since then. Dunno if it's sheer professionalism or how well he reads the game, but I've thought for years he will make a great manager.

Obvs doesn't always work out for players making the transition but I'd love for to manage us down the line.

 

I’m the same with him, strangely I don’t feel the same way with Scott Brown which i know won’t be popular with many.

 

Agreed. Celtic legend but don't think he'll ever be Celtic manager material.

 

I didn't mate, but it wasn't something I thought about till he was given the interim role. I was all for him getting the gig full time after that season, and will never forget the togetherness he brought in they days. He was a * hero to me even before they days and still is to a degree.

Happy to be proved wrong with Broony btw, you can never predict these things but just a feeling I have.

 

New deal?

 

New deal incoming. Should be the best paid in the squad if he isn’t already.