Who could we replace Ange with?

Bhoy oh Bhoy, there’s a lot of Celtic fans fuming at the prospect of Brendan Rodgers returning! Let’s get it right, the Glasgow club would be lucky to have him back.

I get that there are many Hoops supporters still angry at the timing of the Carnlough man’s departure to Leicester City during the 2018/2019 season, but I’d ask them this: are Celtic going to land a better manager than Rodgers?

Put it this way, if all the clubs in the Premier League in England suddenly needed a new boss, the majority of them would have Rodgers on their shortlist.

That’s how highly the 50-year-old is rated. There’s a host of teams in mainland Europe who would take the FA Cup winner in a heartbeat, too.

When Rodgers exited Leicester in April, it was expected he would take a lengthy break, refresh the batteries and be managing again at some stage next season in England’s top flight.

That he has entertained talks about replacing Ange Postecoglou at Celtic shows his interest in jumping into this particular hotseat once more.

For sure football is an emotional game but some of the stick Rodgers took when leaving Parkhead — having won seven trophies — was a disgrace.

It was the same with Rangers fans when Steven Gerrard, who ended their long run without a title, moved mid-campaign to Aston Villa.

Old Firm followers can make for the most vicious spurned lovers in football.

Both Celtic and Rangers are global institutions but when the Premier League comes calling, it is difficult to resist. Look at Postecoglou going to Tottenham. Had Spurs offered him the job three months earlier, would he have stuck around in Glasgow until the end of the season?

When Rodgers was at Celtic, he made them invincible on the domestic scene with his side scoring goals for fun and playing in an exhilarating style. The likelihood is that he will do it all over again if appointed.

Brendan has been open about wanting to manage Celtic at some point again so why not now when he’s available to do so?

Last year I sat in his office at Leicester’s state-of-the-art new training complex and when Celtic was discussed, there was a sense of unfinished business.

Speaking about his controversial departure, he told me: “Honestly there was sadness that that period had come to an end. The original plan was to stay until the end of the season but then circumstances changed and I made the decision to leave Celtic in what I felt was a really strong position.

“Obviously there was a lot said within Celtic, outside of Celtic and media but I’ll never ever let that diminish the amazing time I had there because for me it is all about the feeling.”

In his office at Leicester, the former Liverpool manager had a framed picture with 10 ‘Rules of Success’. They read: 1. Take challenges. 2. Be curious. 3. Identify the downside. 4. Test your limits. 5. Just do it. 6. Be optimistic. 7. Simplify everything. 8. Follow your gut. 9. Be an observer. 10. Don’t Look Back.

Brendan Rodgers might be about to look back. If he does, Celtic fans should be thankful for his return.





















DERMOT DESMOND is set to table a bumper offer to bring Brendan Rodgers back to Celtic.

And he could be joined by Scott Brownin a Hoops dream team - if current No2 John Kennedy lands a move to Tottenham.


Celtic supremo Desmond has made Rodgers his first choice to replace Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops still have alternative candidates in mind - but the Northern Irishman is the clear frontrunner.

And Desmond is poised to make him a formal offer as Rodgers prepares to make a huge decision on his future.

The 50-year-old had planned to take a spell away from football after leaving Leicester City in April.


But he is now weighing up the possibility of a return to Celtic - over four years after he quit for the Foxes.

Rodgers has held preliminary talks with Hoops chief executive Michael Nicholson after agreeing to meet at the weekend.

Celtic can offer a Premier League-level salary and would give him a significant summer transfer budget.

Rodgers has also been assured the club believe the majority of fans would welcome him back for a second stint


The Northern Irishman was slaughtered by a section of the Hoops support after leaving mid-season in 2019.

But Parkhead chiefs are confident of a positive reaction should he be re-appointed - following his trophy-laden first spell.

Rodgers’ long-serving No2 Chris Davies is wanted by Swansea City and is expected to strike out on his own this summer.

Kennedy, who was first-team coach during his previous stint at Celtic, would be a ready-made assistant



But the former Hoops defender last week made it clear he would like to join Postecoglou at Spurs.

Celtic have so far blocked approaches for Kennedy and fellow coach Gavin Strachan from the Premier League side.

Rodgers’ potential arrival complicates matters as he remains close with Kennedy from his last reign.

But legendary Celtic captain Brown would be bang in the frame for the No2 role if he does depart.




The 37-year-old has just completed his first season in management with Fleetwood Town and wants to be his own man.

But he remains in constant contact with Rodgers and the prospect of working with his old boss at Celtic would hold massive appeal.

Brown, who won 22 trophies during a 14-year Parkhead stay, would also be a hugely popular appointment with the fans.

Senior Celtic figures see the former skipper as a certain manager of the future and would welcome his return.



Hoops B team coach Darren O’Dea would be another contender to join a new-look backroom staff under Rodgers.

The Republic of Ireland star played for him at Reading and is highly rated at Celtic and within coaching circles.

Celtic have held talks with several candidates as they edge closer to appointing Postecoglou’s successor.

Man City No2 Enzo Maresca, who is interesting Leicester City, has boardroom admirers and was due to meet the Parkhead hierarchy.

Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen is also rated by Celtic and saw a potential move to Ajax break down in the last 48 hours.

 

Tbf the reports down south state that Maresca is waiting for a job in the English Football leagues.

With his level of experience, he should be jumping at the chance to manage us without a second thought imo, of course him rejecting us doesn't mean we should just go straight to Rodgers, but still.

 

Would certainly take Rodgers, but I’d be a bit disappointed if we didn’t do everything we could to get Knutsen.

 

Oh, well. Brendan Rodgers. Realistically he's the only truly elite coach we would have any chance of getting, thanks to his connection with DD. It definitely could have been much worse. I'm genuinely not sure why I'm not more enthusiastic about the prospect.

 

Surely the board deserves enormous credit for pulling this off?

No doubt it'll still be classed as penny pinching..

 

So it's going to be a Rodgers and Brown double act.

 

I agree, but I think Knutsen's Bodo contract is meant to be unusual, something like 20% of every player sale.

No wonder he's still there tbf

They know the city

 

Brendan Rodgers will sit down with Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond in London to discuss a return to Parkhead.

As Mail Sport first revealed, Parkhead chief executive Michael Nicholson and finance director Chris McKay spoke to the Northern Irishman on Saturday after flying by private jet to Mallorca where Rodgers owns a home

The 50 year old left Leicester City in April and planned to take a lengthy break from football. However, following positive talks with the club where he won seven trophies between 2016 and 2019, he will now travel to London to meet Desmond before reaching a final decision.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou wants John Kennedy to sign a four-year deal at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Parkhead assistant manager keen to work in English football.

Should Rodgers agree to a second stint at Celtic, he would ask the former Scotland defender to remain as the team prepare for another Champions League campaign and the defence of their title.

The former Liverpool manager is now the short-priced favourite to succeed Postecoglou, although the club have held a number of conversations with potential candidates.

Little known Italian Francesco Farioli is the latest name to emerge. The 34 year old has been linked in style to Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi having worked under him at Benevento and Sassuolo in their homeland.

More recently, Farioli has been working in Turkey at Fatih Karagumruck and Antalyaspor where he has been praised for his commitment to attacking football - despite not boasting much of a playing pedigree himself.

Another candidate, his compatriot Enzo Maresca, will speak with Manchester City about his future this week.

One of Pep Guardiola’s trusted assistants, the 43 year old is understood to have talked to Leicester about their vacancy, with his preference to remain working in English football.

Bodo Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen remains a possibility for Celtic after talks between the 54 year old and Ajax broke down.

Knutsen has led his club to two Norwegian titles, while their exploits in Europe - including a comfortable win over Postecoglou’s Celtic last season - have brought him to the attention of bigger clubs.

Former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke is also believed to have spoken with Celtic.

But David Moyes is out of the running after yesterday committing his future to West Ham on the back of their Europa Conference League success.

Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is also thought to be seeking a return to English football.

 

You've changed your tune on chip pan face, mate.

 

Rodgers, Brown, O'Dea and McManus?

I see this ending in tears.

 

Nah I hate the wee creep and want him nowhere near the job but no surprise to see @G40B flip flopping in another thread where the board are pulling out the stops......yet hammering them for everything else

 

I just want a manager, soon. I know it's holiday season but I just like knowing what direction we're going.

If its Rodgers I really don't care, he left, we got paid handsomely for it. If he's to become manager again we get a great manager who let's not forget brought great success to the club, at a time there was major lack If investment into the club. The board stood still and it cost us a good manager and the following season the league. Hopefully lessons gave been made from both parties and weve both learned from them.

 

Idk who would call it penny-pinching. No me - if that’s even what you’re suggesting? Would take a fair wage to get him here, you’d imagine.

Like I say, I’d be happy with it if it happens, but I think Knutsen is a very exciting prospect and a great fit, so missing out on him wouldn’t feel great, whoever came in.

That said, I’ve always had Rodgers next on my wishlist - and from very early on, when plenty others were mulling it over or whatever.

 

Hammerstein not available?

 

See a above mate. I hate the * but just calling out that utter wee * wipe who you could tell was itching for Maresca for a dig at the board like usual, now pretending to salivate over the rat..

Predictable as *..

 

Rogers and Hart, surely...

 

Deflated as * to be honest, but I'm getting sick of going on about this. Obviously if it's to be Rodgers I'll just have to suck it up and get behind him. Not looking forward to having a manager I think's a shitehawk though.

 

Googles "Rodgers and Hart"...

Oh, that's brilliant!

 

I don’t get the reservations of appointing Rodgers in the sense that he would walk when a more lucrative job offer came in.

Does that not go for any manager in world football?

If a big EPL side comes in for him then it means he’s been successful. I’d take that every day of the week.