Celtic F.C. have announced former Liverpool and Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers as Ronny Deila‘s replacement. The 43-year-old has signed a 12-month rolling contract with the Glasgow club and his first match as manager is set to be in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. Rodgers has been out of work since he was sacked by Liverpool in October and despite reports linking him to return to Swansea last month, he has opted for the Scottish Champions.
Brendan Rodgers appointed Celtic manager
Rodgers began his managerial career as Chelsea youth coach before becoming one of Jose Mourinho‘s assistants. The Ulsterman struggled at Reading and Watford in his first permanent jobs as a manager. However, gained many plaudits in his time with Swansea. Rodgers oversaw the Swans reaching the Premier League for the first time in 2011, and led them to a mid-table finish in his first season in the Premier League. Rodgers was then appointed Liverpool manager in 2012, but Rodgers’ success was certainly varied. The 43-year-old failed to win a trophy in his time at Anfield but did however lead Liverpool to just two points off the top in 2014; the closest the Reds have ever been to the Premier League title. He was named LMA Manager of the Season for this achievement but struggled to replicate this success in the 2014/15 season as Liverpool finished 6th, although he led the Reds to both domestic cup semi-finals.
Rodgers is the third Northern Irishmen to take charge of Celtic in just over a decade after Martin O’Neill and Neil Lennon, and will be hoping to replicate the success of his compatriots. Last week, Celtic’s largest shareholder Dermot Desmond said that Rodgers was the preferred candidate of the more than six interviewed and has described Rodgers as “a great manager”. Rangers manager Mark Warburton, who Rodgers will face in at least three Old Firms next season, has shared this sentiment by describing the 43-year-old as “a great choice” and added that “He’s very experienced, well organised, a good motivator, a good man-manager.”
Main Photo: Liverpool’s Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool north west England on October 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF
