Brendan Rodgers is on the cusp of completing a dramatic return as Celtic manager.
The 50-year-old is expected to be unveiled as Ange Postecoglou’s successor early this week after agreeing to take over at Parkhead for a second spell as the Aussie gaffer had left to helm the Spurs squad. The earlier expectation had been for Rodgers to take time out of the game having been removed as Leicester City manager in April but now a contract to make him the highest paid boss in the club’s history is reportedly in its final stages of completion.
The former Leicester City gaffer is expected to be handed a considerable transfer budget aimed at maintaining Celtic’s domestic dominance as well as attempting to sharpen the club’s competitive edge in the Champions League. Celtic had considered a number of candidates after Postecoglou’s departure for Tottenham Hotspur in the wake of a treble-winning season but Rodgers popped up as the early decisive frontrunner.
Rodgers had creditably won seven trophies during a massively successful first spell from 2016 to early 2019 before making trails for Leicester and the Premier League, with his exit causing considerable angst and consternation among the Celtic support. However the previously riled fans now look ready to welcome back their previous gaffer who had previously brought them unprecedented success.
Rodgers’ spell back in England saw him win Leicester a first FA Cup in their history and twice narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. He did however lead the Foxes to the semi-final of the Europa Conference League and will no doubt be targeting similar progress on the European continental with the Premiership champions.
Although unable to win any of their Champions league group stage matches last season, the issue been reported to be a key negotiation point in bringing back Rodgers as part of an integral vision to improve performances in European competition over the coming years.
Rodgers will be inheriting a squad which completed a thorough sweep of domestic silverware last season, and will be beginning preparations for the new season at the club’s Lennoxtown training base before embarking on a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
The new Premiership season is set to commence on the weekend of August 5 and 6, while the Champions League will begin again from September 19.