Brendan Rodgers has spoken about his return to Celtic, revealing that his decision to come back was rooted in both unfinished business and a deep emotional connection to the club.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final, Rodgers admitted that the way he left in 2019 – when he joined Leicester City mid-season – weighed heavily on him. Fans made their opinions on the move crystal clear, but have slowly come round to the manager again, despite some uneasiness when he joined.
While his first spell at the club delivered unprecedented domestic success, he said he never wanted his exit to be the final chapter of his Celtic story. It could very well have been and his reputation could’ve remained rock bottom.
While he credited Celtic’s majority shareholder, Dermot Desmond, for keeping the door open, he said:
“I knew the feeling when I left and I never wanted that to be my legacy here at Celtic,” he told the BBC.
“Growing up as a Celtic guy and had a wonderful first spell here, so for that to be my story, I never really wanted that and I always wanted to come back.
“I didn’t know when it was going to be.
“There was never a guarantee, because obviously if people don’t want you back, then you’re not going to be, but I was very thankful for.
“I had a really good relationship with Dermot and the board when I was here the first time and in particular with Dermot and his confidence and belief in me never wavered.
“So yeah, I always wanted to come back and for a multiple of reasons, and obviously one of them being I wanted Celtic to do well in Europe and I wanted us to bring Celtic into Europe and be respectable and have credibility.”
With the league title secured and the chance to clinch a domestic treble at Hampden, Rodgers could yet carve out a second legacy that goes beyond his first glittering stint.
If Celtic get over the line against Aberdeen on Saturday, it’ll be Rodgers’ third as Celtic boss and the club’s sixth in nine years. He’s won five out of six domestic trophies since his return to Celtic, and his 100% Hampden record still stands strong.
