Brendan Rodgers: Celtic fans' views of managers' return to Parkhead
- Published
Some Celtic fans held up a banner criticising Rodgers after his exit for Leicester in 2019
You might think a club bringing back one of its most successful managers would be greeted with universal approval, but invincible treble or not, it's not the case at Celtic.
The nature of Brendan Rodgers' departure - mid-season for Leicester City and before the mythical 10th league title in a row could be secured - still rankles with many.
Now that he's heading back to the Celtic Park dugout, we asked fans for their views.
'Major coup' or 'a bad move'?
Tony: What a major coup for the club there's no doubt Brendan Rodgers is a top class manager and with the funds that's going to be available to him nobody will get near us. Welcome home boss.
Ruairidh: BR back is massively intriguing and will likely divide fan opinion for some time. The way he left the club means he'll not be forgiven easily despite all the success, and with hindsight there are criticisms e.g. transfer record. However, hard to argue he's not the most qualified of those linked and comes as close as you can to guaranteed success.
Steve: Forget what happened before, he won a FA Cup and had two top five finishes with Leicester City - huge credentials for Celtic. Let's move on.
Kevin: I can only assume Brendan is getting a decent transfer kitty, so bring it on. Welcome back.
Bill: Not sure about Rodgers returning. Not sure what has motivated him to come back after he left so dramatically previously. I suspect he didn't have a better offer and I'm worried we will encounter some further deja vu in the future.
Anonymous: Rodgers should never be allowed to manage Celtic again after walking out on them in the middle of the season. If he had waited until the end of the season and won the league he would have been a hero.
Patrick: I think it's a bad move by the board. He left us, now, when no one wants him, he comes back. Managers who come back struggle.
Anonymous: It doesn't matter if you're for or against a Rodgers return, just get behind the team you support. If you were offered more money for your job, you would take it. Football is a career like any other. The guy has come back to a club he left, that shows guts and determination. That is exactly what we need if we want to succeed in Europe.
Hugh: You can't deny that Rodgers is a top-class manager who brought unbelievable success to us, but the way he left after his first tenure was thought to be unforgivable. Maybe he can repay us if he furthers our dominance and develops us in European football.
Callum: He's the only man for the job. Yes, he left us, but the money he was offered couldn't be turned down. It's the same as Postecoglou. I can see that, if he is given money, he can keep improving the club going forward.
Barry: I think Celtic supporters need to start looking at the manger's position like we do the playing squad. They are here to do a job and, ultimately, if they are successful, they move on after a couple of years.
Peter: Yes, he is one of our most successful managers. Like previous great managers and players, he left. He is not the first to do so and he will not be the last. He is our only manager to deliver an invincible season and he won every domestic trophy on offer. As Johnny Cash said, "everyone leaves in the end", but it's time to welcome back one of our greatest.
Chris: He's a proven winner, he improves players. What's not to like? Anyone who is blinded by the way he left is just being daft.
Iain: Rodgers knows the club and can hit the ground running. Club loyalty is only for fans. Players and managers go to the highest bidder.