Brendan Rodgers, the 52-year-old manager of Celtic, has assured fans that he will “200 per cent” remain in charge for the upcoming season. He even has a contract extension to keep him here at least through the summer of 2026. He must speak to Dermot Desmond, the club’s majority shareholder, about his long-term future. This announcement follows close on the heels of Celtic’s 53rd Premiership title victory, witnessed by Desmond himself.
Rodgers’ first season saw Celtic win a League Cup final triumph and an overdue renew of domestic dominance. The team’s treble hopes were shattered when Aberdeen beat them 3–2 in the Scottish Cup final. In fact during his two previous tenures with Celtic, Rodgers has only lost two domestic cups. This incredible success shines a light on his glaring incompetence.
Future Discussions with Dermot Desmond
Rodgers reiterated that he’s had no discussions over his future with Desmond or the Celtic board so far. Those conversations, he thinks, are unavoidable.
“I’m sure at some point I’ll sit with Dermot and the board and we’ll have a chat around the future but we haven’t touched on that yet.” – Brendan Rodgers
The club’s long-term strategic direction and Rodgers role in it. He reflected on the precariousness of managerial roles in football. That’s where he cautioned against losing sight of immediate success while thinking long term.
“The focus has been purely on being successful this season and then we’ll arrive into the summer with real positivity and a real positive energy and I think that’s what’s important.” – Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers’ determination to make sure there’s some continuity at the helm is clear. He gave himself, and the fans, a huge gift by committing to this stability while rumors of his departure writhed through the air like wildfire.
Ambitions for Next Season
Rodgers expressed his desire for Celtic to not only compete but progress in the UEFA Champions League next season. He feels confident that the team will make it out of the group stage. Cumulatively reaching this milestone would be a monumental and memorable accomplishment for the pathtag club.
Given his previous success, many media figures cannot help but wonder how much longer he will be at Celtic. In Brian’s case, Chris Sutton said something that’s always struck home to me regarding the inescapable brutality of management in this cut-throat atmosphere.
“Maybe he’d take that, but there will come a time when he eventually thinks, I want a different challenge. I think every manager has a shelf life at Celtic or at Rangers, but he’s been so dominant. So it’s down to him.” – Chris Sutton
Rodgers is only worried about this season and how it plays out.
Reflecting on a Title-Winning Season
Sky Sports Football will show a special programme reflecting on Celtic’s title-winning season. Both Rodgers himself and captain Callum McGregor will provide their knowledge and experience. We hope that this reflection will serve as a window into the team’s journey over the course of the season and their hopes for the future.
At Celtic, and as Rodgers heads into his second full season, he’s able to stay true to that approach. His track record for leading through challenges is tried and true. This helps Celtic remain a force in the Scottish game as well as intra-European competition.
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