Quotes
“I will give everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters exciting, entertaining and winning football. The club has been in magnificent shape in recent years and has collected silverware regularly during this time. My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in Europe.”
Brendan Rodgers (on appointment, May 2016)
“I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true.”
Brendan Rodgers (on appointment, May 2016)
“Most of us grew up with Brendan Rodgers. He is just known around here as Fudgie. We used to play football with him in the car park or behind St John’s Primary school. I was in his class at primary school and when the teacher asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Fudgie would say ‘a rally driver or to play for Celtic’. We were very proud when he managed Liverpool but there are even more Celtic fans in Carnlough and the place is just buzzing.”
Gary Morgan, of Carnlough Celtic Travel Club (May 2016)
“It shows you what the world of football is now, the gossip and speculation that goes on. I’ve just landed my dream job. The team I’ve supported all my life. I haven’t even walked out for my first game.”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2016)
“Celtic is always the big attraction, the big draw, the big club, we are very proud to take Celtic around the world for our supporters and players. Every game is a big game. There is no game that is any bigger or smaller.Of course, you have different level of opponent, but, for myself and the staff, that doesn’t change in terms of our preparation and at Celtic there is a huge expectation on us to do well. So, for us, it doesn’t change.”
Brendan Rodgers (July 2016)
“A lot has been said about what has happened in the past but you have to embrace failure,” he said. “That’s how you succeed. If you run away from it and be frightened of it then you’re never going to succeed.“If you trace or track any teams, coaches or players and look at the things they have won or the success they’ve had, if you look below that you’ll see failures as well so you have to embrace it and work even harder to achieve what it is you want to achieve.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2016)
“You are either a coach that waits, or creates,” Rodgers said. “And I come from the creative side. So I’ll never die wondering, or waiting. I always think, whether it is in life or whether it is in football, if you rely on yourself, then you can be happy. Because at least if you fail, you fail on your terms. So that’s by creating, right. If I wait, I’m reliant on someone else. In life, you only rely on yourself, and the team and the people around you.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2016)
“I know Celtic is not just a football club it’s a way of life. You must watch this. You’ll feel inspired.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2016)
“For me, whatever I do in the rest of my life and my career, to have managed Celtic is the ultimate, for me. I’m hopefully going to be working in football for the next 15 to 20 years but to have managed Glasgow Celtic and been here is an incredible honour.
“I can only do my best, the club is based around winning trophies. Playing football like the way Celtic supporters enjoy which is offensive, attacking football but that always has to be with discipline and order. Win as many trophies as we possibly can and hopefully whenever I leave here, whenever that is and hopefully it’s not going to be for a long time the legacy left is the football and the feeling that people got from the inside of what football gave them, that when they went home of an evening or after games it was something that made them happy.”
Brendan Rodgers in interview with Celtic Underground (Sep 2016)
“The best way of keeping your critics quiet is to win games of football”
Brendan Rodgers (Oct 2016)
“Celtic are lucky to have this guy as manager. Gives his team belief, purpose, conviction. More good signs tonight.”
Graham Speirs (Journalist, Oct 2016)
“I don’t think there is any arrogance in what’s been said. I want them to have a football arrogance.”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2016)
“For the people I love and the Club I support”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2016)
“I don’t see Celtic as a stepping stone, I want to be here as long as I can.”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2016)
“The competition this year was about improvement and I think we can see that.”
Brendan Rodgers
“Coming to Ibrox isn’t just about the points, it’s about defending the culture of our club.”
Brendan Rodgers (Jan 2017)
“The best time to improve is when you are successful. As a football club you can’t sit and glorify.”
Brendan Rodgers (Feb 2017)
“There is a whole load for us still to do. That’s the exciting part – because we have only just started.”
Brendan Rodgers (Feb 2017)
“The team are starting to have this priceless quality that you need in football which is to stay calm & find a way to win.”
Brendan Rodgers (Feb 2017)
“There is not a place I could be in this world right now where I’d be happier in my football life and personal life.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2017)
“This is Celtic – this is one of the great, iconic clubs of the world.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2017)
“I’m a Celtic supporter & it’s a wee bit surreal winning the league as coach after watching for yrs. I’ll have a cup of tea tonight”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2017)
“For me, Celtic is the greatest club in the world”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2017)
“I’ve come to Celtic to build something special here. I’m really happy in my life and want to keep developing the club”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2017)
“I’m proud that my philosophy of attacking with aggression and entertaining supporters is followed through.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2017)
“I was born into Celtic. It’s a huge privilege to manage this club. I was born into it and we have created something which hopefully allows us to build on this. To do what we did this season is spectacular.”
Brendan Rodgers answers questions at end of Scottish Cup final, having just completed the treble (May 2017)
“‘Football people will wonder what Dave King is talking about. I don’t need Dave King to motivate me or the players. Our motivation is for Celtic.”
Brendan Rodgers (2017)
“I have a team that knows how to play football now.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2017)
Stevie Gerrard(ex-Liverpool player under Rodgers): “Would you relish Anfield return?”
Brendan Rodgers: “They must be paying you to say that!”
Brendan Rodger interviewed by his ex-player on BT Sport after 5-0 victory over Astana in European Cup, on Celtic possibility of Celtic drawing Liverpool in Group Stages(Aug 2017)
“He’s top drawer. He’s very slick on the training ground, he’s a fantastic man manager, he makes you feel good and confident all the time. He helped me an awful lot. People might not think that but he helped break my game down and change my game so you’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”
Stevie Gerrad (ex-Liverpool player) (2017)
“If you’re in a race, you never look back, you always look forward. The only club I ever worry about is Celtic.”
Brendan Rodgers (2017)
“[Brendan Rodgers’] players get to wear a jersey with a European star, PSG’s do not.”
Line from article in The Times Sep 2017 on Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side to face PSG in the European Cup
“The potential here is huge. But it’s about steps. Listen, there is a star outside the ground because we have won it.”
Brendan Rodgers (Sep 2017)
“We play teams four to six times a year and Celtic always have to be dominant. But it can never be stale. You can’t be predictable. And having the flexibility to play in the different systems that we do will hopefully make it challenging for our opponents each time we play. So today playing with the two strikers, with the width and the numbers inside – it worked well.”
Brendan Rodgers (Sep 2017)
“You have to be careful with young players. I say to the young players here, it’s very easy to walk around with the Louis Vuitton soap bag. But when you walk out of here, don’t tell people you play for Celtic. No, you are only training with Celtic. You are playing for Celtic when you are in the first team. Lots of young players these days look good, they smell nice, but they don’t put the work in. They don’t play. It’s about working to play for the first team.”
Brendan Rodgers (Sep 2017)
“In the last year we’ve written history at this club in terms of a treble and going unbeaten. But let’s keep rewriting history.”
Brendan Rodgers (Oct 2017)
“You learn with experience you will have good days and bad days. The bad days happen in football, but it’s about how you react. It’s creating a culture. As long as you have honest people and honest players around you, then you can’t complain.The criticism usually comes from the people who do not have that commitment.”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2017)
“Nothing should be written against our supporters and players about honesty. These guys have this record because of their honesty, because of how hard they work, because they never have a lazy day.”
Brendan Rodgers (Dec 2017)
“You saw the response of the team on Wednesday night. It is all part of the culture we have here. We are very lucky, we have got no d***heads.”
Brendan on the side after winning two games following end of the 69 match defeated run (Dec 2017)
“When you’re an Irishman and you get your first goal for Celtic, it runs deep. This is a special day for him and his family.”
Brendan on Jonny Hayes (Dec 2017)
“If it wasn’t for Brendan, then I know I would not be the same player that you see at Barcelona today. Such a big part of my education is down to him and his management.”
Luis Suarez
Stoke fan to BT Sport: “Brendan Rodgers is my pick for Stoke Manager.”
Steve McManaman(ex-Liverpool, now BT Sports analyst analyst): “Brendan wouldn’t go anywhere near the Stoke job. Why would you leave Celtic when you’re flying, winning trophy after trophy, to go to Stoke?”
BT Sports (Jan 2018)
“This is the game they were cheering for. For us, we always respect every opponent we play and get ready for the game. One of the values of this club is about humility. We respect every opponent we play. We just prepare for the game.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2018)
“We are at a club here where the history is enormous and what we did last year was historic but we want to keep writing our own history and that means going into these games focused on the next game.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2018)
“There’s always speculation but my only focus is Celtic. [If an approach came] I would speak to the board. It will take something extraordinary to take me away from here.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2018)
“I woke up here on a Monday morning as the manager of Celtic, believe it or not the sky is blue here in Glasgow and I’m in the best job in the world.
I absolutely love it here. I’m so happy here at Celtic. I’m in a job that I love.”
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2018)
“We wanted seven, but we’ll take five”
Brendan Rodgers following the 5-0 victory over Sevco at Celtic Park in the League (May 2018)
“To be in with a chance and opportunity to add another chapter to the great story of Celtic. That’s always been my main aim, to make the supporters proud and inspire them.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2018)
“For teams like ourselves, it’s not so much the punches to the head and body that stop you, it’s the pats on the back. So we haven’t given out too many of them and we have to continue to work.”
Brendan Rodgers (2018)
‘Brendan Rodgers? I trust him with my life,’
Scott Brown on Rodgers (Aug 2018)
“It’s no good if I just sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2018)
“In Glasgow, only one team can be doing well. You’ve got to make sure that’s you.”
Brendan Rodgers
“It’s one of the most intimidating arenas in European football. Some of the best teams in the world have came to Celtic Park over the years and suffered. It was a really emotional game, our players fed off that and they helped us to the victory.”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2018)
During Celtic AGM: Fan worried that we are away to Hibs, Aberdeen and Sevco in December, Brendan replies to him: (Nov 2018)
‘Don’t worry. Just relax.’
“If you’re happy in your work and you have good energy, there’s a good chance you will be successful, and for me that place is here at Celtic”
Brendan Rodgers (Dec 2018)
“I have compassion for players, especially those that have done amazing for me, but what I don’t have is sentimentality.”
Brendan Rodgers (Dec 2018)
“There have been a couple of drones spotted and I’ve seen a couple of guys walking their dogs. Is there a vantage point from the castle? Not with our snipers positioned up there!”
Brendan Rodgers on ‘Spygate’ after Leeds Utd manager got caught sending staff to spy on opposition team training (Jan 2019)
“Well it was a very, very difficult decision. If I was making this decision with my heart, I’d be at Celtic all my life. It all happened very quickly. I was presented with an opportunity, and of course emotionally I have to take all of that out.
“After almost three years at Celtic, after all we had achieved on and off the pitch, that it was time to move on to my next challenge. I’ve had opportunities to move, but this was an opportunity I felt was too good to turn down.
“Celtic are a huge club. But, it’s not the case of whether it’s bigger, it’s about coming to the Premier League. The challenge of coming in and working against top players and top coaches. That was the real draw.”
Brendan Rodgers on leaving Celtic (Mar 2019)
“Brendan Rodgers has been phenomenal for Celtic but what a little rat he is…”
Ex-Celt John Hughes on the @Stephen4_2 & @celticrumours podcast
“I had family who were just distraught I left Celtic, just couldn’t believe it. I have relations that haven’t spoken to me since the day I left Celtic. Because it meant so much to them. And if you carry on like that too much, you’ll never do anything. But I had some unforgettable memories at Celtic that will live with me for a lifetime, that I still think about now and I then came into my next experience.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2020)
“The situation I was in when I left Liverpool, I had opportunities to go elsewhere, but I felt that at that time at Celtic it was a great opportunity to go in. The club were keen to bring me in, they were in a moment where (the)Rangers were close, they were getting promoted and I went in and created hopefully a really good base. That challenge may come again. It was a real challenge to go in, that challenge may come in the future and I would have absolutely no hesitation in going back. An incredible club. Like everything else in life it’s just about timing. Whether I will be received back or not is a different story but would I go back to Celtic? Absolutely,”
Brendan Rodgers, comments on a potential Celtic return (2019)
Brendan Rodgers 2nd Stint
“I’ve had it on good authority that Brendan won’t return to Celtic, so get that out of your head!”
Hugh Keevins (on some panel with @gordonduncan7, June 2023)
“The club is in fantastic condition at all levels and I would like to thank the board for putting their trust in me to take the team forward. We will work very closely together as we strive to bring that success to our supporters. Let’s get to work!”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2023)
“Brendan Rodgers is the safest option for Celtic. He’s surely negotiated a big budget for Europe or else why would he come back to to win things he’s already won. Some Celtic fans might find it hard to stomach his ‘greatest club in the world’ routine again but success soothes all.”
Journalist Tom English (June 2023)
“My commitment is always to be an attacking team, to be an aggressive team and to be a winning team.”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2023)
“I’ve signed for 3 years and I guarantee you I’ll be here for 3 years unless I get emptied before that…”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2023)
“For those that have been with me and always with me, let’s enjoy the journey. For those I need to convince – I’ll see you here in May.”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2023)
“I think going away probably made me realise what I had and I was never sure if I would have that again.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2022)
“For a club like Celtic it’s always about winning, but winning in the best way you possibly can. That will be the idea again this season, to win three trophies, it’s an incredible achievement. But it’s a new season, new motivation and new desires. The mentality is, rather then defend it, we want to win it.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2022)
“I know how to win and I know what it takes to win, and I’ll show the players. It might not be in the first game of the season but over the course of the season, and the course of my time here, I believe we will do that.”
Brendan Rodgers pre-match v Sevco (Sep 2023)
“This club’s history is built on fighting right until the end.”
Brendan Rodgers (Sep 2023)
“I went to a charity game. I left that to go & pick up Liel [Abada] and took him up to have a bit of food and just get to understand what he was thinking. I don’t pretend to care about my players, I genuinely care about them. I always think that helps.”
Brendan Rodgers (Oct 2023)
“Listen, if you ask me right now, I would get rid of it. Absolutely. But if there’s money been invested in it, for the greater good of the game, that is supposedly to make it better, then you have to give it every chance. But if you’re asking me now, I would go back to just pure football, and we know where there’s humans involved there will be mistakes. I would rather accept that than what we see at the minute.”
Rodgers on VAR (Nov 2023)
“In the last 20 minutes we looked like the team that could go on and get the result, but we gave away two poor goals. This group has gained more experience and shown they can compete in some games – but we need to add quality. That’s the glaring thing that stands out.”
Brendan Rodgers after being KO’ed from Champions League after a disappointing campaign (Nov 2023)
“It’s ambition. Some players want to be too comfortable and just do enough. It’s not enough at this club.”
Brendan Rodgers NOT happy with Celtic’s first half performance v St Johnstone (3-1 win, Dec 2023)
“Over my two spells here I’ve worked against five Rangers managers and every time Rangers were coming. Every time at some point. So for me, it’s it’s normal. If I listened to media and press then we would be in constant crisis mode and constant fear of Rangers. But it’s the fifth manager now. So for me, my focus is only on Celtic and concentrated very much on here and a lot of the stuff that maybe does go around, thankfully I ignore it.”
Brendan Rodgers (Dec 2023)
“It’s an apology to the support. I don’t think I’ve ever had to do that in all my time here. The performance today was nowhere near the level of what is expected of a Celtic player and a Celtic team.”
Brendan Rodgers after 0-2 defeat to Hearts at Celtic Park (Dec 2023)
“It’s absolutely everything… what makes Celtic tick is the support.”
Brendan Rodgers (Dec 2023)
“I’ve had that since I’ve been here. If it’s not the result, it’s me. If it’s not me, it’s the board. All we can do as a team is win games”.
Brendan Rodgers gives his take on boos from some Celtic fans at full time of their 1-0 win over Ross County. (Jan 2024)
“Embrace it, go and enjoy it and bring your everything!”
Brendan’s title message to players (March 2024)
“This is when Celtic comes alive. You can’t soften up.”
Brendan Rodgers ahead of the league split just three points ahead of Sevco (Apr 2024)
“Mentally we’re in a really good place… Take nothing for granted, keep our composure, we have a lot of work to do in the week, get our plan ready and then next Saturday we can have a bit of fun!”
Brendan Rodgers reacts to Celtic’s 3-0 win over Hearts and looks ahead to next weekend’s match against Rangers (May 2024)
“It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. It’s what you have to do. We are a running team. When we run, penetrate, press, counter-press… that’s our game. When we take the game to that level we play the game to a good level.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“Over my two times here I’ve worked against five Rangers managers. And every time Rangers were coming!”
Brendan Rodgers
‘This is the most challenging season I’ve had as a manager!”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“It felt really good… I thought they’d forgot the name!”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“I’ve said on many occasions that our togetherness is one of the real strengths of this football club, and when that happens we can and do achieve great things.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“Celtic is that connection between the supporters, the players, the manager.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“I’m very conscious of the incredible history of this club but also it’s important for the new generation of players in this era and this team to create their own history.”
Brendan Rodgers (May 2024)
“Celtic is a massive club but it’s small as a family inside.”
Brendan Rodgers (July 2024)
“I make it clear to the Celtic supporters, we want to improve, to get better. We don’t want to stand still. By the end of the window I expect us to be that.”
Brendan Rodgers (Jul 2024)
“The young players who have showed patience with Celtic and put their trust into the club in their development, those are the guys who have come through here and done really well. It is a real challenge to become part of a Champions League squad at 18. That doesn’t mean you can’t be ready at Celtic, but there’s definitely a lack of patience between 18 and 21, which means that some players decide to move on – and that is something that’s out of Celtic’s control.”
Brendan Rodgers on youth development (Aug 2024)
“With the number of teams in it, it becomes quite cut throat – you’re either in the top six or you’re not. If you are in the bottom six, you are fighting for your life at the end of the season. If you are in the top six, people want to be in there to avoid that stress. That can be a difficult environment to put young players into. There’s no doubt the league format could help.”
Rodgers thinks that a 12-team Premiership is “fundamentally too small” (Aug 2024)
“What do we do? Sit back and have 15% of the ball and probably lose 3-0 or 4-0? I’d much rather go down with my own vision”.
Brendan Rodgers after the 7-1 defeat to Dortmund (Sep 2024)
“It says Paradise. And by definition, Paradise is a place of happiness, of joy and delight. That’s for us and our supporters.”
Brendan Rodgers (Sep 2024)
“If you dream in management then you won’t be here long,”
Brendan Rodgers (Oct 2024)
“A pragmatic coach, it’s a different coach. I’m a different person.”
Brendan Rodgers in the Champions League (Oct 2024)
“I’m obsessed with us really working hard. The pressing, the aggression,”
Brendan Rodgers (Oct 2024)
“I love my life here. It’s an amazing club to work in. Funny enough, going away and coming back has made it even better for me because I knew what I missed when I was away. So I’m not in a big rush to be leaving it again.”
Brendan Rodgers (Nov 2024)
[….]