Brendan Rodgers is back in the limelight, but his new job is Celtic FC manager will be unlike any challenge he has faced previously in his career.
Celtic appointed Rodgers on Friday, ending the northern Irishman’s job search after seven-plus months. Many thought an English Premier League club would hire Rodgers following his October dismissal by Liverpool, but Celtic lured him north to Scotland on a rolling one-year contract in an effort to forge a mutually beneficial partnership.
“I am absolutely delighted to be named Celtic manager,” Rodgers said in a statement on the club website, according to Sky Sports.
“I will give my new role 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.
“I know what a magnificent support Celtic enjoys and I can promise our fans one thing — that I will be doing everything I can to give you a team that you can be proud of and a team that delivers … ”
Let’s examine what Rogers must do in order to call his tenure at Celtic manager a success.
Condensed timetable
Rodgers signed a rolling one-year contract with Celtic. The agreement suggests neither expects him to remain at Celtic Park very long.
That’s probably because Rodgers is still keen to work in England, where the resources are superior and attention greater, in the near future. But most of the current managers of Premier League clubs have considerable job security, at least for now.
Everton is looking for a new manager, but Rodgers was never considered a candidate to cross the Liverpool divide so soon after his first stint in the city. Manchester United, Southampton and Stoke City appear most likely to have openings in the near future, but those situations don’t look likely to resolve themselves before July.
Instead of waiting for a position that might never materialize, Rodgers assumed control of Scotland’s biggest club on terms that give him a chance to leave easily.
Targets
Rodgers is expected to discuss his motivation for taking the Celtic job and the targets at which he’ll aim at his introductory press conference Monday, but we can easily identify a few of his goals.
Rodgers isn’t going to Celtic to manage a years long project. He’s going to win immediately and do so with style.
Ronny Deila failed to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage in his two seasons as manager. Rodgers must return Celtic to European soccer’s elite competition and capture the accompanying pot of gold — potentially worth £30 million ($43.5 million).
Celtic’s journey in the Champions League qualifying playoff rounds will begin in late July and likely end in late August. Rodgers must do his transfer business with speed and decisiveness, make the most of preseason, pick his best 11 and navigate them into the Champions League group stage.
The Champions League will determine judgement on Rodgers’ Celtic tenure. But that only will be the case if Celtic stays ahead of eternal rival Rangers, who will return to the Scottish Premier League next season after a four-year absence.
The 2016-17 schedule isn’t out yet. When it drops, circle the first Celtic-Rangers game (or “Old Firm derby”) is a must-watch event. The outcome will either boost or sap Rodgers’ momentum as manager.
By securing Champions League qualification in August and guiding Celtic to a sixth consecutive Scottish Premier League title by next May, Rodgers will have successful rebounded from his Liverpool exit.
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com
