Brendan Rodgers on the Verge of Sensational Celtic Comeback Amidst Managerial Shake-up

Brendan Rodgers has reportedly been in talks with Celtic about a possible comeback, and is said to be weighing up his options. The 50-year-old has already held initial discussions with the Scottish Premiership champions, and further negotiations are anticipated in the coming days.

There have been reports that Brendan Rodgers, the former Celtic manager, is being considered as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou. However, it has also been reported that Celtic are considering other candidates for the position. Despite planning to take a break from football after leaving Leicester City in April, Rodgers has been linked to the vacant job at Leeds United.

Celtic executives have identified Rodgers as their top choice, but they are reportedly exploring other options. One potential candidate is Enzo Maresca, who serves as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and has also been rumored to be linked to Leicester.

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Jesse Marsch (left), Enzo Maresca (middle) and Brendan Rodgers are among the names linked to the job vacated by Ange Postecoglou

Several potential candidates have been linked with the Celtic managerial position, but the club is in no hurry to make a decision. With Champions League group stage football secured and the title defence not commencing until August, Celtic has the luxury of time to carefully consider their options.

Brendan Rodgers

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Rodgers won back-to-back domestic trebles at Celtic

The Celtic board is keen to have him back and he is readily available. He requires no introduction to the Hoops faithful, having led them to consecutive trebles. His departure in February 2019 was controversial, but it seems that time has mended the wounds as many fans are now open to the possibility of his return.

The possibility of Brendan Rodgers returning to Celtic has been raised, despite his plans for a prolonged break. The 50-year-old has expressed his willingness to go back to the club in the future, citing it as an incredible establishment. However, the decision ultimately depends on timing, and whether or not he will be welcomed back with open arms remains to be seen.

Under Rodgers' tutelage, Celtic proved to be a team with strong coaching, achieving a slightly superior performance to Postecoglou in European competitions. In the 2016/17 season, they secured third place in their Champions League group before being knocked out of the Europa League in the subsequent stage. However, their fortunes took a downturn in the following season, culminating in a bottom-place finish in their group. At Leicester, Rodgers established a successful track record, leading the team to consecutive fifth-placed finishes in his first two full seasons and securing a momentous FA Cup victory over Chelsea in 2021. Despite this success, Rodgers departed in April after Leicester City slipped into the bottom three of the Premier League, which ultimately led to their relegation.

Enzo Maresca

While not as famous as Rodgers, the Italian coach is still an important member of Pep Guardiola's coaching team at Manchester City. Due to Celtic's close ties with the City Group, his name has been frequently mentioned in connection with a possible move to Parkhead.

The board has expressed interest in the 43-year-old, who was previously linked to Celtic before Postecoglou's appointment in 2021. Maresca began his playing career at West Brom and went on to work under renowned coaches such as Juande Ramos, Marcello Lippi, Zico, and Carlo Ancelotti during his stints in Italy, Spain, and Greece.

Following his retirement from professional football in 2017, Maresca joined the non-playing staff at Italian second division club Ascoli. He later had a stint as part of Unai Emery's backroom team at Sevilla and served as the assistant coach to Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham.

Following his success in leading Manchester City's Elite Development Squad team to win the Premier League 2 title in 2021, he moved on to become the head coach of Parma. However, his tenure lasted for only 14 games. He subsequently returned to Manchester City as a coach under Guardiola, but rumors have been circulating that he is a highly sought-after talent, with Leicester reportedly interested in acquiring his services.

Who else has been linked?

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Marsch was in charge at Leeds United this season before being sacked

Other contenders have been rumored to be in the running for the vacant managerial role at Celtic Park. Among them is former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, who appears to be a good fit for the position on paper due to his playing philosophy being closely aligned with Postecoglou's.

Marsch has a strong background in the renowned pressing and intense running style, having overseen RB Leipzig's implementation of it before moving to Elland Road. He gained experience in this style during his time at New York Red Bulls from 2015 to 2018, and then at Red Bull Salzburg from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, he worked under former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig.

Marsch's Leeds had a remarkable season, despite his subsequent sacking due to a decline in performance. The team led the Premier League in both distance covered per game and regaining possession in the middle third. Marsch's preferred playing style centered around a 4-2-3-1 system, with a high press and a defensive line that typically started passing sequences 44m from their own goal-line, a feat only surpassed by Manchester City.

A name Celtic fans will remember following their Europa Conference League exit to Bodo Glimt is Kjetil Knutsen.

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Kjetil Knutsen faced Postecoglou's Celtic in the Europa Conference League

The 54-year-old has an impressive track record, having secured consecutive titles in Norway's top division in 2020 and 2021. He was also awarded coach of the year for three consecutive seasons between 2019 and 2021. If Celtic decides to pursue Knutsen, they may encounter competition from Ajax, who are also reportedly interested in him.

While Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna may be relatively inexperienced in terms of age and time in full-time management, his impact to date has been noteworthy.

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Kieran McKenna led Ipswich Town to automatic promotion from League One in his first full season as manager

In his inaugural full season at Portman Road, the 37-year-old successfully led Ipswich to automatic promotion from League One. The club's impressive run of 13 victories from their final 15 games resulted in them amassing over 100 goals and 98 points throughout the campaign, fiercely competing with Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday for a coveted spot in the top two.

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McKenna's approach to football - characterized by quick tempo, intense pressing, and a focus on passing - shares similarities with Postecoglou's philosophy. McKenna, a Northern Irishman, joined the team 18 months prior with limited recognition, having previously worked under renowned managers such as Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, and Rangnick at Manchester United. His coaching experience spans over 15 years, including a stint at Tottenham where he was forced to retire from playing at the young age of 22 due to injury. Additionally, McKenna's coaching colleagues at Old Trafford included current Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick.

McKenna swiftly implemented a style of football that prioritized fast-paced, aggressive pressing and fluid passing, much like Postecoglou. He also crafted a team that could effectively score stunning goals through counter-attacks. Despite having access to a substantial playing budget, he won the support of the fanbase by demonstrating his fastidiousness in planning and explaining his tactical choices, which ultimately led the club to elevate from the third tier after three lackluster mid-table finishes in previous years.

Following his successful spell at Brighton, Graham Potter was regarded as one of the best young coaches in the Premier League.

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Graham Potter joined Chelsea after a successful spell at Brighton

Potter's success at the Amex Stadium led to him being appointed as Chelsea boss, but he was unfortunately sacked after only seven months due to a poor performance streak. Despite this setback, Potter remains highly respected in the industry and would likely bring on his long-term assistant, Billy Reid, who has an extensive understanding of the Scottish game and was awarded PFA Scotland Manager of the Year during his time at Hamilton in 2007/08.

Daniel Farke has been linked to various job opportunities, including Celtic and Leeds. As a former Norwich City manager and more recently Borussia Monchengladbach, he is currently unoccupied and available to join a new team immediately.

What awaits the next manager?

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Celtic's title win means they go straight into the Champions League group stage

The new manager stepping in to replace Ange Postecoglou will have the advantage of taking over a Celtic team that is in a robust position, with a chance to elevate the squad even further. This is quite different from the previous managerial search, which happened when the club was in chaos following a 25-point deficit to Rangers and the expiration of several player contracts.

If the Australian manager decides to lure some of Celtic's impressive signings to Tottenham, it could cause concern among fans. However, the Scottish club can potentially benefit from commanding a substantial transfer fee, which can then be utilized to strengthen the team for their next pursuit of the Champions League.

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With an impressive tally of 34 goals across all competitions last season, Kyogo Furuhashi proved to be an excellent addition to Postecoglou's team. His talent was discovered through a strategic search in the Japanese market, and it seems likely that he will soon join the ranks of a prestigious club.

Given that he finished last season as the top scorer in the Premiership and with only two years left on his current contract, it wouldn't be unexpected if his former manager made an attempt to lure him to North London. However, the likes of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, and Cameron Carter-Vickers are all under contract until 2026, while Jota's contract extends until 2027, making them potentially more difficult to acquire from the club.

Celtic have secured their spot in the group stages of the Champions League, giving the new manager ample time to prepare their squad. The first competitive game for Celtic will not be until the Premiership season begins on the weekend of August 5/6. Stay up to date with every Celtic game in the Scottish Premiership this season by following our live blogs on the We website and app, and catch match highlights for free.

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