Celtic confirm Brendan Rodgers’ return as manager on three-year contract

Celtic have confirmed the return of Brendan Rodgers as their manager on a three-year contract. Rodgers left Leicester at the start of April and is going back to the club where he won consecutive domestic Trebles before departing in 2019.

The 50-year-old replaces Ange Postecoglou, who has joined Tottenham after delivering a treble this season. John Kennedy, who was wanted by Postecoglou at Spurs, is staying at Celtic to work as Rodgers’ assistant.

Rodgers said: “I am really delighted to return to Celtic and I am hugely excited by this great opportunity. When I was given the privilege of being asked to join the club again, it was a very simple decision for me and my family.

“We have enjoyed some great times at Celtic before and this will be my goal again, to deliver good football, ensure we have a team we all love to watch and ultimately bring more success to our fans.”

Rodgers’ first spell at Celtic started in May 2016, seven and a half months after he had been sacked by Liverpool. He won all seven available domestic trophies before angering a section of the Celtic support by taking the Leicester job in February 2019. Rodgers won an FA Cup with Leicester and achieved two fifth-placed finishes in the Premier League before struggling this season.

Celtic’s chairman, Peter Lawwell, said: “It was clear that Brendan was the outstanding choice and we are absolutely delighted that we have appointed him on a long-term contract. We wanted a proven winner and that’s what Brendan is.”