Dubbed football’s David Brent, Rodgers will have last laugh when he lifts Leicester into the top six
BRENDAN RODGERS is regarded by some as the David Brent of football.
But I’ve got a feeling that the critics who like to make a bit of comedy capital out of the Irishman’s sometimes cliched media quotes won’t be laughing at him next season.
Forget the perception that Brendan is a joke – the reality is that he’s an elitelevel manager who came back to where he belongs when Leicester lured him away from Celtic last February.
And, while there’s a good chance that it will be all the usual suspects at the top of the Premier League again next year, if there is a boss who is capable of upsetting the top-six status quo, then it’s Brendan.
Believe me, behind that fluoride smile and gentle Ulster lilt, is a fella who ticks all the boxes when it comes to football management.
I was lucky to get an up-close-andpersonal view of Brendan (right) in action during the three-and-a-half years he was Liverpool boss.
I was very impressed – and, were it not for that cruel slip by Steven Gerrard against Chelsea in 2014 then it’s almost certain he would have become the first manager to parade the title in front of the Kop since Kenny Dalglish in 1990.
I was a regular observer at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground when Brendan was in charge at Anfield.
His sessions always challenged the players to improve – and the level of organisation was just as impressive.
Sometimes the gaffer would spot me in the distance and come over for a chat to explain what he was working on and how he could achieve it. As a coach, he had no qualms about passing on his knowledge and expertise.
He is such an open guy, who believes he will only convince players to play his way if he is open and honest with them.
Brendan isn’t just an innovative coach, he is a brilliant man-manager who tries to get into the heads of the people he works with so he can bring the best out of them.
Top managers a aren’t r e n’ t one on e - dimensional dimensional, , they have a full toolkit of skills, from coaching and manma manage n a g e -
ment through to tactical acumen and an ability to adapt. It didn’t end well for Brendan at Liverpool, of course, but his achievements in almost three full seasons in Glasgow are nothing short of sensational.
Yes, I’ve heard all the grumbles about the SPL becoming a one- team competition in the years when Rangers were fighting their way back to the top.
But Celtic have just completed three successive domestic Trebles.
And every successful manager will tell you that keeping players focused and motivated when they are so dominant is one of their toughest tasks.
Brendan Brend a n has returned from north of the border as a better manager.
His impact at Leice Leicester st e r was immediate – and I can only see that continuing because it looks like such a good fit.
The Foxes have got a very decent squad, which was underachieving under Claude Puel.
Results got better bette instantly – and Leicester’s pen penultimate game of the season a at Manchester City illust illustrated how cleverly Br Brendan can school h his players tactically.
Pep Guardiola tried everything to b break the Foxes do down and it needed a sensational se strike by Vin Vincent Kompany to win the game and keep the title at t the Etihad. Leicester have alrea ready done good business in signing Youri Tiele Tielemans and Ayoze Perez Perez.
And they might have another £90million to invest in new n players if Harry Maguire d departs.
The own owners clearly want to build on the m magnificent legacy left by chairm chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha when whe he died in tragic circumstances last s season.
Leicester no longer long regard finishing ninth as a successful season – and they now have a manager manage who feels exactly the same way.
I’m looking forward to seeing Brendan Rodgers make more than a few people look a bit foolish.