INTERVIEW Hunt: Celtic move is perfect for Bhoys and for Brendan!
BRENDAN RODGERS could have had his pick of top European jobs – but he chose Celtic.
It’s a decision that left fans and pundits puzzled.
But Noel Hunt, who played under Rodgers at Reading, wasn’t remotely surprised his old boss said “Yes” to the Bhoys.
The Scottish Premiership may look like a distant sink estate from the lofty heights of the Premier League Promised Land, but Hunt has experienced its rough-andready charm first-hand.
Five years in Scotland with Dunfermline and Dundee United saw him fall in love with our game.
And he believes Celtic’s new boss followed his own heart by signing up at Parkhead.
“He’s an Irishman, and if you’re an Irishman from a Celtic family, it’s very hard to say no, whether you’re going there to be the manager or a water boy,” said Hunt.
“It’s a match made for both of them. He’ll only make Celtic better.
“And I’m so happy to see Rangers back in the top division, because it’ll be great for the league again.
“I love Scottish football, I study it, and I know how close Aberdeen ran Celtic.”
Hunt’s love of the Scottish game led him to the SFA’s UEFA B Licence coaching course in St Andrews last week.
Nowhere else would have cut it for the Irishman.
And when he eventually hangs up his boots, the 33-year-old’s approach to coaching will be inspired by Rodgers – the man he insists is the best he ever played under.
“When Brendan came in at Reading, he was so, so good,” said Hunt.
“He has his philosophies on football, his training was magnificent and he really made players better, you know?
“As players, I actually think we let him down because we weren’t good enough to play the way he wanted us to play, to do justice to the calibre of his coaching and management.
“He deserved to be with a top team because he delivered such high quality himself. It’s the best I’ve had.
“And he was so good to all the boys – any of us would have done anything for him.
“I came back into the team, went to Ireland to play a World Cup qualifier and got a bad injury to my knee on my first game back.
“I was 26 at the time, and was facing a year out following an operation. But he took me under his wing, and got me involved.
“He said: ‘I want you to go and watch games for me’, and he sent me to Manchester United v Liverpool, to Stoke v Spurs, Chelsea v West Ham, all these games, and gave me reports to do on the players.
“Then he got me involved coaching the Reading Under-14s, which was my first taste of what I’m doing now.
“I’m the biggest Brendan Rodgers fan out there. The way he treated his players, the way he spoke to you. He was a gentleman.
“He opened your eyes up to different things in the game, showed you dimensions to the play you hadn’t thought of before.”
Joey Barton’s arrival at Ibrox, like Rodgers’ at Celtic, is yet another major selling point for the Premiership.
And Hunt backed his former foe to make a big impact with the Gers.
Hunt said: “I’ve played against Joey a couple of times. He’s fantastic.
“He’s going to shake up the world in Scotland – and not because of his media work, more because of his football.
“I think he’s a brilliant player and that’s a real statement of intent from Rangers. He’s a fantastic signing.
“I still can’t believe it, to be honest – I thought he’d go back to the English Premier League and be happy there but credit to him, he’s gone to a massive club.
“And that’s the thing about these two clubs – they don’t need selling to anyone.”
And certainly not to Hunt, who revealed that he too is considering a move back to Scotland this summer after spending the past season at Southend United
“I’m looking back up here, I loved it here,” said the former Republic of Ireland international.
“I’ve been down south long enough. I’ve made a home down there, got married and had a wee girl who’s three months.
“So if we were going to come back up, now would be the time to do it. I’ve still got a place up here and loads of friends as well.
“Jon Daly was a groom at my wedding, I still keep in touch with Sean Dillon as well and Willo Flood, so I’ve been speaking to them.
“You never know what’s going to happen!”