CUP HERO Rodgers: Getting to final with Foxes is worth the Wait

BRENDAN RODGERS wants to stockpile more trophies after revealing he used to work at Waitrose where jobs include stacking shelves.

Rodgers accumulated a vast array of honours in Scotland with Celtic from 2016–2019, including backto-back trebles.

The Leicester manager is now aiming for his first major silverware in English football today in the FA Cup final – the club’s first appearance since 1969.

He won the Championship play-offs with Swansea in 2011, but victory this evening back at Wembley would be even more special.

Rodgers is focused on more silverware after grafting his way up via spells with Watford, Reading, Swansea and Liverpool before moving to Scotland.

But he has never forgotten the four years he spent doing his coaching badges and working in Waitrose simultaneously, after a knee injury forced him to retire at 20 from Reading (defender Rodgers, 18, with the Royals in 1991, above). “To be able to lead Leicester out for the first time in 50-odd years will be a real privilege for me,

I am so excited,” he said.

“When I had stopped playing, I worked in the John

Lewis partnership in Bracknell, which is part of Waitrose.

“I will never forget that experience. I was working 12-hour shifts for not a lot of money to feed a young family. Then afterwards, I was straight out coaching and travelling in the evenings, to try to learn to be the best coach I could be. To end up at Wembley as a coach is amazing.

“I used to work in Bracknell doing earlymorning shifts, from 6am until 6pm, then I would go out and do coaching and my coaching badges in between. “I was there for four years and it was a very important stage of my life. I wasn’t going to be a footballer any more and needed to earn a living. “But my passion was always football. I worked there while doing my badges and getting qualified. “Then, when the opportunity came, I was able to move in full time at Reading.” He progressed to become academy director with the Royals and then moved to today’s opponents, joining Chelsea under Jose Mourinho as head coach of the youth team in 2004, before becoming their reserve-team manager.

Waitrose confirmed Rodgers used to work in the grocery warehouse and the company’s planning manager, Gary Davies, said: “Managers recall his attendance not always being the best, but that was probably due to the amount of time he was starting to devote to his football career!”

Chelsea are favourites to prevail today. But Foxes boss Rodgers (left) believes his team have the support of many neutrals after the Blues’ brief flirtation with the aborted European Super League.

He added: “I sense there is a lot of goodwill for a club like us. We are pioneers for those outside the top six.”