Celtic have played a trump card in battle of the Old Firm with this appointment
AFORMER disciple of the late, great and beloved Tommy Burns. A kindred footballing spirit who, as much as he may crave victory, believes that substance without style is not enough.
An elite and sought-after head coach — named Manager of the Year by his peers in the world’s richest league just two years ago — whose arrival immediately sparked excitement among a fan base in need of a lift.
So, Dermot, what first attracted you to Celtic-supporting former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers …?
The appointment of the Northern Irishman, a move that has raised the profile of the entire Scottish game at a stroke, certainly ticks a lot of important boxes for Celtic fans. And, amid the many sound and solid arguments to be made in his support, the link with former favourite Burns must feel like a blessing from above.
Ex-Celtic stalwart Peter Grant, who worked with Rodgers when the young coach was given his break at Reading by Burns, could not have been happier for both his old club and his old pal yesterday.
Relieved that the Parkhead board have pulled off a genuinely impressive piece of recruitment, he likened it to a ‘trump card’ played in the battle to come with a resurgent Rangers.
Grant knows how much Rodgers will bring to the job — and how much of the swashbuckling Burns style he will return to Celtic Park.
‘Brendan bought into the Liverpool passing tradition, because he knew that was what Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and others had embedded in the club,’ Grant told Sportsmail.
‘That’s why I’m sure he’ll be following the traditions of Jock Stein, Tommy Burns, Davie Hay, Billy McNeill. All these guys played the Celtic way, they were brought up in that tradition. I have no doubt Brendan was steeped in that through his connection with Tommy. Brendan learned a lot from him. He was a disciple of the same football philosophy.
‘They shared a work ethic. They always wanted the best and had an idea about how their team should play. It will be in the best traditions of Celtic. He’ll be pretty sure he has a good idea about the job, although until you’re in the door I don’t think you know anything.
‘But I’m delighted for Brendan to get this opportunity because I know how excited he will be.
‘It’s all right talking to guys like myself, going to games and feeling the excitement. Until you walk through the door, you’ve no idea. I guarantee that, within the next few months, I’ll read one of his quotes saying he is surprised at how big it all is.’
That Rodgers is a serious manager should be beyond all debate. But for one infamous slip by Steven Gerrard against Chelsea which cost Liverpool the title in 2014, who knows whether he might still be at Anfield?
Yes, his time there did not end well. However, had he shown sufficient interest, the Northern Irishman would have been in contention for any number of English Premier League jobs either currently or imminently unoccupied.
Grant insisted: ‘He came very close to winning the league with Liverpool. And look at the way the team played. That was incredibly important to him.
‘It shows the fine lines in football because he was out of a job within months — but could have been lauded forever more, having won the title that Liverpool had wanted for so long.
‘I’m delighted for Brendan — but excited for Celtic supporters, more than anything. I think it’s important for them that, if you’re going to set the right path, you get the right man. When I was still a player-coach at Reading, I used to go and see him working with the Under-12s. It was great to see him wanting to do that.’
Accepting that progress in Europe will be key for Rodgers, clear on the fact that defeats to teams like Molde will never be tolerated, Grant is well aware that a re-awakened domestic rivalry will have provided as much motivation for this major move. He admitted: ‘My concern about Rangers was that they looked very close. I believe they could have gone up and won the Premiership next season. I say that because I believe Celtic had been standing still for a couple of years.
‘I don’t mean that disrespectfully but, when Rangers were out, they didn’t have a challenge. Aberdeen did magnificently this season. But look at the budget they have compared to Celtic’s.
‘There is a big difference between Aberdeen chasing you or Rangers chasing you — or Rangers being in front of you. It’s completely different.
‘Whether people call them a new Rangers, old Rangers, different Rangers, it doesn’t matter. They’re back. You’ve got a challenger looking to lay down markers.
‘Well, Celtic have just played the biggest trump card they could. Sometimes you must show you mean business.’