BRENDAN RODGERS has been welcomed back to Celtic by John Kennedy who insists his old gaffer will ENHANCE the club’s standards.
The Irishman is a second time-around Hoops boss after signing a three-year deal to take charge following the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Spurs after only two seasons at Parkhead.
Rodgers, who won seven successive domestic honours after arriving as Ronny Deila’s successor in May 2016, quit the champions in February 2019 to return across the border with Leicester City.
BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE…John Kennedy and Brendan Rodgers at Lennoxtown this week.
With fortuitous timing, he left the Midlands club at the beginning of April before their relegation from the Premier League just seven years after they had won the top-flight title.
Now Rodgers’ focus is back on his boyhood favourites and assistant manager Kennedy believes exciting times around the corner for the treble winners.
The former club and country central defender, 39, said: “Brendan’s terrific for the club. I know him very well and have a great working relationship with him from the past.
“The standards he sets are very high, so it’s a terrific addition for the club to build on what we have already done here.
“Knowing the levels and standards he works to, I know he will only enhance that.
“He knows the club inside out and he will work with a new group of players who are hungry and striving for success, so he will enhance the whole process.
“He’s a terrific guy to work for, so it’s terrific for the club to have him back and I’m sure it will be a successful period.”
HAMPDEN HOORAYS…John Kennedy and Ange Postecoglou after the 2-1 League Cup Final success over Hibs in December 2021.
Looking at the coaching and management contrasts of Rodgers and Postecoglou, Kennedy, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Brendan is a different character altogether in the way he likes to be more involved in being around people a bit more socially.
“That’s how he gets the best out of people’s minds, but Ange was different in how he drew the best out of people.
“It’s two different styles, both very successful and good at what they do. For the players, it’s a change and they will have to prove themselves again and, hopefully, that will be a huge stimulus to really kick on in pre-season.
“When Brendan won a treble, he went on and delivered another one, so he knows through experience what it takes to go again.
“It won’t catch him by surprise, he knows what the club demands and he will be hungry for more success. He won’t let anyone slip into the mindset that they have achieved.
“The reality is that you’ve achieved, you respect that and you park it. We have to achieve again, which is what the club demands.”
Players such as skipper Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Mikey Johnston and Scott Bain know what to expect from Rodgers from his first stint as team chief.
For others who have been brought to the club by Postecoglou such as Kyogo Furuhashi, who has just committed to a four-year contract, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Joe Hart, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston are all about to experience the working practices of the Irishman.
Strap yourselves in for another rollicking period in Paradise.
