BRENDAN RODGERS has earned the honour of being Celtic’s most successful manager in Glasgow derby encounters in history.
The relentless Hoops gaffer has masterminded 16 victories, managed three draws and suffered just two defeats in his 21 games against Ibrox foes.
Rodgers admits he thrives on the special atmosphere of these unique confrontations and boasts a higher win ratio than legends such as Jock Stein, Billy McNeill and Martin O’Neill.
PARADISE…a beaming Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the Celtic fans after the 2-1 derby triumph on December 30 2023.
Jimmy McGrory was the gaffer when Celtic hammered Rangers 7-1 for the highest winning margin between the clubs. That extraordinary achievement was in the League Cup Final at Hampden back on October 19 1957.
Rodgers has already guided the Hoops to a 5-0 success and two margins of 5-1 in these all-Glasgow affairs since first signalling his arrival as the club’s manager in season 2016/17.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE, we turn the spotlight on the Irishman’s odyssey so far.
Today, we look at Rodgers’ unforgettable derby debut and the two follow-up games.
HAT-TRICK HERO…Moussa Dembele celebrates his devastating derby debut.
September 10, 2016, Premiership:
CELTIC 5 (Dembele 3, Sinclair, Armstrong), Rangers 1 (Garner)
YOU only get one chance to make a first impression – and Celtic’s new manager Brendan Rodgers and Moussa Dembele, his summer signing from Fulham, certainly didn’t disappoint.
The Hoops ran amok as they walloped Mark Warburton’s side with the French striker thundering in the first hat-trick in this fixture since Stevie Chalmers managed the feat in 1966, coincidentally in another runaway 5-1 success for the hosts.
Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong joined the goal spree in the second-half while Joe Garner claimed the visitors’ consolation effort.
It was the start of something good for Rodgers and Celtic.
TEAM: De Vries; Lustig, Toure, Sviatchenko, Tierney; Brown (sub: McGregor), Bitton; Forrest (Roberts), Rogic (sub: Armstrong), Sinclair; Dembele.
FRENCH FANCY…Moussa Dembele flicks the ball past bamboozled Ibrox keeper Matt Gilks for the winner in the League Cup semi-final. Defender Rob McKiernan can only look on in admiration.
October 23: League Cup semi-final:
CELTIC 1 (Dembele), Rangers 0
MOUSSA DEMBELE was the man who put the anxious Ibrox side to the sword in a tight League Cup semi-final encounter at Hampden.
The tie was edging towards extra-time when Leigh Griffiths whipped over an inviting low ball from the right.
The powerhouse frontman got free of his markers for a split-second and that was all Dembele required to flick the ball cheekily between his legs past the flummoxed Matt Gilks for the winner.
Rodgers picked up his first piece of silverware a few weeks later when the Hoops overwhelmed Aberdeen 3-0 in the showpiece showdown.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchnko, Tierney; Brown, Bitton (sub: Armstrong); Forrest (sub: Gamboa), Rogic (sub: Griffiths), Sinclair; Dembele.
GOVAN GLEE…Scott Sinclair slides the winner past Wes Foderingham to make it a Happy Hogmanay for the Hoops.
December 31: Premiership:
Rangers 1 (Miller), CELTIC 2 (Dembele, Sinclair)
THE hosts had no answer to mighty Moussa who was on target for a third successive derby as Celtic brought down the curtain on 2016 in superb style.
Former Hoops frontman Kenny Miller struck in only 12 minutes to shock the visitors, but, as expected, Rodgers’ men weren’t slow to reply.
Just after the half-hour mark, Scott Sinclair arced over a left-wing corner-kick and Dembele outmuscled Danny Wilson to get a touch to the ball to bring it under control before lashing an unstoppable drive high past Wes Foderingham for the equaliser.
Sinclair stroked in the winner in the 70th minute after Patrick Roberts and Stuart Armstrong had combined on the right before the midfielder squared a pass across the face of the goal.
The £4.5million buy from Aston Villa in the summer raced in unguarded to knock in the points-clincher to make sure it was a Happy New Year for Celtic, their manager and the supporters.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Izaguirre; Brown, Armstrong; Forrest (sub: Roberts), McGregor, Sinclair; Dembele.
