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.
Following 10 victories, two draws and a solitary loss in his first 13-game stint, the Irishman returned to the fixture for the first time following an absence of over four and a half years with a 1-0 success at Ibrox on September 3 when Kyogo Furuhashi proved to be the matchwinner.
THAT WINNING FEELING…Brendan Rodgers salutes Kyogo Furuhashi’s points-clincher at Ibrox in September 2023.
All eyes were on Rodgers as he prepared to face Michael Beale’s side in an intriguing clash at a partisan Ibrox without a Celtic fan in sight.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE series, we have been charting Rodgers’ confrontations against Celtic’s city rivals since he kicked off with a convincing 5-1 thumping over Mark Warburton’s shell-shocked side in the east end of Glasgow in September 2016.
Today, we catch up with the team chief in his return to the fixture.
STUNNER…Kygo Furuhashi lashes in the only goal of the game with a ferocious first-time drive.
September 3 2023: Premiership:
Rangers 0 CELTIC 1 (Kyogo)
A FLASH of breathtaking brilliance from master marksman Kyogo Furuhashi settled the High Noon shoot-out and left Ibrox stunned and silent.
It was an awesome true grit performance from the visitors in a hostile stadium without a Hoops supporter in sight. However, that did not prevent Brendan Rodgers from celebrating his eleventh success over the city foes.
Kyogo whipped in the only goal of a tense confrontation on a day for heroes where captain Callum McGregor, veteran keeper Joe Hart, who proved unbeatable, and Liam Scales, almost out on his feet at the end, led the way for the Parkhead men to edge four points clear at the top of the table so early in the campaign.
Rodgers won four of his previous five games in this arena and got off to his second stint as gaffer with another impressive triumph.
STUNNED…the fans at Ibrox are left in silence as Liel Abada congratulates goal hero Kyogo Furuhashi.
Just before the interval, the home backline tried to play Kyogo offside when Matt O’Riley picked up a wayward clearance from Connor Goldson straight from a downfield punt by Hart.
The stylish playmaker sent a powerful header into the danger zone. The Japanese speedster, clearly played onside by John Souttar, raced after the ball and unleashed an unstoppable right-foot drive from just outside the box.
Keeper Jack Butland didn’t stand a chance as the effort hurtled past his outstretched right hand to nestle low in the corner of the net.
The stadium was struck dumb in that instant as the Hoops players celebrated in solitude.
On this occasion, silence was indeed golden.
TEAM: Hart; Johnston (sub: Ralston 66), Lagerbielke, Scales, Taylor (sub: Bernabei 74); Turnbull (sub: Holm 66), McGregor, O’Riley; Abada (sub: Yang 66), Kyogo (sub: Oh 76), Maeda.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss Rodgers v Rangers: Parts Seven and Eight – only in your champion CQN.
