Ex-Liverpool and Leicester Boss Brendan Rodgers Completes Return As Celtic Manager On A Three-Year Deal.

Celtic have re-appionted Brendan Rodgers as manager four years after leaving the club in the middle of the season.

The Northern Irishman, 50, was sacked by Premier League club Leicester City last April after a poor run of results before their eventual relegation, but he is now back at the club where he previously enjoyed a trophy-laden spell between 2016 and 2019.

Rodgers replaces Australian coach Ange Postecoglou, who departed to fill the managerial vacancy at Tottenham Hotspur in May, having guided Celtic to a domestic treble of his own last term.

According to reports, Rodgers signed a three-year deal which is in excess of his previous Celtic contract, making him the highest-paid manager in the club's history again.

Celtic also confirmed that John Kennedy, who was linked with a possible move to join Postecoglou at Spurs, will support Rodgers as his assistant manager, along with first-team coaches Stevie Woods, Gavin Strachan and Harry Kewell, as will B Team coaches Stephen McManus and Darren O'Dea.

Speaking to the club's official website following his return, Rodgers said: "I am really delighted to return to Celtic and I am hugely excited by this great opportunity. When I was given the privilege of being asked to join the club again, it was a very simple decision for me and my family.

"We have enjoyed some great times at Celtic before and this will be my goal again, to deliver good football, ensure we have a team we all love to watch and ultimately bring more success to our fans.

"Ange [Postecoglou] has done some brilliant work across the last two years and I will be doing all I can to maintain Celtic's momentum as we face into all our domestic and European challenges. 

"We have a hugely impressive and talented group of players and staff at the club, and I am really looking forward to meeting up with them all and then getting straight down to work. 

"The club is in fantastic condition at all levels and I would like to thank the board for putting their trust in me to take the team forward. We will work very closely together as we strive to bring that success to our supporters."

Welcome back to #CelticFC, Brendan Rodgers! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/eTPeI2F67e

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 19, 2023

Celtic's chief executive Michael Nicholson added: "We are delighted to welcome Brendan as our new manager. He is a football manager of real quality and experience, with an established track record of delivering success.

"The role of Celtic manager is attractive and highly-sought after, and in the process we considered many potential candidates. In appointing Brendan, we are confident that we have identified the best candidate for Celtic.

"Having spoken to Brendan and discussed the club's strategy and objectives with him, I can see the passion he has for taking the club forward positively and building on what we have achieved.

"We look forward to working together to deliver growth and success for Celtic and our supporters."

Rodgers won seven titles in his first stint in Glasgow, including back-to-back domestic trebles.

As a result of that success he was named Scottish Premiership Manager of the Season in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, but left for Leicester City midway through the 2018/19 season - much to the frustration of many Celtic fans.

Rodgers' time at Leicester ended on a negative note but he still guided the Foxes to FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs in 2021.

He has also managed Watford, Reading, Swansea City, and Liverpool during the course of his career.

He is tasked with maintaining Celtic's position at the summit of Scottish football and will also hope to improve the club's fortunes in the Champions League group stage in 2023-24.

CloudNine Sports understands that Daniel Amartey is under strong consideration by Rodgers as a potential first signing.

The 28-year-old is a free agent after leaving Leicester at the end of the season.

He spent eight seasons at the King Power, featuring 145 times for the Foxes.

Amartey, who can cover in defence or midfield, has been talking with clubs in Turkey over a possible move. There is also interest in him from Saudi Arabia too.