Brendan Rodgers reveals how close he was to Man City role

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he came close to accepting a role with Manchester City back in 2009. 

Rodgers’ Bhoys side have been drawn to face Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 of the Europa League; the Russianside being managed by former City boss Roberto Mancini.

And he revealed he was close to joining the Italian’s backroom team at the Etihad back in 200, immediately prior to landing the top job at Swansea City.

“I was in talks with Manchester City about maybe going back there as a first-team coach,” Rodgers said.

“I was rejected as a manager at Reading and was in between jobs and I didn’t think I was going to get a manager’s job.

“I spoke to the club, all went well and I flew out to Milan to meet Roberto.

 

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“We had a nice chat and it ended up that not long after that I got the job at Swansea as a manager.”

Rodgers went on to manage Liverpool prior to his appointment by Celtic in 2016, while Mancini was sacked by City in 2013 and has since had spells in charge of Galatasaray and Inter Milan, before moving to Russia.

Celtic host Zenit on 15 February and travel to Russia for the return seven days later.

Speaking their Europa League clash, Rodgers added: “We have come across each other since, he is a good guy, nice guy, but I haven’t seen him for a couple of years now.”