Rodgers reveals management plans after Celtic link

Brendan Rodgers: Has held talks with Celtic

Brendan Rodgers: Has held talks with Celtic

Brendan Rodgers says he wants get back into management this summer but he was non-committal when asked whether he would take over at Celtic.

The former Liverpool boss has described the Celtic managerial vacancy as an opportunity for someone to go to one of the world’s iconic clubs.

Rodgers has been listed among the bookmakers’ favourites for the task of succeeding Ronny Deila when the Norwegian steps down at the end of the season.

When the prospect of taking over at Parkhead was put to him, the Northern Irishman told Sky Sports News HQ: “Well, it’s an incredible club, a club that family and everyone support.

“Obviously the league isn’t so competitive but Celtic are one of the great iconic clubs in the world, a huge club.

“I think Ronny has done a great job there, it looks like they will go on and win the title so that is two titles in a row.

“So I’ll be sad to see him go but there is an opportunity for somebody there to go to a great club.”

When asked directly if he could be the man, Rodgers said: “At this moment of time I’m just enjoying my time off and I’ll wait and see what offers come in and, at this moment, there is nothing concrete.

“I’m just really enjoying the rest. I have had no concrete offers but certainly in the summer I want to get back to work again.

“I’ve had a great break, enjoyed it and I’ll be refreshed and ready for the summer.”

Celtic will officially clinch the title if they get a point at home to Aberdeen on Saturday, although their nine-point and 35-goal advantage over the Dons ensured the celebrations already took place following their win against Hearts on Saturday.

That will see Scott Brown drop out of the team, and Scotland’s friendlies against Italy and France, to rest his tight hamstrings, which he revealed had been restricting his movement in recent weeks.

Brown told the club’s official website: “I love every minute of going out and winning titles and it means so much to everyone here to win leagues and play for Celtic in front of the fans.

“There have been times where the team has not performed as well as we’d like, and there have been times where I personally have not performed as well as I’d like but that’s part and parcel of football.

“There have been a lot of injuries and people playing through the pain barrier for the club and I think some fans maybe don’t understand that. People only see who turns up on the park and they don’t see the day to day.

“The last six or seven games now it has been hard for me but you deal with it – that’s football. People get injuries but you come through them and hopefully you can just keep playing as long as you possibly can.

“I think most of the lads would do that. Any of the lads would play through the pain barrier if it means them getting 90 minutes on the park, winning the title or being involved in title-winning games.

“Getting five-in-a-row is exceptional for us. We just have to focus on the sixth one and the seventh one now and we know we’re good enough to get it.”