Brendan Rodgers has suggested that managing most Premier League clubs would feel like “a holiday” compared to the intense pressure of being in charge of Celtic or Rangers.
Rodgers’ first experience as a Premier League manager came with Swansea City, whom he led to promotion in 2011 before securing an impressive 11th-place finish. He then took over at Liverpool, replacing Kenny Dalglish, and came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League title in 2014 when the Reds led by five points with three games remaining, only to falter against Chelsea and Crystal Palace—handing the title to Manchester City.
After being dismissed by Liverpool in October 2015, Rodgers took charge of Celtic the following year, enjoying great success before later returning to the Premier League with Leicester City, where he guided them to European qualification and an FA Cup triumph.
Despite his extensive experience in England’s top flight—the richest and most competitive league in world football—Rodgers believes that few Premier League jobs can compare to the demands of managing Celtic. Speaking to BBC Sport, he highlighted that the expectation at Celtic is not only to win every match but to do so in a way that reflects the club’s historic identity and attacking tradition.
He explained:
“Celtic is right up there with the most pressurised jobs in football. At Celtic, there’s an expectation to win every game and to do it with a style that matches the club’s DNA. This is the first British team to win the European Cup, and they did it with a distinctive brand of football. Here, it’s about more than just winning. You could go to many clubs in the Premier League and it would be a holiday compared to managing Celtic—and Rangers too.”
Meanwhile, Rangers remain in turmoil following their poor start to the Scottish Premiership season. Russell Martin’s tenure ended in failure, and after Steven Gerrard turned down the chance to return, the club has been scrambling for a new manager. Reports from the Daily Record suggest that Rangers have reached an agreement in principle with Australian coach Kevin Muscat on a long-term deal.
However, Muscat is currently in charge of Shanghai Port and is on the brink of winning the Chinese Super League. He is expected to stay with the club until their season concludes on November 22, meaning he is unlikely to be in the dugout when Rangers face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
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