Brendan Rodgers the man to answer dramatic World Cup SOS

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·3. April 2026

Brendan Rodgers the man to answer dramatic World Cup SOS

Brendan Rodgers could be on the verge of making a dramatic World Cup appearance as pressure mounts on current Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard…

The Frenchman tenure is increasing precarious with calls to sack him mounting after a terrible run of results including an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Egypt and a defeat to Serbia. Renard had previously left the Saudi Arabia job to manager the French Women’s team but returned within a year but has remained an unpopular choice in a country where sacking football manager’s is just as prevalent as here.

And after the latest back-to-back defeat there are growing calls to remove Renard ahead of the World Cup Finals this summer to avoid what currently looks like a humiliating campaign according to commentators in the Gulf powerhouse.

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Brendan Rodgers, new manager at Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah. Photo Al Qadsiah FC

And the man that many want to replace Herve Renard is the former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers who has made a brilliant start to his time in the Saudi Pro League where his Al-Qadsiah side has been unbeaten since Brendan took charge winning 13 and drawing four of his 17 games in charge to propel Al-Qadsiah into contention for the title.

Legendary Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Al-Deayea, who played in four World Cups and won a staggering 178 caps, has proposed a managerial change to happen before the World Cup Final and reckons that Brendan Rodgers is the only man for the job.

“How much longer can anyone defend Renard? He has not offered anything noteworthy,” Al-Deayea said as reported by Scottish Sun. “He left us for his women’s team and somehow we took him back again.

“The defeats are on him and reflect the mistakes of the Saudi Football Federation. I don’t understand why he is still our manager. We need a change in leadership and management ahead of the World Cup.

“The Federation should go to Brendan Rodgers immediately and immediately allow him to take over all the preparations for the World Cup. He is the coach we need.”

Saudi Arabia are paired with Uruguay, Spain and Cape Verde in this summer’s World Cup Finals. Having Brendan Rodgers in charge would certainly provide an additional Celtic related interest in these matches.

Brendan Rodgers , Scottish Premiership Manager of the Year 2025.

Brendan Rodgers won 11 from 13 domestic honours as Celtic manager including an Invincible Treble in his first season in charge where he single handedly removed the huge banners covering large sections of the Lisbon Lions stand which had remained unsold over the years before his arrival.

Manager Celtic Wilfried Nancy of Celtic looks on after Celtic’s loss in the Premier League match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park on December 30, 2025 in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Celtic replaced Rodgers as permanent Celtic manager at the end of November with the appointment of first choice candidate Wilfried Nancy coming from MLS side Columbus Crew. He lasted 33 days in the job before Michael Nicholson was forced to admit his huge error and sack the Frenchman.

Michael Nicholson and Brian Wilson. Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic, Scottish Cup 4th Round, Rugby Park. Sunday 18 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou ( The Celtic Star)

Now another French coach could be on the verge of the sack with Brendan Rodgers answer a Saudi SOS ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals.

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