Keep him urges Callum McGregor, Brendan Rodgers is “an elite level manager”

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The Celtic Star

·29 aprile 2025

Keep him urges Callum McGregor, Brendan Rodgers is “an elite level manager”

The attention regarding contract extensions has been turning equally to Brendan Rodgers lately, as it has Greg Taylor for the past while…

Greg Taylor in action. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

With there being just one-year left to go on the deal the boss signed when he returned to the club in the summer of 2023, the questions have turned to whether or not he will extend his stay beyond that initial deal.

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It’s no secret that the club and most supporters would like to keep the Irishman, although nobody knows for sure what he will decide to do – with Rodgers admitting as much in the aftermath of his team’s 5-0 rout of Dundee United at Tannadice to Sky Sports. “I will be here next year, 150%, 200%. No one knows me bar very few and there’s even less that understand me,” he said, which didn’t give too much away as to whether he will sign an extension to that current contract.

Greg Taylor shakes the manager’s hand after being substituted. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

One individual who would very much like Rodgers to extend his stay for as long as possible is his captain, Callum McGregor. Calmac has always had a great relationship with the former Swansea and Liverpool boss and the admiration between the two for one another is absolutely mutual. After reaching the Scottish Cup Final in May against Aberdeen, Brendan enthused about his skipper to the Premier Sports panel, describing him as a “coach on the pitch for us.”

PFA Scotland POTY Nominees. Callum McGregor is among the four nominees alongside Simon Murray from Dundee FC, Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn. Photo PFA Scotland.

“He was hugely successful in his first spell. He’s come back, done the same again”

Callum was asked his thoughts on a potential extended stay for his gaffer and said: “If we can keep him for as long as we can, then we have an elite level manager,” as reported by Daily Record. “He was hugely successful in his first spell. He’s come back, done the same again. The hunger’s there. He’s an elite manager at the highest level and Celtic are lucky to have him as well. Since he’s come in, he’s elevated the club to a new level. You just look at the domestic success that’s happened since then and it’s been relentless. If we’re successful in the cup final, that’ll be six Trebles in nine years – that’s unheard of.

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates at full time during the SPL | Premier League match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We then get into the conversation that if you don’t win a Treble, it’s been a disaster. That tells you how far he’s pushed the club.”

“We then get into the conversation that if you don’t win a Treble, it’s been a disaster. That tells you how far he’s pushed the club. The manager doesn’t ever want to drop below that. You see it a couple of weeks ago against St Johnstone. We actually played relatively OK in the game, but the result hurts him. Straight away, he’s on to the players, ‘we have to rectify that’. That shows you his mentality.

“So when I see someone like that I think, ‘that’s gold dust’”

“I see how he operates. I see the way he is around the training ground and when he speaks, I’m starting to understand why he’s doing things. He cares so much about the players. He cares so much about his profession as well. So when I see someone like that I think, ‘that’s gold dust’.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates the title win. Dundee United 0-5 Celtic at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Not even Rodgers’ man in the middle of the pitch is privy to the machinations of what his next career move will be too, admitting it’s not something they have discussed. “He doesn’t give much away,” said the 31-year-old. “Obviously, we do have a close relationship, not just as people but as captain and manager. But we’re not having those types of conversations. I’m his player. He can ask whatever he wants of me. I don’t want anything else other than that.”

“When he left, the success continued”

Either way, the club’s captain insists that we are in good shape. “If that is going to happen, I think he’d let the club know and want to leave the club in the best possible way,” he added. “That’s the type of guy he is. Even the first time around when he left, he knew he was leaving a really strong squad with really good staff.

“And you only need to see what happened after that. When he left, the success continued as well. So it’s always a good indication of when someone leaves and the whole thing falls apart, then there’s probably been a problem there somewhere as well. You look at Liverpool, for instance.

Celtic players celebrate winning the league. Dundee United 0 Celtic 5 at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“The manager leaves, he was a legend. The next guy comes in, he inherits such a strong squad and the culture’s there. And they go and win the Premier League the following season. So I also think that’s part of the work as well, that you leave a strong foundation in place. And like I said, if that day ever comes, then I’m sure that’s what he’ll want to do as well.”

“Ultimately, people will always respect what he’s done”

Callum McGregor said: “Ultimately, people will always respect what he’s done. Even the first time I get it, people weren’t happy, but he still set a new level for Celtic. He then came back and he raised the bar again from where we left. So I think in the end, when all the emotion dies down, people will think, ‘Wow, he was one of the best managers ever that managed at Celtic’.”

Paul Gillespie

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