“It’s difficult for any Celtic manager to last more than three years,” Gordon Strachan | OneFootball

Gordon Strachan has shared his thoughts on Celtic’s managerial situation as Brendan Rodgers enters the final year of his contract with the club…

The newly appointed manager of Celtic, Gordon Strachan, attends a press conference announcing his new position, May 31, 2005 (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Having managed the Hoops between 2005 until 2009, Strachan believes talks over the future holds will go on, but he also feels there is a real chance Rodgers’ sixth campaign in charge over his two stints could turn out to be his last.

When asked about the possibility of the Irishman agreeing to another extended contract, similar to the three-year deal he penned in 2023, Strachan said via Daily Record: “I wouldn’t like a lifetime deal [as a manager]. Then, no matter what happens, you’ve got this deal.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers gestures on the touchline Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 16 Jul 2025 Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Carlos RodriguesShutterstock

“I don’t think that’s going to happen because both parties in this are not stupid. They know that even Brendan, and if you look at most managers, they spend about three years and then for most Celtic managers, they would like to go on somewhere else.”

“The bonuses managers get at Celtic, you’ll get European games, which is a great bonus for any manager,” Gordon Strachan

“The bonuses managers get at Celtic, you’ll get European games, which is a great bonus for any manager. So that’s what will entice you, but there’s a problem of keeping that momentum going over a three, four, or five-year period.”

Strachan added: “It’s not easy to motivate yourself week in, week out. Sometimes it’s nice to have a refresher and go somewhere else. It’s difficult for any Celtic manager to last more than three years.”

Brendan Rodgers manager of Celtic meets fans before the game Cork City v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland – 0 Jul 2025Cork SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh Ireland Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock

“So I don’t think it’s wise, and I don’t think that conversation will take place on a long-term contract.”

Rodgers revealed this week that he has held discussions with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond on a range of matters, but the 52 year-old acknowledged that no new agreement has been reached so far.

“The conversation will be how positive you are, are you still enjoying it, do you have any feelings about what to go at a specific time?”

Based on his previous dealings with Desmond, Strachan outlined what those conversations are likely to cover between Desmond and Rodgers.

Strachan said: “The conversation will be how positive you are, are you still enjoying it, do you have any feelings about what to go at a specific time?

Brendan Rodgers. Queen’s Park 0-1 Celtic. 4 July 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Do you think you can last two, three, or four years? If not, right, let’s think about a short-term contract. If you have a short-term contract, we’ll have the same conversation in a year’s time. The players themselves then get a wee bit worried. Is the manager staying? Is the manager going? That then becomes a grey area.

“He could do without that, especially when you’re a Celtic manager going for the league.”

“That is one of Celtic’s problems, if Brendan’s only got a year to go, does he sign a new contract or does he not sign one? If he doesn’t sign one, then it becomes that kind of, is he going, or is he staying? He could do without that, especially when you’re a Celtic manager going for the league.”

Conor Spence

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Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…

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