Brendan Rodgers is reportedly in talks with Celtic over a potential return as manager.
Following last week’s news that Ange Postecoglou had left the club to take over at Tottenham Hotspur, supporters were desperate for the Hoops to bring in a replacement who could help maintain their dominance.
Since leaving Leicester City in April, the Northern Irishman has seen his stock take a hit as the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League. But it is worth remembering that he guided them to FA Cup glory two years ago and also led them into Europe twice.
It was only four years ago that he swapped Celtic Park for the King Power Stadium in a move that did not go down too well with Celtic fans at the time. Many felt betrayed by Rodgers but there is no denying how much of a success he was at Paradise.
Celtic won two back-to-back trebles in his first stint as manager. After Postecoglou delivered a world record eighth trinity of titles in 2022-23, a coach who knows exactly what it takes to dominate Scottish football would be the perfect replacement at Parkhead.
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When the news broke that Postecoglou was London-bound, rumours started to swirl about who would succeed him in the Celtic Park dugout. Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca and former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke have been listed as candidates for the role but no one stands out more than Rodgers.
He has history in this part of Glasgow. He knows the ins and outs of the club and what is required most of all for this prestigious position: silverware
A coach returning to manage the same club is not unusual in football, there have been countless examples over the years, from Jose Mourinho at Chelsea to the late Walter Smith at Rangers. Some returns have been fruitful, others have not.
Following his previous success in the green and white half of Glasgow, there is going to be added pressure on Rodgers to succeed instantly. Two consecutive trebles have set the bar high for this potential reunion, but that experience should stand him in good stead for another chapter with Celtic.
It would also provide him the opportunity to rebuild his reputation after the disappointing end to his Leicester tenure. In an environment familiar to him, surrounded by people he will not need much time to be reacquainted with, there is a strong chance for this second spell to go down as one of the successful managerial returns.
Should he get the green light to return he won’t need time to learn the ropes, he can step back out onto the training pitch and pick up where he left off.
Of course the squad is very different to the one he left in 2019, but still his accomplishments in G40 speak for themselves and he will relish the chance to build on the work of his predecessor.
The 50-year-old might have to win some of the Paradise faithful over after the damage inflicted by his first exit, but they will soon find it in them to forgive him if he delivers more trophies - the one demand of every manager who steps through the door at Celtic Park.
