Rodgers ‘ticks every box’ for a top-four club – Redknapp

Matt Stead

Brendan Rodgers “ticks every box” for a top-four club in the Premier League, according to Jamie Redknapp.

Rodgers has recovered his reputation since being appointed Celtic manager in summer 2016.

The 44-year-old has never lost a Scottish Premiership game, going his first season as coach unbeaten, and overseeing seven wins and two draws at the start of this campaign.

Celtic also won the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup in Rodgers’ first season, and are currently third in their Champions League group, level on points with Bayern Munich.

Redknapp believes he has rebounded from his sacking at Liverpool in October 2015, and would again be considered for top jobs in England.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, he ticks every box,” he told the BBC when asked whether a top-four club would look to employ the Northern Irishman.

“If you are a player, and I played at the top level, I’d have loved to play for someone like Brendan Rodgers.

“He’s the type of guy that looks you in the eye, he’s very confident and he makes you believe in yourself. That’s what you want from any manager – and tactically he knows the game.

“At Liverpool, he was harshly done-by, but these things happen and, once you start to get a few bad results, the crowd maybe start to go against you.

“That’s football, but it doesn’t make Brendan Rodgers a bad manager. He’s turned it around and shown everybody how good he is.

“I don’t know what Brendan Rodgers thinks and he’s managing one of the best clubs in the world. I don’t necessarily think he’s going to be looking to go any time soon, but if an opportunity comes in a couple of years, maybe that might happen.

“At the moment, I’m sure he’s happy winning trophies at Celtic and now, with Rangers back in the big league as well, it makes it a lot more interesting when they are going head to head. At the moment, Celtic are, of course, the team to beat.

“If you’re Arsenal in a few years, once Arsene Wenger decides to retire, if he ever does, I’m sure he’ll be on their radar.

“I hope the Celtic fans don’t have a go at me for that, but he’s that good a manager.”