Brendan Rodgers knew the score when he returned to Celtic | OneFootball

Brendan knew the score when he signed up for a second spell at Celtic…

Brendan Rodgers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers was rightfully hailed as a terrific capture when he returned to the club for a second spell in 2023 after the departure of Ange Postecoglou as the treble winning Celtic boss headed to Tottenham for a few seasons.

The Irishman is a proven elite coach – anyone who argues otherwise is kidding themselves on – and knows the club inside out so it was the perfect appointment as indeed results since have testified.

There’s been a lot of chatter over Brendan’s future with this being the final year of his contract, and his words yesterday over the impending arrival of Shin Yamada coupled with our lack of activity in the transfer window has led to doubts over him extending his stay.

It’s got to be said though that Rodgers knew what he was signing up for when he agreed to return to the Celtic hot seat.

Brendan Rodgers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The likes of Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Kwon, Yang and Marco Tilio were quite obviously signed over the head of Brendan, something that was also claimed during his first spell when it came to player recruitment ie Marvin Compper and Marian Shved.

Although in fairness Brendan was allowed to spend big last summer to entice the likes of Arne Engels and Adam Idah who are clearly players he rates, but this window has hinted that we may have reverted to old habits.

Hayato Inamura of Celtic Cork City v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland – 08 Jul 2025Cork SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh Ireland. Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock

The signings of Hayato Inamura and soon to be arriving Shin Yamada seem to be the work of the club and not the manager going by Brendan’s recent public take on both players.

L to R Shin Yamada Frontale, Hayato Inamura Albirex, OCTOBER 13, 2024 – Football / Soccer : 2024 J. League YBC Levain Cup Semi-final 2nd Leg match between Kawasaki Frontale – Albirex Niigata at Uvance Todoroki Stadium, Kanagawa, Japan. Photo IMAGO

Celtic bought Matt O’Riley for £1.5m and sold him for at least £25m. The club bought Nicolas Kuhn for £3m and 18 months later sold him for £17m – but even if we sign a £10m plus player how to we match that profit ratio, assuming we get a big money signing we can actually sell for a profit?

Maybe that’s why Celtic are reluctant to ‘park’ £10m in any more big signings because at best they’ll be lucky to get their (our) money back?  Is this the problem we are facing?

The project signings plus a few Brendan picks (more expensive ones) seems to be the compromise that probably will keep nobody happy but there are crumbs of comfort all round.

Brendan Rodgers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

But then again, Brendan knew the score when he committed to a second spell at the club…

Just an ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.

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