Rodgers claims he would love to return to Celtic one day

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he would like to one day return to Celtic to be manager once again.

The Northern Ireland coach spoke publicly for the first time since signing with Leicester City on Thursday, where he addressed some of the fallout and criticism he has received after leaving the Hoops.

With Celtic on course to win the treble treble this season, many fans have expressed how furious they are that Rodgers would abandon them at a moments notice to move back to the Premier League instead of waiting until the end of the season.

However, Rodgers admitted that it was Leicester who forced through an earlier move, paying £5million in compensation, whereas Rodgers asked if he could delay the move until the summer. As reported by the Evening Times, Rodgers said:

It was never the case. I had a frank and amicable talk here. It just wasn’t something that they wanted to do. That will be verified by Peter (Lawwell) who spoke to Leicester. Speak to Peter. Peter will tell you categorically Leicester said that was their position.

It is unfortunate there will be rumours, but the actual reality is when they came in Peter rang me and said: ‘Listen, Leicester have said you’re their man, they don’t want to wait until the summer’.

He asked them as well. So that’s when I went to speak to them. Peter will confirm that as well. That was the conversation because he relayed that to me.

I know the truth. If there’s a narrative around something else I can’t control that. Like I say, Leicester made the approach to the club and were very clear, they were prepared to pay big compensation to take me out, I was their candidate.

That was something I asked. Could it wait until the summer? But they felt it couldn’t. So I then have to make a decision.

There was no way I was wanting to do what I did, with 11 games to go, in a cup quarter-final and having won a trophy. Everybody could see my passion in my last home game against Motherwell.

But very quickly that night, there was an approach and I had to deal with it. You have a choice to make then but waiting until the summer was one of the things I’d asked.

Rodgers also admitted that he would like a return to the Glasgow club, despite the hostile response fans have awarded him in the last few days. Rodgers continued:

I would be hugely, hugely disappointed if I never could (go back to Parkhead). I would be incredibly disappointed if I never could after everything that I’ve given. If that was the case then…

Would I work in Scotland again? Of course I would. I loved every single second of being there. When it calms down in maybe 10 years I could maybe go back to Celtic. Absolutely. 100 per cent.