Brendan Rodgers has decided to leave Celtic after three-and-a-half years with the Scottish giants, it was revealed on Tuesday morning.
The Northern Irish coach is currently in talks with Leicester City and is expected to be named as Claude Puel’s successor within the next 24 hours.
#CelticFC today confirmed that it has been approached by @LCFC to speak to Brendan Rodgers with regards to their current managerial vacancy.https://t.co/r75IXPs71M— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 26, 2019
The news comes as a huge blow to Celtic, who are currently on course to secure a treble-treble.
Rodgers has enjoyed tremendous success at Celtic Park, winning back-to-back Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup titles, as well as three successive Scottish League Cups.
Brendan Rodgers, Chris Davies, Kolo Toule have all agreed to go to Leicester. Neil Lennon to take charge until the end of the season at Celtic. Story to follow.— Alison McConnell (@alibali76) February 26, 2019
However, the former Liverpool boss clearly feels he’s taken Celtic as far as he can and is ready to return to English football for the first time since October 2015, when he was replaced by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
“Celtic Football Club today confirmed that it has been approached by Leicester City FC to speak to Brendan Rodgers with regards to their current managerial vacancy,” Celtic confirmed in a statement on their website.
“Brendan has indicated to the Club that this is an opportunity he wishes to investigate further and therefore, very reluctantly, the Club has granted him permission to speak to Leicester City.”
Kolo Toure and assistant Chris Davies are also poised to join Rodgers at the King Power Stadium.
Celtic, meanwhile, are set to appoint Neil Lennon until the end of the season.
News of Rodgers’ sudden departure will come as a boost to Rangers, who currently sit eight points behind their fierce rivals in the Scottish Premiership table.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, who was managed by Rodgers at Anfield, gave his thoughts about the news to reporters on Tuesday morning.
“It seems (the lure of Premier League has been a big factor) otherwise he’d have declined the opportunity to talk to Leicester,” the ex-Premier League star was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I’m not really surprised by the timing because these things happen.