Brendan Rodgers opens talks with Leicester
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been given permission to speak to Leicester City over their vacant managerial position following the sacking of Claude Puel.
A statement from the Scottish Premiership club read: “Celtic today confirmed that it has been approached by Leicester City to speak to Brendan Rodgers with regards to their current managerial vacancy.
“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.”
A source close to Rodgers has told the media that the Northern Irishman leaving Celtic for Leicester is football’s “worst kept secret” and that an official announcement is expected soon.
Rodgers, who has won back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles during his time at Celtic as well as every other domestic trophy on offer, could return to the Premier League having left Liverpool in 2015.
Puel was sacked on Sunday, a day after Leicester’s 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League. The Foxes are 12th in the table and Rodgers would move to the King Power with his reputation enhanced following an incredible spell of success in Scotland.
In his first season as manager of Celtic, Rodgers won the 2016-17 title and became the first boss to complete a Scottish top-flight season unbeaten for 118 years. Rodgers also completed the first of two domestic trebles as he lifted the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup, repeating the feat in 2017-18.
Former Watford, Reading and Swansea manager Rodgers took charge of Liverpool in 2012 and in the 2013-14 season, came agonisingly close to ending the club’s title drought before Manchester City pipped his side on the final day of the season.
Neil Lennon, who left Hibernian in January, has been tipped to take over as Celtic caretaker until the end of the season. Celtic are eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
