Former Celtic boss David Hay has praised Brendan Rodgers for successfully turning around his second stint as manager, which initially faced fan skepticism following his return in 2023. Rodgers, who replaced Ange Postecoglou after his move to Tottenham Hotspur, had a rocky start, especially following a League Cup defeat to Kilmarnock in just his third game. This fueled criticism from some fans still bitter about his sudden departure to Leicester City in 2019.
Hay acknowledged that Rodgers faced a difficult task replacing the highly successful Postecoglou, who had won a domestic treble before departing for England. Despite this, Rodgers slowly rebuilt his relationship with fans and ultimately led Celtic to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, turning the narrative in his favor. Hay emphasized that Rodgers stayed calm amid early criticism and stuck to his convictions, which has now led Celtic to an undefeated start this season.
Hay believes that Rodgers deserves significant credit for overcoming the initial backlash and restoring joy to the club, stating that being Celtic’s manager can be a lonely and challenging job, but Rodgers has shown resilience and determination in his return.
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