BRENDAN RODGERS is back in good standing with his family after leading Celtic to the title in his comeback season.
The Irishman confessed that some of his relatives were so dismayed by his prior choice to leave the Hoops in February 2019 that they stopped speaking with him!
Rodgers left the champions abruptly for Leicester City, having won seven consecutive titles since taking over as Ronny Deila’s successor in May 2016.
However, the manager returned in June last year to replace Spurs-bound Ange Postecoglou, and peace has finally broken out among the ranks as Celtic won their third championship in a row and 54th overall.
Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Luis Palma scored for the hosts in a 3-2 victory over tenacious St Mirren in Paradise Sunday, capping up a successful league campaign.
As a 60,000-strong throng celebrated the twelfth triumph in 13 years, a grinning Rodgers reflected: “I saw it when I was here the first time, and when I left, it completely deflated my family and friends, and it was never the same for them.”
“I have to say, it’s my professional life so I have to chose at times where I go.
“But I know coming back here, what it means to so many people, in terms of family.
“And now they can enjoy these great moments, as well. Listen, Celtic very much is a family and I am just so happy I can help make the lives of Celtic supporters happy throughout the world.
“That’s eight out of nine trophies that I have had during my time here and I hope and pray that I will keep adding to that and have as much success as I possibly can.
“I just didn’t want how I left – and the reaction to that – to be the big full stop on my Celtic story.
“Because this club means everything to me. Growing up, supporting it, understanding the history of the club and what it means to so many people. I didn’t want that to be the story.
“So I was really determined to come back, one to have even more success this time around.”
Rodgers and Celtic have the potential to complete the crusade when they face Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on Saturday afternoon.
The Hoops manager has led Scotland’s championship holders to three victories and a draw over Rangers this season, and he is looking for victory number four at the national stadium, where he has never lost.
Looking ahead, Rodgers told Sky Sports: “Once we got those early months out of the way, we started to see ourselves grow and develop.
“Now I am really excited about the future that we can have here. If we finish this season and have a really strong pre-season, both in terms of preparation and getting quality players in, then, hopefully, we can elevate the game to a more consistent level.
“At times we have been really, really good this season, despite what people will say.
“Look at our performance the other night, look at Dundee, there’s been other games where we have been so good, but that gets lost.
“But we need to be more consistent next year and if we do that then we can have another great season.”