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Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is close to undertaking a new management role.
The Northern Ireland head coach has been a free agent since his mutual separation from Glasgow Celtic in October.
It was not exactly a clean separation for the ex-Liverpool boss, with Celtic shareholders releasing a damning statement of his time at the club.
The extraordinary 551-word statement tore into the departing manager, accusing him of being “divisive, misleading, and self-serving”.
Rodgers had also been linked to the manager role at Leeds United, although current boss Daniel Farke has steadied the ship at Elland Road.
Instead, it seems that the 52-year-old is instead bound for Saudi Arabia and leaving behind some of the intensive media speculation around his name in the last two months.
David Ornstein of the Athletic has reported that Rodgers is close to joining Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League:
“Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah are close to reaching an agreement with Brendan Rodgers to become their new head coach. The 52-year-old Northern Irishman is travelling to Saudi as work continues to finalise a deal.”
“Rodgers’ experience of managing Swansea City, Leicester City and Liverpool, his record of winning trophies in two spells at Celtic, as well as his style of play and philosophy ultimately made him the preferred candidate. Owned by Aramco, the majority state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia, Al Qadsiah are scheduled to move into a new stadium next season and wanted to make an appointment before the January transfer window.”
Saudi Arabia has become a familiar landing spot for ex-Premier League managers, so Rodgers will not be stepping into an unknown world.
Steven Gerrard has already had a spell with Al Ettifaq, leaving the Dammam club in January after 18 months in charge and a mixed run of results that saw his side hovering above the relegation zone.
Former West Ham and West Brom boss Slaven Bilić has also coached in the Roshn Saudi League, spending a year at Al Fateh where he guided them to a top‑half finish before leaving by mutual consent in 2024.
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