The Hoops boss has worked with and against The Special One who said he would be up for working in Scotland
14:22, 07 Mar 2025Updated 14:24, 07 Mar 2025
Brendan Rodgers and Jose Mourinho
Brendan Rodgers reckons Jose Mourinho would be brilliant for Scottish football after the Special One revealed he’d never rule out managing one of the Glasgow giants.
The Fenerbahce boss was put on the spot ahead of his side’s Europa League tie against Rangers on Thursday and insisted he loved the passion of our game. Rodgers was handed his big break in coaching by the Portuguese legend when he was head hunted to join the Chelsea Academy two decades ago.
He the became rivals with Mourinho as manager Liverpool. And ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup clash with Hibs this weekend the Irishman joked he has now heard Mourinho is taking his job at Parkhead. But Rodgers is full of admiration for the manager who has won European titles with Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Roma.
The Celtic boss said: “I've heard he's taken my job! So, yes, listen, he's a great man. You guys would love him up here. Plenty of headlines for you, instead of the boring Irishman that's sat here. But, no, he's good value, Jose, and obviously a top manager.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Asked if he thought firebrand Mourinho would bring some calm to Scottish football, Rodgers added: “I think you know the answers!”
Mourinho was asked ahead of his side’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers if he could ever imagine himself in the dug out for one of Glasgow’s big two. He said: "Why not in the future? People can say that the Scottish league is a league of two teams but it's a league of passion. A league of passion.
"For me, passion in football is something that for me is everything. For me to play in empty stadiums, competitions where there is not that fire of the passion, for me it doesn't make any sense.
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"Celtic and Rangers, they are big clubs with big fan bases with big emotions, big responsibilities, big expectations. Why not? But in this moment I have a job. Celtic have a fantastic coach in Brendan, Rangers have Ferguson now so full respect for them and I'm not searching for a new job."