Former Celtic striker Harald Brattbakk says his old club would be getting a proven winner if they hired Brendan Rodgers again – after Parkhead officials held talks with the Northern Irishman about a return.
Celtic are looking for a new manager after Ange Postecoglou departed for Spurs and Rodgers, who won back-to-back trebles at Parkhead before joining Leicester City is among the candidates.
Though discussions between the club and Rodgers have taken place, some supporters are undecided about a potential return. They feel the abrupt nature of his exit in 2019, taking his staff with him, should rule him out of the top job.
Brattbak knows the support well from his time as a player in Glasgow, famously scoring the goal that won the league in 1998. He believes that if Rodgers was to deliver a winning team, then any discord would fade into the background.
“That’s how easy football is, and still so difficult,” he said. “Three points solves everything, every time.”
The Norwegian said the simple question Celtic have to ask is about who the best manager available is, and thinks Rodgers’ track record makes him an obvious leading candidate.
“I think any situation that occurs with managers or players is possible to solve,” he said. “Because if the manager has the qualities to perform and do a good job, I don’t see that as a problem.
“Obviously it needs to be possible to work around. You couldn’t come in with an open wound and leave it open. You would need to close it at some point.
“I guess those wounds are closed now.
“At the end of the day, the only thing that works for Celtic next year is looking for another Treble.
“Having the best manager to do that is important.
“Brendan has proved himself for years now as a manager.
“It would be less risk to choose him than someone who doesn’t have a name because he has a proven record. I think he would do a good job.”
Rodgers isn’t the only name on Celtic’s radar, with Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca and Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen also in the frame.
Brattbakk knows all about the latter from watching Norwegian football and says he has shown his worth.
“He would be a good candidate.
“He was picked by Bodo/Glimt, they had been scouting him for years, so they knew his qualities.
“He has all the qualifications to become a success.
“But it also depends on – if he should come – what conditions he would be working under as well.
“You know that in Scotland, one thing is winning the league but what you do when you come to Europe, that is the next step.
“But he has also proved with less resources that he can do well. So he would definitely be a good candidate.
“It would also depend on the squad he gets but he has also been very good at picking the players he needs and wants.
“Maybe he has more room to play at Celtic than at Bodo/Glimt so it will be interesting to see how that story unfolds.”
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