Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admitted it would take “something extraordinary” to see him leave the Hoops for Arsenal, amid rumours he was being considered to replace Arsene Wenger.
Rodgers was appointed Celtic manager in 2016 and has become one their most successful-ever coaches in less than two seasons. The Hoops won the domestic treble (Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup) in his first campaign at Parkhead and went 69 games unbeaten.
Celtic have already retained their League Cup trophy, beating Motherwell in November’s final last year, and can seal back-to-back titles under Rodgers if they beat Rangers on April 29. The Hoops also booked their place in the Scottish Cup final next month.
Winning a consecutive domestic treble would elevate the 45-year-old’s reputation to the level it was in 2013/14 when Liverpool came within two points of the Premier League title, eventually finishing second behind Manchester City.
His experience in the English top-flight, having previously taken Swansea City in the Premier League and consolidated in their first season, makes him a candidate in the list of Wenger replacements. Rodgers, however, says it would have to be “something extraordinary” for him to consider leaving Celtic this early.
He said, in quotes reported by the Express.
“I would speak to the board. It would take something extraordinary to take me away from here. I have a great relationship with Dermot (Desmond, Celtic shareholder).
“I came in on a year’s deal and the club offered me four years and I was happy to sign that. After this season, I will have three more years and I will be so happy if I can see that three years out.
“I love working here and the whole process of developing players, winning games and seeing the club progress. There is still a lot to do here.
“Naturally there will be speculation because Arsene has said he is leaving at the end of the season. My name was thrown in there, but it is not a consideration.
“My only focus is wrapping up the title and moving onto the Scottish Cup final. I have always said I am living my dream here and at some point my dream will end, like they all do and I go back into the real world again.
“I am obviously privileged to be manager of Celtic, big club, huge demands and I am only helping the club grow and go forward and order to do that it is about happiness.
“There will be somewhere I can go and maybe earn two or three times more money than I am now. It is not about that. I am still relatively young as a manager at 45, I am happy in my professional life and really content outside of that as well.”