Brendan Rodgers is Now Celtic’s Most Successful Living Manager

SOURCE: Photo

Celtic’s Northern Irish supremo, Brendan Rodgers, has had a secure place in Hoops folklore for many years already but his recent successes in 2024/25 have now cemented him as the club’s most successful living manager.

Following Celtic’s dramatic penalty shootout win in the Scottish League Cup Final over Rangers and their 55th league title, Rodgers has secured yet more domestic success. During his time at Celtic – across both managerial spells – the 52-year-old has won four SPL titles, three Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups. That’s 11 major domestic trophies between 2016 and 2025.

The numbers, the silverware, the style, and the in-house standards all back up Rodgers as a managerial legend for the Hoops. In a club that holds dear the likes of Jock Stein and Martin O’Neill, Rodgers is quietly carving out a comparable legacy in Celtic’s modern-day pantheon.

While Rodgers didn’t have anywhere near the same success during his time at Liverpool as he has with Celtic, he laid some of the groundwork for the likes of Jurgen Klopp to build upon. It’s no surprise to see the Reds win two of the last three Premier League titles. Furthermore, the latest football odds covering the outright markets for the 2025/26 Premier League installed Liverpool as 15/8 favourites, as of 22nd May, to make it back-to-back titles next season.

Understanding Rodgers’ silverware supremacy

SOURCE: Photo

Rodgers won silverware during his time at Leicester City, winning an historic FA Cup, followed by an FA Community Shield. Prior to joining the Foxes, Rodgers had tasted success in his first reign at Celtic Park, winning two SPL titles, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups.

Since his return, he’s landed a further two SPL titles, one Scottish Cup and one more Scottish League Cup triumph. No other living former Celtic manager comes close to Rodgers’ supremacy. Martin O’Neill landed five trophies in as many years. Neil Lennon won seven trophies in his multiple spells in charge, while Gordon Strachan took home six winners’ medals across the domestic competitions. Rodgers has eclipsed them all – and in fewer total seasons too – and he’s not finished yet.

What is the Brendan Rodgers philosophy at Celtic?

What sets Rodgers apart from many of the other modern day managerial greats at Celtic is his style of play. From the second he set foot in Lennoxtown, the Northern Irishman has been hellbent on ushering in an attack-minded, possession-based brand of football that’s not been seen at Celtic Park in years.

During his initial reign, 4-2-3-1 was his blueprint formation, with a clear purpose of being compact in the middle of the park and fit enough to press high and recycle possession with absolute efficiency. The football has been similarly expressive and controlled in his second spell, too.

One of the best things about Rodgers has been his thirst for developing players. He’s not just bought talent; he’s improved it too. Celtic don’t have a bottomless pit of cash to spend, so honing the likes of Kieran Tierney, Moussa Dembele, and co. into elite-level players is a huge success story. Even Scott Brown, in the twilight of his career, was reinvented by Rodgers as a more disciplined midfielder. It all speaks volumes of his tactical acumen and man management.

Europe remains the only blemish on Rodgers’ Celtic CV

The one blot on Rodgers’ copybook is his European record at Celtic. His teams have all too often looked vulnerable at Champions League level. Heavy defeats to big fish like Barcelona and PSG are still fresh in the minds of supporters, although they ran Bayern close this season over two legs.

Yet, to his credit, Rodgers is man enough to acknowledge the team’s shortcomings and seek to adapt. Recent forays into the Champions League have seen a more pragmatic approach, and we can only hope for more incremental improvements in results for the 2025/26 Champions League campaign.