Steven Gerrard comments on Brendan Rodgers speak volumes after Celtic exit

Brendan Rodgers

Steven Gerrard once confessed that his departure from Liverpool was influenced by Brendan Rodgers, and he was devastated when the manager left just a few months later.

A decade after being dismissed by Liverpool, Rodgers has stepped down as Celtic boss.

Rodgers' second tenure at the helm of the Scottish powerhouse ended following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Hearts, leaving Celtic trailing the Edinburgh side by eight points.

Celtic's European campaign this season has also been lacklustre, with the team sitting 21st in the Europa League group stage table with only one victory.

The Scottish champions have since announced that ex-manager Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney will take temporary charge at Parkhead.

Rodgers embarked on his second stint at Celtic Park in 2023, clinching back-to-back titles to mirror his successes in 2017 and 2018.

His initial spell in Glasgow began seven months after his time at Anfield concluded in October 2015, having narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in 2013/14 but ultimately failing to secure any trophies.

During Rodgers' tenure at Liverpool, an ageing Gerrard remained a pivotal figure for the Reds, and the pair generally had a positive working relationship.

However, Rodgers' role in Gerrard's exit left a sour taste in the mouth of the legendary Reds captain, as Rodgers had told him he wouldn't be a first-team regular if he stayed at the club beyond the 2014/15 season, reports the Mirror.

Gerrard consequently chose to depart his boyhood club for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

“His exit occurred merely months before Jürgen Klopp's arrival at Anfield, who revolutionised Liverpool's trajectory.

The former captain now admits he wishes he had accepted a 12-month contract extension and "endured" Rodgers to experience playing under Klopp.

Gerrard

"I was devastated,"

"I obviously made a decision not to sign a year extension to go to America, whereas if I'd taken the extension, I might have got six months under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

"But obviously being under Brendan's management at the time, I was getting told my game time was gonna get less and less.

“I didn't wanna be a sub for Liverpool, I didn't wanna be a squad player. I still felt that I was the best midfielder there at the time.

"But in hindsight, if I'd have known what was gonna come off, 100 per cent, I'd have signed the year extension, and I'd have put up with four to five months of Brendan to get six months of Klopp, for sure."

Rodgers has now departed Celtic with immediate effect, after the club's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond unleashed a scathing critique of the manager following his resignation.

He consistently criticised the board for the club's summer dealings, with irate fans increasing pressure on the management and demanding explanations.

Now, in a blistering statement, Desmond has shockingly described Rodgers' words and actions as "divisive, misleading and self-serving".

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