Brendan Rogers courted some derision this week. Having sealed the Scottish title with eight games to spare, with his Celtic side playing some utterly gorgeous football en route, Rodgers told the Daily Record of a meeting with a Rangers fan that seems a little far-fetched.
I was stuck in traffic in the Clyde tunnel when a guy in a blue top got out of his car and came over to me. I thought, 'Here we go', but he said 'I'm a Gers fan and I just wanted to say thanks to you for coming here...you are a real breath of fresh air'.
Whether or not that actually happened has been called into question, but what now cannot be questioned is Brendan Rodgers' commitment to Celtic: he has today signed a new, four-year contract with the club.
BREAKING: Faith in our future. Brendan Rodgers signs new four-year deal with Celtic Football Club. #Brendan2021
➡️ https://t.co/FBwoRKpxE5 pic.twitter.com/dUNW24Kp2R— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 7, 2017
Unveiled using #Brendan2021, with the catchy slogan of "Faith In Our Future", the club confirmed the news via a statement on their website:
CELTIC Football Club are delighted to announce that manager Brendan Rodgers has signed a new four-year contract with the club which will run until June 2021.
Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "Brendan has made a huge impact at Celtic already. He's an outstanding manager and we believe he is one of the best coaches in Europe, if not world football, and we're delighted that he has committed his future to Celtic."
Brendan Rodgers has already led the team to the Premiership title and League Cup success this season, remaining unbeaten after 38 domestic games, with a Scottish Cup semi-final to come later this month, while also guiding the team into the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Rodgers signed a one-year rolling contract at Celtic last year, and after a sensational first season - recovering from the ignominy of defeat to Lincoln Red Imps to saunter to the league and give Man City an almighty test in the Champions League - whispers began linking with Rodgers with an early return south.
Didi Hamann claimed that Rodgers should be top of the list for the Arsenal job, should Arsene Wenger leave at the end of the season:
What he's done at Celtic, to go a whole season unbeaten, which they can still do, to get in the Champions League and give Man City a game.
I think if you look at the Arsenal job and if the manager goes, which looks unlikely, I think Brendan Rodgers should be one of the first ones on the list.
This news will end those reports for a while, and if Celtic can keep hold of the likes of Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney, and Scott Sinclair, then the future for Celtic fans should be very exciting indeed.
And if he sticks around for all of those four years, and maintains his current record, we reckon that 'Gers fan' might eventually get tired of him.
