Brendan Rodgers 'always' eyed Celtic return after sour ending as honest boss admits 'I never wanted that legacy'
Rodgers knew he had to win some disgruntled Hoops fans back over when he returned to Glasgow's East End
Brendan Rodgers admits he always envisioned himself coming back to Celtic because he wanted a more fitting legacy than the nature of his departure the first time around afforded him.
After leading the Hoops to domestic Trebles in 2017 and 2018, the forme r Liverpool boss infuriated sections of the Parkhead fanbase when he jumped ship to join Leicester City in March 2019 in the midst of his team's push for another trophy sweep.
The Irishman spent the next five years with the Tigers, memorably guiding them to glory in the FA Cup in 2021. However, just two years later Rodgers left Leicester just weeks before they relegated from the Premier League.
Rodgers sealed his return to Celtic three months later and claimed that he had knocked back offers from England's top-flight and abroad in favour of coming back to Glasgow's East End.
But the 52-year-old concedes he understood the trepidation from some surrounding his arrival.
Speaking to James McFadden for BBC Sport Scotland ahead of the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen, he said: "I knew the feeling when I left and I never wanted that to be my legacy here at Celtic.
"Growing up as a Celtic guy who had a wonderful first spell here, for that to be my story, I never really wanted that.
"I'd always wanted to come back but I didn't know when it was going to be.
"I hoped it would, there was never a guarantee because obviously if people don't want you back, then it wasn't going to be.
"But I was very thankful (that) I had a really good relationship with Dermot (Desmond) and the board when I was here the first time.
"In particular with Dermot and his confidence and belief in me never wavered.
"I always wanted to come back and for a multitude of reasons.
"One of them being I wanted Celtic to do well in Europe. I wanted us to bring Celtic into Europe and be respectable and have credibility.
"So that was a big factor whilst still looking to dominate domestically because that is your bread and butter."
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