Brendan Rodgers has revealed that You’ll Never Walk Alone has been a constant throughout his life.
The Irishman is the only person to have managed Celtic and Liverpool where the anthem is part and parcel of supporter folklore.
Who actually sang the song first will forever be a matter of debate after Gerry and the Pacemakers took it into the charts in 1963.
European nights at Celtic Park always feature the anthem with video clips instantly shared across social media to take it to an even bigger audience.
Explaining the significance of You’ll Never Walk Alone Rodgers told the Celtic website: “This is one I could never leave out because I grew up with this song, and it’s followed me through life and into my football career.
“It was an important song for me as a young guy growing up, being a Celtic supporter and seeing that being sung with the scarves aloft.
“Then, moving into managing Liverpool, I always felt a real pride when I managed at Anfield, and I heard the song. And then, following that through to now at Celtic Park, where You’ll Never Walk Alone first began for me.
“So that’s a song and an anthem which has been with me virtually all my life. It’s a special feeling when I hear that song – every game. It gives you such a feeling of pride and responsibility, and it doesn’t change. The scarves are up, the passion is there and it’s an incredible tune. It means so much, the words in it, and the feelings behind it.
“There’s not a point in my life when I can remember not hearing it, so you recognise it from when you’re younger and comes right all the way through with you.”
Celtic fans have been singing YNWA for fifty years with it’s significance highlighted at the recent Betfred Cup win over Aberdeen.
Rodgers added: “After the League Cup final at Hampden, for example, you could see Ryan Christie had been living for that moment as a Celtic player, and he was enjoying every second of it, holding the cup and singing You’ll Never Walk Alone. He’d probably dreamed of that, and now it was real for him.”
