Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the offer to manage Leicester City was a now or never option.
The former Celtic boss met the media for the first time today after opting to return south of the border with less than three months of the season left.
Rodgers looked uncomfortable as he was questioned about the decision he took- virtually quitting ‘the club that he has supported all his life’ overnight without saying farewell to anyone as he attempted to take his entire back-room staff with him.
???? Join us live on LCFC TV as Brendan Rodgers speaks during his first press conference as Leicester City manager at King Power Stadium… #WelcomeBrendan https://t.co/ExgKXwLWuI
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 1, 2019
Asked if there was an opportunity to wait to take over at Leicester Rodgers said: “No, it wouldn’t have waited till the summer. I believed, I think that it was something. I think that the club in fairness had to make a decision in terms of where they were at. The intention was to bring in someone permanent, when they spoke to Celtic they made it clear that I was their only choice which then meant that I had a decision to make. So it wouldn’t have waited.”
At the start of the media conference Rodgers was asked why he had made the move and explained: “It was a very very difficult decision. If I was making this decision with my heart then I’d be at Celtic for life. It’s an incredible club, a club that I have supported all my life.
“It all happened very quickly, I was presented with an opportunity, that came to me. Obviously emotionally you have to take that out, my decision was that after nearly three years with Celtic, with everything that we achieved and the success that we had on the pitch, improvements that we made off the pitch, I felt that it was time to move on to my next challenge.
“I’ve had opportunities to leave in nearly three years at Celtic but this was an opportunity that I felt was too good to turn down. To come to a club with the ambition that Leicester City has, with a very simple infrastructure, allowed me to work well with the chairman and John here who is the sporting director.”
He added: “It wasn’t easy at all, I’ve got family and everyone that is deeply upset however I had to remove that emotion for my career as a football manager. I’m very happy that I made the move.
“I had to make the decision, I think my family has grown up as Celtic supporters and many friends. Not only that of course there is real sadness because in my time in Scotland I made a whole host of friends, you know in the football club itself.
“The players were amazing for me every single day. They enthused me to come in every day and work with them, absolutely incredible bunch, they will continue to have the success. All the staff at the club, right the way through were amazing for me and gave me every chance.”
Rodgers took training for Celtic as usual on Monday then left Lennoxtown without saying a word to anyone to head for Leicester.
By mid afternoon Peter Lawwell updated John Kennedy on what was going on, telling the first team coach to prepare for Wednesday’s match at Hearts or to be assistant to a caretaker manager.
Celtic announced at 10am on Tuesday morning that they had given permission for Rodgers to talk to Leicester with the move confirmed at 6.30 that day.
After taking charge of Celtic Neil Lennon steered the hoops to a 2-1 win at Hearts on Wednesday night, on Sundaty Rodgers takes charge of Leicester for their away day at Watford.