The Irishman is pleased with how his current coaching staff is made up with each person having a special quality.
Brendan Rodgers only knew him as a world-class player with Leeds United and Liverpool.
But after a one-to-one chat with Harry Kewell before returning as Celtic boss last summer, he knew the Aussie had what it takes to be a Grade A coach too. When Rodgers came back to Glasgow for a second stint at Parkhead he inherited Ange Postecoglou’s backroom team. While he was well aware of John Kennedy’s capabilities from last time round, Kewell and Gavin Strachan were new to him.
When Postecoglou left for Spurs it seemed certain that his countryman would follow. But after meeting Kewell face to face, Rodgers was left hugely impressed by the 45-year-old. And it wasn’t just about the strength of his coaching. It was Kewell’s mentality that left its mark on the Hoops boss. Despite Postecoglou’s exit, the former Socceroos midfielder was totally committed to Celtic. That’s why he’s now a key part of what Rodgers is building at Parkhead.
A few weeks ago when Luis Palma scored a wonder goal in the win over Ross County in Dingwall, the Honduran headed straight for Kewell in the dugout. Japanese winger Daizen Maeda has previously spoken about how his private sessions with the former Champions League winner has improved his game.
Those types of things – allied to the work done by Kennedy, Strachan and Rodgers himself – is why the Hoops gaffer says everything is aligned in the football department to yield success. He said: “I didn’t know Harry and Gavin when I came back.
“But I met Harry prior to taking the job and had a chat with him at my house down south. And I have to say, for a player who was world class in his pomp, the commitment he has to being here at Celtic and helping our wingers is very good.
“With former players like him, they give you that little bit of gold dust. He shares that with the players and he’s good for our team. He gives us a different viewpoint.
“The coaches have a specific number of players they work with on different elements of their game. An incredible amount of work goes on here, from all of the coaches, to help the players develop
“We identify areas they need to be better in. Harry will sit with the forward players, John with the defenders and Gavin the midfielders. Luis (when he celebrated against Ross County) was probably referencing some pointers Harry gave him, which is great.
“Because that’s why we’re here – to train players, give them confidence and improve them. That’s our job so it’s nice when they can reference people who are helping them.”
Rodgers is loving life back on the training pitch at Lennoxtown where he spent two-and-a-half years before moving to Leicester City in 2019. But he has heaped praise on his right-hand men, including Kennedy who opted to stay at Celtic and not follow Postecoglou to London.
The Irishman also hailed Strachan and new Hoops analyst Jack Lyons whom Rodgers brought in when he returned as gaffer. He said: “I’m loving my time back up here, on and off the pitch. I love working with the players because this is a brilliant group who are so committed. We’re in a good place right now.
“I’ve been impressed by all of the coaches here. John is brilliant – but I saw that in my first spell. He’s an outstanding coach who has an incredible thirst to continue learning and developing. John works as hard as I’ve ever seen anyone work in football. And besides all of that he’s a good man – a very loyal man.
“Gavin is also an excellent coach who is very diligent with lovely human qualities. He’s always there for the players And obviously Jack, who I brought in, is a really talented coach who is analytically brilliant.
“He analyses and presents that to the players. So the team of coaches is very good and the dynamics of it all make it work.”
After Rodgers left Leicester in April his assistant boss Chris Davies – who had been with him at Celtic – was lured to Spurs by Postecoglou a few months later. The third coach in that Foxes trio was former Arsenal and Ivory Coast legend Kolo Toure, who had also cut his teeth at Parkhead as part of Rodgers’ backroom staff.
The 42-year-old had left the King Power to go on his own as Wigan Athletic boss – only to be sacked after just NINE games in charge of the Latics. Rodgers knows how difficult it can be for rookie gaffers early in their managerial career but hopes Toure is given a chance to shine elsewhere.
He said: “Kolo is one of the nicest men I’ve ever met in my life or in football. It was hard for him at Wigan because he’d made that decision to go into his first job, despite people maybe telling him not to do it.
“If you get the feeling, you have to go and do it. And listen, I had that early in my career when I lost my job before I’d really started as a manager. I had a good time at Watford, should have stayed, but didn’t, then went to Reading.
“Within 22 games, I lost my job. So I’m thinking: ‘How am I going to get another chance?’ I knew I’d be better next time but for the first time in my life I was unemployed.
“I was still developing but I had to sharpen my teeth. The next job I went to, I knew I had to be good to survive Thankfully, Swansea City gave me that chance.
“Kolo is a good man with great experience. So I hope he gets another opportunity. As a person, I learned a lot from working with him.”
