Brendan Rodgers return: how other managers performed in second stint at Celtic

• Celtic have announced the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as the new manager 
• Rodgers will be making a second stint at the club having coached the club more than four years ago
• We take a look at how other managers who returned for a second stint at the club performed

Brendan Rodgers has made a comeback to Celtic Football Club after a gap of four years and four months since his previous tenure as the manager of the Glasgow club ended. The 50-year-old departed Celtic Park to take charge of Leicester City, but now he returns to Celtic as the new manager, signing a three-year contract to replace Ange Postecoglou.

During his initial stint as Celtic boss, Rodgers achieved remarkable success, winning all seven major Scottish trophies he competed for. In his debut season of 2016-17, he led Celtic to an unbeaten campaign. Now, as Rodgers returns to the club, we examine the experiences of two other managers who had a second spell at Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers is the third manager after Billy McNeill and Neil Lennon to return for a second stint at Celtic Football Club. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

Billy McNeill

McNeill experienced a successful return to the managerial position in 1987, leading the Lisbon Lions to triumph. However, the club encountered turbulent times thereafter.

Following his tenure as Aberdeen manager, McNeill took over from his former boss Jock Stein in 1978. He achieved three titles, one Scottish Cup, and one League Cup during his five-year stint, which coincided with Aberdeen and Dundee United challenging the dominance of the Old Firm.

After managing Manchester City and Aston Villa, McNeill replaced Davie Hay as Celtic’s manager. He guided the team to a domestic double in their centenary season and prevented Rangers from securing a treble in 1989 by clinching victory in the Scottish Cup final through Joe Miller’s goal.

However, Celtic failed to qualify for European competitions the following season, and McNeill was dismissed in May 1991 after another trophyless campaign.

READ: Celtic set to re-appoint Brendan Rodgers as new manager

Neil Lennon

Lennon followed in Rodgers’ footsteps and achieved initial success when he took over in February 2019, but his second stint ended disappointingly.

As the former Celtic captain, Lennon secured the Scottish Cup in his first full season as manager in 2011. He went on to win three consecutive titles and the 2013 Scottish Cup.

Lennon holds the distinction of being the last manager to guide Celtic to the knockout stages of the Champions League, with a memorable victory over Barcelona propelling them to the last 16 in the 2012-2013 season.

After managerial spells at Bolton and Hibernian, he continued the winning streak that Rodgers had initiated in 2019, overseeing the completion of the quadruple treble in December 2020 despite disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, his tenure started to unravel, and Celtic’s hopes of securing a historic 10-in-a-row were shattered. A League Cup defeat to Ross County marked the end of their 12-trophy winning streak, and Lennon ultimately resigned after a league loss to the same opponent in February 2021.