Brendan Rodgers confirms whether he would join Arsenal as manager

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no desire to manage Arsenal when Arsene Wenger steps down this summer. The 45-year-old has been linked with a Premier League return at the end of the season but said to talkSPORT that he’s happy to stay at Parkhead.

The Hoops appointed the former Liverpool boss in 2016 and he won the domestic treble (Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup) in debut season. Rodgers has nearly repeated the feat a year later, retaining the League Cup in November and sealing the title on the weekend.

A win against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final next month would see Celtic claim consecutive trebles under Rodgers. His success in Scotland has restored his reputation which is why Arsenal reportedly have the Northern Ireland coach on their shortlist, but the Gunners might be wasting their time.

Ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and Manchester City assistant manager Mikel Arteta are two names who have also been mentioned as potential replacements, but Rodgers said about the Arsenal links:

“I woke up here on Monday morning as the manager of Celtic, believe it or not the sky is blue here in Glasgow, and I’m in the best job in the world. I absolutely love it here.

“I’ve got huge respect for Arsenal as a club. When I started my coaching career Arsene was just coming into the club and I learned so much in that period as a young coach watching him and watching his dignity and class and how he dealt with everything, so it’s a club I’ve got huge respect for.

“But I’m so happy here at Celtic. I’m in a job I love, it’s a huge club with big expectancy and big pressure. I would love to work in the Premier League again one day, but I’m hopefully going to be coaching for another 20-odd years, so it’s no time soon.

“I’m so happy. I have a great loyalty to the board here, who have been so supportive of me. And from the first day I walked in, the supporters have given me everything. I feel a loyalty to them to ensure we keep moving the club forward and keep progressing.”

Celtic are currently 10 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership after 35 games, recently thrashing fierce rivals Rangers 5-0 to seal their seventh consecutive title. The Hoops have three more league games remaining, before locking horns with Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final on May 19.