Let’s rewind to 31st December 2023, where Celtic were closing out the year in a month that included back-to-back league defeats - away to Kilmarnock and home to Hearts. The general mood around the club and the support was very much one of unease, at best, and panic at worst. That defeat at home to Hearts felt like a real low point, never had a Celtic side looked so timid and devoid of ideas as the Edinburgh side got a first win at Celtic Park for 14 years. The year ended with a 2-1 win over Rangers which allayed some of the anxiety and consolidated our control of the title race, but the undercurrent of uncertainty remained.
"It's an apology to the support. I don't think I've ever had to do that in all my time here. The performance today was nowhere near the level of what is expected of a Celtic player and a Celtic team.” Brendan Rodgers after the 0-2 defeat to Hearts, December 2023.
Fast forward twelve months since those back-to-back defeats and Celtic have only lost 2 of the 53 games that have followed. The tension and discontent banished by the verve and panache of a Celtic team that has looked possessed since minute one of the 2024-25 pre-season. After closing 2024 with Sunday’s 4-0 dismissal of St. Johnstone at Celtic Park, the Hoops go into the New Year derby at Ibrox with a solid 14-point lead at the top of the table. 18 games played, 52 goals scored and only 4 conceded in the Scottish Premiership to this point. The consistency is unerring.
Aside from the domestic dominance, the revamped Champions League format has given Celtic an opportunity to make the revered European progress that supporters have long craved. The objective is not yet achieved - but securing a play-off place is fully in Celtic’s control with two games remaining. The solitary defeat in Dortmund is the only blot on the Champions League copybook. And while the sentiment that followed the 0-0 draws on the road against Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb was contrasting, bucking the trend of away-day heartache is arguably the biggest sign of ‘progress’ the club can make on this stage.
In recent press conferences Brendan Rodgers has stated on two separate occasions that ‘you can’t wait for the future to plan for it’. And looking ahead to the future begs the question: what is the ceiling for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers this time around?
On his unexpected return to the Celtic dugout, the manager promised he would complete his 3-year contract. That contract is now more than halfway complete and with the club in such a good spot - on and off the pitch - speculation is underway about a potential extension.
It’s clear that Rodgers returned to heal the wounds left by his shock exit in 2019. He has the team flying on all fronts and playing some excellent football. And this time around, he appears to be winning the boardroom battle too. The club spent big on key summer signings, and rightly so, given the financial strength and the clear progress on the pitch.
Will securing that Champions League play-off place and another domestic treble be as good as it gets for Brendan at Celtic in the current landscape? Of course, in a supporter’s mind it’s futile to set limits. But for Rodgers, is there a checklist that will satisfy his desire for recompense? Or does he find himself at a point in his career where managing Celtic is about the process and not the destination?
His most stubborn detractors may well still hold a grudge about the nature of his departure to Leicester but even they would be remiss not to acknowledge the brilliant work he is doing with this current side. This is a Celtic team that looks and feels like a ‘Brendan Rodgers team’, that can’t be said about much of last season. Defending and attacking with equal intensity, dominating the ball and carrying a threat on the counter. Questions about the style of the team last season clearly still irk Rodgers and maybe those doubts have given him that extra edge this season.
Celtic could scarcely wish for a better qualified, more adept manager at the helm than Rodgers. That doesn’t mean they’re not out there, just extremely few and far between. Continued domestic dominance is almost assured if his past record is anything to go by and both of Rodgers’ spells as manager have coincided in record financial results. On the face of it a contract extension is a no-brainer for the club’s hierarchy. Ultimately though, it will come down to Brendan Rodgers himself. When asked recently about the possibility of a contract extension he kept his cards close to his chest:
“What did I say on my first day here? Three years unless I get bumped early! Listen, I said I’d be here for three years. At the end of three years, I’ll have done nearly six years as Celtic manager which is a long time for a Celtic manager. I haven’t really thought about it.” Brendan Rodgers speaking to the media on 22nd November 2024.
Things could hardly be going better for Celtic, but they might well be about to get even better on Thursday at Ibrox. However, as we reflect on the past year’s successes, and look at the big picture - you can’t help but wonder what the future holds for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.