The worst-kept secret in Scottish football is finally out in the open.
Brendan Rodgers is the new manager of Celtic. He succeeds Ange Postecoglou in the Parkhead hot seat after the Australian left to join Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer.
From disappointment to a major appointment.
Rodgers is arguably the best manager Celtic could have recruited at this juncture and he has committed his long-term future to the club after putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.
What is certain is that the Celtic board have delivered on their promise by selecting the best possible candidate for the post.
Dermot Desmond and Michael Nicholson oversaw all the discussions which have led to Rodgers's sensational return to the club.
It smacks of a big appointment by Celtic and certainly a big club acting suitably.
With European football already being targeted by the Hoops and financial backing being assured, it remains to be seen if Rodgers can take the club to the next level.
When Rodgers left back in 2019, there was a feeling of "Paradise Lost".
Four years on, there is a sense of "Paradise Regained" after Rodgers has swept back into power.
Given his return, it feels like a good time to look back at his most iconic quotes from his first spell at the club.
On being unveiled as the Celtic manager in July 2016:
"People might say this is a step down but they don’t know this club."
"I will give everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters exciting, entertaining and winning football.
"The club has been in magnificent shape in recent years and has collected silverware regularly during this time.
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"My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in Europe."
"I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true."
On Celtic as an entity in August 2016:
"I know Celtic is not just a football club it’s a way of life. You must watch this. You’ll feel inspired."
On his critics in October 2016:
"The best way of keeping your critics quiet is to win games of football."
On being in the Celtic job long-term in November 2016:
"I don’t see Celtic as a stepping stone, I want to be here as long as I can."
On playing Rangers at Ibrox in January 2017:
"Coming to Ibrox isn’t just about the points, it’s about defending the culture of our club."
On fulfilling his ambitions at Celtic in April 2017:
"There is not a place I could be in this world right now where I’d be happier in my football life and personal life. This is Celtic – this is one of the great, iconic clubs of the world. For me, Celtic is the greatest club in the world.
"I’ve come to Celtic to build something special here. I’m really happy in my life and want to keep developing the club."
On securing the first treble in May 2017:
"I was born into Celtic. It’s a huge privilege to manage this club. I was born into it and we have created something which hopefully allows us to build on this. To do what we did this season is spectacular."
On Celtic in European football in September 2017:
"The potential here is huge but it’s about steps. Listen, there is a star outside the ground because we have won it."
On playing for Celtic in September 2017:
"You have to be careful with young players. I say to the young players here, it’s very easy to walk around with the Louis Vuitton soap bag. But when you walk out of here, don’t tell people you play for Celtic.
"No, you are only training with Celtic. You are playing for Celtic when you are in the first team. Lots of young players these days look good, they smell nice, but they don’t put the work in.
"They don’t play. It’s about working to play for the first team.”
On writing history in October 2017:
"In the last year, we’ve written history at this club in terms of a treble and going unbeaten. But let’s keep rewriting history."
On his Celtic managerial future speaking on talkSPORT in April 2018:
"I woke up here on a 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 love it here. I’m so happy here at Celtic. I’m in a job that I love."
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"There’s no doubt, 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."
"The board has been so supportive of me here 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."
On winning the title against Rangers with a crushing 5-0 win in May 2018:
"We wanted seven, but we’ll take five. To be in with a chance and opportunity to add another chapter to the great story of Celtic. That’s always been my main aim, to make the supporters proud and inspire them."
On Celtic matching his ambitions and the board halting progress before a Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens in August 2018:
"Yeah. My job is done then. Terminado. Gone."
On hitting a comfort zone in November 2018:
"It’s no good if I just sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress. In Glasgow, only one team can be doing well. You’ve got to make sure that’s you.”
On leaving Celtic for Leicester City in March 2019:
"Well, it was a very, very difficult decision. If I was making this decision with my heart, I’d be at Celtic all my life. It all happened very quickly. I was presented with an opportunity, and of course, emotionally I have to take all of that out.
"After almost three years at Celtic, after all, we had achieved on and off the pitch, it was time to move on to my next challenge. I’ve had opportunities to move, but this was an opportunity I felt was too good to turn down.
"Celtic are a huge club. But, it’s not the case of whether it’s bigger, it’s about coming to the Premier League. The challenge of coming in and working against top players and top coaches. That was the real draw.”
On a possible return to Celtic in May 2019:
"In the situation I was in when I left Liverpool, I had opportunities to go elsewhere, but I felt that at that time at Celtic, it was a great opportunity to go in. The club were keen to bring me in, they were in a moment where Rangers were close, they were getting promoted and I went in and created hopefully a really good base.
"That challenge may come again. It was a real challenge to go in, that challenge may come in the future and I would have absolutely no hesitation in going back.
"An incredible club. Like everything else in life, it’s just about timing. Whether I will be received back or not is a different story but would I go back to Celtic? Absolutely,”
On Rodgers's family members in May 2020:
"I had family who were just distraught I left Celtic, just couldn’t believe it. I have relations that haven’t spoken to me since the day I left Celtic. Because it meant so much to them. And if you carry on like that too much, you’ll never do anything.
"But I had some unforgettable memories at Celtic that will live with me for a lifetime, that I still think about now and I then came into my next experience."
On his return having signed a three-year deal in June 2023:
"I'm delighted to return to Celtic and I am hugely excited by this great opportunity. When I was given the privilege of being asked to join the club again, it was a very simple decision for me and my family."
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"We have enjoyed some great times at Celtic before and this will be my goal again, to deliver good football, ensure we have a team we all love to watch and ultimately bring more success to our fans."
"The club is in fantastic condition at all levels and I would like to thank the board for putting their trust in me to take the team forward.
"We will work very closely together as we strive to bring that success to our supporters. Let’s get to work!"
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