BRENDAN RODGERS claims there is no way he is about to leave Leicester for Arsenal.
But history tells us the Foxes boss, 46, is not always a man to be taken on his word.
Brendan Rodgers is adamant he would not quit Leicester for Arsenal but history tells us he’s not always a man of his word
Indeed, fans of Watford, Swansea and Celtic need no reminding that what Rodgers says and then does, are two different things.
During his time in charge of those clubs, he talked up how “happy” he was and pointed towards his contract each time rumours started swirling about interest in him from elsewhere.
But then, when a seemingly more attractive offer was actually put on the table, the Northern Irishman did not think twice about jumping ship.
Just take his time at Watford, for example.
Rodgers took over at Vicarage Road for his first managerial post in November 2008.
After keeping the Hornets in the Championship, divisional rivals Reading came calling.
Rodgers, though, could not have been more convincing in his commitment to staying put.
In fact, talk of him leaving was so ridiculous, he was downright furious at the very suggestion.
Speaking in May 2009, Rodgers fumed: “When I am asked about other clubs, people are questioning my integrity and one thing I have mentioned is I always have integrity.
“I am loyal and find it disloyal when I am asked about other clubs when I am the Watford manager. Nothing has changed in that respect.”
But less than a fortnight later, Rodgers was unveiled at Reading.
It was a similar scenario at his next club, Swansea.
He enjoyed two successful seasons there, winning Premier League promotion and then guiding them to 11th.
His work started to attract interest from the Premier League big-boys but, once again, he was apoplectic at the notion he might move on. After signing a new 3½-year deal in February 2012, Rodgers said: “It’s incredible, the day you sign it you are linked with moving away.
“But I am very happy here and my family love it in Wales. This is the place I want to be.
“Hopefully, I can be here for the duration of my contract, that’s my aim.
“I don’t know where else other than Swansea I can be as happy.”
Rodgers even doubled down on his commitment to the club a month later and said: “My vision in relation to Swansea is not complete and I feel an excitement about that.
“The reality is this will end at some point — either I will leave or the club will sack me — but, hopefully, not for a while yet.”
When Liverpool came knocking in the spring of 2012, he appeared to be good to his word this time as a Swansea statement said: “Brendan has declined the current opportunity to speak to the Anfield club”.
Yet come May, there he was at Anfield holding up a Liverpool scarf.
Fresh in the memory, of course, is what happened at Celtic.
He routinely gushed about how delighted he was in his “dream job”.
In 2018 Rodgers insisted: “I’m in the best job in the world.
Rodgers insisted he has the ‘best job in the world’ as Celtic managerCredit: PA:Press Association
“The supporters have given me everything. I feel a loyalty to them to ensure we keep moving the club forward and keep progressing.”
Then in February this year, when Leicester’s interest first became apparent, he stated: “My job is to concentrate on the football aspect and that is with Celtic.”
We all know what happened two days later — so this week’s events have a familiar feel to them.
Just ten months after he arrived at the King Power, Rodgers is being forced to field questions about the vacant Arsenal job.
On Monday, he said: “It’s all about happiness and I couldn’t be happier.
“Why would I want to leave Leicester at this moment in time?
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“My contract is until 2022 and the club haven’t said they want to release me from that.”
This will have been music to the ears of all who love Leicester but, as is now clear, his words should be taken with a bucket load of salt.
Foxes fans, consider yourselves warned.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
