It might not go down as one of the great speeches of all time. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill don’t need to worry about being nudged off the quote of the day toilet paper.
But it was a line that summed up the mood outside Celtic Park yesterday evening. “I’ve got my bag of cans… Now I’ve got Brendan back”. The happy chap wasn’t lying. He had a tin in one hand and a placky bag with some more in the other, in a less than subtle homage to the famous clip that did the rounds years ago. Back then, some misguided fellow barricaded himself in his Paisley flat with cops outside, demanding a ransom of a bag of cans, Brendan back, as well as a job. Who knows about the last wish, but Brendan is back in this job. Albeit it in slightly less hysterical style. The big return yesterday was a much more subdued affair than his first unveiling back in the summer of 2016.
So many fans turned up that sunny day, Parkhead chiefs had to throw open the doors of the stadium to let them in. It was like the Beatles landing at JFK back then. Around 13,000 flocked to the ground to hail the manager who would lead them to the next seven trophies on the bounce. If this was Rodgers’s first stint now, there would probably have been the same yesterday. Instead there was probably just over a thousand waiting to get a glimpse of the man they once worshipped and are ready to do so again. There were only a handful of punters mulling around when Rodgers arrived earlier in the afternoon. He may have left by a side door four years ago but he would walk back in the front one this time.
“God bless you, Brendan,” one women said, maybe mindful of the story of the Prodigal Son and all that. But the numbers swelled as the day went on and there was a decent squad outside by the time Rodgers emerged after sitting down the the media.
This was a different version of Rodgers to the one that left though. He too was quiet, perhaps even a tad sheepish. Maybe he was worried about the odd heckle. He needn’t have been. This was a supportive crowd. This was a chunk of fans who have let bygones be bygones.
Yet he refused to sugar coat or sidestep the awkward issue. Rodgers said: “For those who are with me and have always been with me, let’s enjoy the journey. For those who I need to convince, I’ll see you here in May…”
It was a neat line to sign off, and that one got a huge response from the masses, but his big speech was also not in danger of ending up being carved in stone. Rodgers emerged from the front door, with his family standing by the side, in almost shy fashion.
Parkhead staff had hooked up speakers and handed him a mic, but the voice was still soft and measured rather than booming and bombastic.
“First of all, thank you for waiting. I know a lot of you have been waiting out here for a long time. It’s a special feeling to be here. I’ve been back to watch games and I was at Hampden a few weeks back.
“But driving up to Celtic Park today, if felt like I’d never been away. We had a great time before and I want to continue making special memories.”
A roar went up. Fans chanted his name. But you could sense they wanted to hear more. It wasn’t the usual party crowd mind you. There was a huge cross section of the support outside Celtic Park.
There were the guys with the carry outs, but there was also families, babies in buggies, young kids, who had waited for a few hours and played kickabout on the Celtic Way. There were some from the older generation, ones who’d seen more managers than had hot dinners, and even a guy with a couple of fluffy bison frise dogs on a leash.
During the long wait, occasionally songs broke out, including some old classics. Bag of cans man started the Brendan Rodgers chant, ‘Brendan Rodgers, here for …. 19 in a row.”
That got a chuckle. Rodgers did say he’d be here for three years at least, but another 14? You never know. Someone joked he’d be here until another job came up in the Premier League. There were only a few laughs though. Too soon man, too soon.
That’s the thing though, and maybe that explains the warm welcome rather than the rapturous one. There was no bitterness grumbles or snide comments. The public in the main are clearly thrilled to have him back, but at the same time, once bitten, twice shy.
Rodgers is obviously aware of it as well. And in fairness, he didn’t dodge it, even when standing on the steps of Celtic Park. He said: “When I left here four years ago it was probably one of the saddest days of my life.
“I went on to a different challenge but I regret if anyone stood here today or at home were hurt by that, because I know it hurt many people. But for that very reason I’m here today…”
A loan voice shouted back, “You’re home now Brendan, you’re home.” And you know what, it looked that way too.
