Joe Hart has paid tribute to Brendan Rodgers for the seamless way he’s made Celtic fans and players move on from the Ange Postecoglou era.
Rodgers’ return to Parkhead last summer wasn’t universally welcomed, with some supporters still smarting from his sudden departure to Leicester City in 2019, despite his double treble success.
Yet, by the end of last season, Rodgers had not only secured the league title but also guided Celtic to Scottish Cup glory, restoring faith among the fanbase.
Now, in the 2024/25 campaign, Celtic have hit new heights. Their emphatic 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League has set a club record, and the team are strong contenders to secure a play-off spot in the new league phase.
Hart, who was watching closely, was full of praise for both his former club and the manager who has masterminded this impressive start.
Speaking on the BBC’s Champions League highlights programme, the former England goalkeeper reflected on Rodgers’ impact and the transition from the much-lauded ‘Angeball’ style of play.
“That’s something that really resonated with me when I heard him say that,” Hart said, when asked about Rodgers’ comments on his team’s confidence.
“Brendan came in, there were a few murmurs, and it was his second tenure at the club. Ange Postecoglou had really laid his stamp. We’ve seen down in Tottenham what a feeling he has with the fans, and that wasn’t lost on the Celtic faithful. We played some incredible football under him.”
Hart acknowledged that Rodgers had a difficult task in following a manager as popular and successful as Postecoglou.
“It was a tough role to take over. Do you know what I love about him? He just took his time. He understood that we’d been well-drilled under Ange, we had ways of playing, people had certain triggers which you can’t just erase. He slowly worked his way in.”
Hart admitted he had initial doubts, but Rodgers eventually won him and the players over.
“Then, with three or four months to go, Brendan stepped up and let everyone know what it meant to be a Celtic player. He made little tweaks, complemented what a great job Ange had done, and put his spin on it.”
With a strong pre-season and a flying start to the campaign, Hart believes the best is yet to come:
“A favourable draw in the Champions League and a night like this, it’s just going to get better.”