Brendan Rodgers has already been on the tip of Scott Brown’s cellphone.
As quickly because the Leicester Metropolis boss heard the information on Tuesday that his outdated skipper could be able to reinvent himself as a supervisor having hung up his boots at Aberdeen, an invite was prolonged for Brown to journey down south for a cup of tea and a catch-up.
“Yeah, I’m already on the case with that,” Rodgers nodded yesterday as he ready to welcome Brown again over the border like a protracted misplaced son.
That the Northern Irishman would possibly ordinarily be thought of to have fairly sufficient on his plate already, on condition that he’s in the course of making ready for Thursday’s final 16 tie with Rennes within the UEFA Convention League, is indicative of the power of bond between this pair. A forged iron legacy from a trophy laden empire collectively at Celtic.
Rodgers added: “We’re going to have a chat about organising for him to return down as a result of he gave me a lot in my time there and I wish to attempt to be reciprocal to him. He’s somebody that my door will all the time be open to.”
In different circumstances, Rodgers may need made that cellphone name years in the past. And never only for a chat and a tour of Leicester's state-of-the-art coaching amenities.
No, Rodgers is satisfied that Brown may have spent his perfect years, barrelling out his chest round England’s prime flight and making a mark on the best league on the planet. If solely, that's, he may have been talked into leaving Celtic behind. And Rodgers all the time knew that might by no means occur.
However now that Brown’s taking part in days are over after quitting Aberdeen, Rodgers is left with an inevitable surprise of what may have been.
He mentioned: “He confirmed time after time within the Champions League that he had the expertise. However then you definately add in his skill to deal with strain. His mentality to succeed.
“Physicality? Not an issue. You must be an athlete within the Premier League and that was one other large power of his.
“Add all of that collectively and also you’ve obtained a participant who can function on the very highest stage. So would he have been a massively outstanding participant within the prime flight down right here? Completely, it’s not even a query.”
However what they achieved collectively over the course of virtually three full seasons on this facet of the border - successful two consecutive trebles and laying the foundations for a 3rd - will go down in historical past regardless.
And Rodgers went on: “As somebody who has managed fairly a number of video games at this stage I can say, completely, he would have succeeded as a participant within the Premier League.
“And I don’t simply imply he may have come down right here and accomplished OK, with a mid desk staff. No, he would have been a prime participant at a prime membership on the prime finish of this league with none query.
“For me he was a colossal participant. After I first went into the membership we hit it off immediately. The requirements he set on and off the pitch had been simply unimaginable.
“There's completely little doubt, he was the heartbeat of my staff.
“The admiration I've for him really grows each time I look again on our time collectively. This can be a man who was a particular, particular participant.
“He confirmed it again and again in opposition to prime class sides within the Champions League. However then we’d come again residence and go as much as someplace like Inverness and I’d get precisely the identical commonplace of efficiency once more.
“I admit, not all my gamers had been like that. However this was a person who was up for no matter recreation he was taking part in, in no matter competitors It was as if he was making an attempt to show himself each time he stepped onto a pitch.
“But it surely was additionally about how he drove the others on - that’s what made him such a real Celtic participant.
“I simply don’t suppose he will get something close to the accolades he ought to get for the extent of participant that he was, in all probability as a result of he selected to remain in Scotland for his entire profession. However that’s the way in which he needed it.
“All of us noticed what he was able to within the Champions League. Technically, he was capable of compete with anybody.
“I all the time bear in mind how he carried out in opposition to Manchester Metropolis when he was up in opposition to an actual excessive stage of opponent. The variety of passes he performed - the quantity of ahead passes - and the way he saved maintain of the ball? You possibly can solely do this when you find yourself a sure commonplace of participant.
“On the pitch, he actually managed the sport the way in which I needed him to. It was him who set the tempo and the rhythm of the sport. However, whereas he was taking all that upon his personal shoulders, he was additionally encouraging his staff mates. That’s what you need in a pacesetter. He was the proper captain.”
Rodgers noticed a really totally different facet to Brown off the pitch. However the impression it left on him was each bit as vital.
He mentioned: “I really cherished it once we’d usher in a participant who didn’t know him. Then they’d meet him, get to know him and find yourself loving him.
“He’s not what you count on as an individual if you see him play. You would possibly suppose you’re coping with a really severe man.
“He’s severe about his work. You possibly can solely obtain what he has in case you're a prime skilled with a prime mentality.
“However, off the pitch? What a person!
“He’s only a nice man who is aware of when to have enjoyable and luxuriate in himself but additionally methods to take care of individuals. As an individual he’s an incredible man, very variety and really humble. He placed on a special character when he was out on the pitch. He appeared to thrive on being everybody’s pantomime villain.
“His on area persona is nothing like his actual life character.
“I bear in mind signing Jonny Hayes and I may sense that Jonny was a wee bit tentative about coming into the squad as a result of he’d had a few run ins with him on the sphere.
“I really needed to say to Jonny, ‘Pay attention, he’s probably the greatest guys you’ll meet in your life! Don’t fear about it’.
“Very quickly they had been good buddies and I feel they’re nonetheless very shut now. Jonny in all probability wouldn’t have thought that potential.”