Former Republic of Ireland internationalist Damien Duff does not envisage Brendan Rodgers being enticed away from Celtic to Leicester since he believes the 45-year-old is in his “dream job”.
Duff was unveiled as the new reserve coach with the Parkhead side yesterday afternoon and fully anticipates working in tandem with Rodgers, whom he first got to know when both men were working at Chelsea.
Rodgers is believed to be the top target for struggling Leicester, should the Premier League side part company with Claude Puel in the coming weeks but Duff doesn’t see it happening.
"People brush over the fact that he nearly won the league at Liverpool,” said Duff. "He's an amazing manager. I think the club are lucky to have him and long may he stay.
"I have just blown in here, but when I speak to him he seems so happy.
"That was the one thing we would chat about all those years ago when we were together at Chelsea - how much we loved Celtic.
"It's his dream club as well."
Meanwhile, Duff will look to draw on the experience of playing under experienced and successful managers as he embarks on the next stage of his own career.
“If it was any other club in England or Scotland, I’d still be at home in Dublin,” said Duff. “The minute Celtic call you and you interview and get the job, I had to come. The interview was the hardest thing I’ve ever done by a mile.
“Playing at World Cups and everything else is easy in comparison because that’s what I did. I play football so I was doing what you do but being a coach is obviously new.
“Coming over and expressing my views on football to Brendan Rodgers and the interview panel about how I think football should be played felt a bit bizarre when speaking to one of the best managers in the world.
"I've been spoiled during my career with the gaffers I have worked under.
"I have had the best managers in the world - and I have had some disasters as well, which you learn from.
"But you take a lot from good and bad experiences under managers. As a player, I probably learned more from the bad times. I have tried to take good points and bad points from all the managers I have had.
"But coming to Celtic, I also want to be myself.”
“I tried maybe to get a move to Celtic when I left Newcastle United but moves only happen when they’re meant to be so it obviously wasn’t meant to be.
“I’ve always adored the club like most people back home in my country and the next best thing is coaching and to come here as a coach is an amazing thing.
“I’m not one to dwell on the past, whether it be good or bad. It shapes you as a person or as a coach. We all had our own careers and I’m here now and I’m there’s no place I’d rather be on earth than here coaching the reserves.
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