Brendan Rodgers joins Saudi club Al Qadsiah

Ex manager of Celtic and Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers, has taken up the head coach position at Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, just seven weeks following his departure from the underperforming Scottish team.

The 52 year old departed Celtic amid controversy in late October, after he voiced criticism against the club's directors and their choices in the transfer market, prompting the main investor Dermot Desmond to label him as divisive, misleading, and self centred.

Al Qadsiah, which is under the ownership of the Saudi state backed oil firm Aramco, sits in fifth place in the Saudi top flight and recently dismissed their head coach Michel Gonzalez on Sunday.

The Northern Irish coach Rodgers was brought on board by James Bisgrove, who previously served as CEO for Celtic's rivals Rangers and now occupies that position at Al Qadsiah.

Bisgrove hailed Rodgers' appointment as a significant milestone for the team.

Rodgers is set to be ready for the January transfer period, during which the club anticipates bolstering their lineup.

Among their prominent players are Italy's Mateo Retegui and ex Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez.

Rodgers guided Liverpool to second place in the Premier League during the 2013 2014 campaign and secured the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021.

Across his two stints at Celtic, he claimed the league title four times, the Scottish Cup three times, and the League Cup on four occasions.

Martin O'Neill, a past manager, provided temporary stability at Celtic after Rodgers left, but the newly appointed French coach Wilfried Nancy has suffered defeats in his opening three games.