Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers signs new four-year deal

Brendan Rodgers has signed a new four-year contract with Celtic, keeping him at the club until 2021.

Former Liverpool manager Rodgers was named the new man in charge at Celtic Park last summer, tasked with tightening the club's grip on Scottish football and making inroads in Europe.

After being tentatively backed with replacing Arsene Wenger as the new Arsenal manager, Celtic have now tied their manager down to a new long-term deal with the club still chasing a domestic treble this season.

"It just felt right," Rodgers told a press conference. "Myself, Peter [Lawwell, Celtic's chief executive] and the board have been talking for a little while and it felt the right thing to do.

"I find it hard to find the words to express my feelings. We have a built a connection at the football club and that will be important going forward. There is a lot more to do and achieve, an exciting period for the club."

Lawwell said: "Brendan has made a huge impact at Celtic already. He's an outstanding manager and we believe he is one of the best coaches in Europe, if not world football, and we're delighted that he has committed his future to Celtic."

The Bhoys have enjoyed a near-flawless domestic campaign under the Northern Irish manager, having already won the League Cup and Scottish Premiership title and remain unbeaten in 38 domestic games.

A Scott Sinclair hat-trick secured Celtic's 48th Scottish title in a 5-0 win over Hearts last Sunday – their sixth in a row.

A treble still looms large with the club set to take on arch-rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final later this month.

Despite losing his first game in charge to Gibraltar minnows Lincoln Red Imps in a Champions League qualifier back in July, arguably the most humiliating result in the club's history, Celtic's European campaign had its highlights. After being drawn against Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach in the group stages of the competition, the Scottish champions recorded entertaining draws home and away to pep Guardiola's side, also leaving Germany with a point.

Former Arsenal and Celtic foward Charlie Nicholas was among those to back Rodgers to succeed Wenger at the Emirates, describing the former Swansea boss as a serious "contender". Rodgers himself has admitted he would one day be open to a return to the Premier League.