Brendan Rodgers has been here before. The man who led Celtic through some of its most dominant domestic triumphs is back for another season – and this time, the stakes are higher than ever…
Aberdeen v Celtic – Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney after the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)
The 2025/26 campaign feels like a turning point. After a summer of departures, returns, and unfulfilled promises in the transfer market, Rodgers faces the same expectation every Celtic manager lives with: win the league, and do it with style.
But the weight of this season goes beyond just reclaiming another title. For Rodgers, this is about proving Celtic can evolve – on the pitch, in Europe, and in how the club is built for the future.
A Summer of Big Questions
It hasn’t been a quiet off‑season in the East End of Glasgow. The transfer window has brought as many headaches as solutions.
Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic wins a header during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
● Kyogo Furuhashi, the talismanic striker who lit up Paradise, is gone. His departure to Rennes leaves a gaping hole in Celtic’s attack – and a lot of goals to replace.
● Nicolas Kuhn was moved on; Greg Taylor left, too, raising questions about depth in key positions.
Nicolas Kuhn, Como FC
Names like David Strelec and leftbacks Josh Doig and James Penrice have been floated, but deals haven’t been done – and Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants more business before the window closes. This transfer churn is normal for Celtic, but this summer feels different. With rivals strengthening and Champions League qualifiers looming, every missed signing feels like an opportunity slipping away.
Rodgers’ Tactical Balancing Act
Rodgers’ philosophy hasn’t changed – possession‑based football, quick rotations, and attacking from every angle. But he knows the squad in front of him has changed.
Callum McGregor with the Adidas Trophy after Celtic defeat Newcastle United 4-0 during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The midfield is Celtic’s safety net. Callum McGregor remains the anchor, dictating tempo. But Rodgers wants more than control – he wants a midfield that can hurt teams in Europe, not just at home.
But the main focus is in the forward areas with at least three signing required before 7pm on 1st September when the transfer window closes. Reports keep surfacing about strengthening on the wings and also at centre forward before the Champions League push or at least before the window closes.
What Will Define This Season
Celtic fans expect trophies. That’s never been the issue. But this season could define Rodgers by how far he can push the ceiling.
Reo Hatate celebrates with team mates after scoring to give Celtic a 0-2 lead. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Pittodrie. Sunday 10 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
● In Scotland: The league remains the measure. Lose it, and nothing else matters. Win it, and fans will still ask if the squad is strong enough to dominate in Europe.
● In Europe: That’s the frontier. Neil Lennon has said Celtic now have the “financial power” and “the manager” to break the Champions League group‑stage barrier. But critics like Chris Sutton have warned the squad looks thin for that challenge. Both can be right.
Rodgers knows it’s not enough to scrape into the knockouts once. Celtic need a plan for consistency in Europe – and that means better recruitment, better tactics, and better performances on big nights.
The Games That Could Shape Everything
Every season has turning points. This one has plenty.
● Early Champions League qualifiers: Celtic can’t afford a stumble here. Falling into the Europa League before the season starts would set a bad tone.
● Derbies with theRangers: Always season‑defining, always fierce. Slip here and the pressure builds fast. First one is on 31 August and Celtic could actually open up a TEN points lead with a win at Ibrox.
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 0-1 lead. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, 10 August 2025. Photo IMAGO/ Shutterstock, Stuart Wallace
● After winning at Pittodrie at the weekend, trips to future Tynecastle, and Easter Road will be crucial : Points dropped at these venues can undo months of good work.
These matches won’t just decide trophies – they’ll decide the tone of Rodgers’ tenure.
For Fans Traveling Abroad: Don’t Miss a Match
This is the kind of season no supporter wants to miss – and in 2025, plenty of fans follow Celtic while on the move.
If you’re abroad and find your streaming subscription is blocked or showing different matches, there’s an easy fix: download a VPN to connect to a server back home. That way, you can log in to your usual service and watch every Celtic match just as if you were in Glasgow – no blackouts, no dodgy feeds, just the game you paid for.
Can Rodgers Deliver?
Here’s the blunt truth: this season isn’t just about winning trophies. Celtic do that almost by muscle memory these days. This season is about what kind of club Celtic will be in the next five years.
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers with Adam Idah at full-time. Final score Aberdeen 0 Celtic 2. Scottish Premiership, Pittodrie. Stuart Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
● Can they recruit better – not just for Scotland, but for Europe?
● Can Brendan Rodgers evolve his tactics for a squad in transition?
● Can they stop losing their best players every window and start building a team that stays together long enough to make a real Champions League run?
For Rodgers, this season is legacy‑defining. Succeed, and he’s the manager who rebuilt Celtic for a new era. Fail, and he’s the man who couldn’t push past the glass ceiling.
The Bottom Line
The 2025/26 season feels like a knife‑edge for Celtic. The domestic league will always matter, but the big question is Europe – and whether this club, under Brendan Rodgers, can finally match ambition with achievement.
For fans, it’s going to be a ride. The transfers aren’t done, the tactics for the Champions League aren’t set, and the pressure has never been higher.
Aberdeen v Celtic – The travelling Celtic support during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI
One thing is certain: this will be a season to watch – no matter where in the world you are.
