Brendan Rodgers Combined Managerial XI

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Brendan Rodgers has managed Watford, Reading, Swansea, Liverpool and Celtic in a managerial career spanning nine years to date.

Brendan Rodgers has just gone an entire season unbeaten in the league at Celtic, winning the Scottish Premier League in emphatic style. The league is undoubtedly not at its most competitive, with Rangers still a long way off properly challenging their Glasgow rivals, but that is still a magnificent achievement.

Where it ranks in Rodgers managerial accomplishments is up for debate. At Swansea, he guided the club into the Premier League and kept them there for a season, and the Swans have managed to maintain their Premier League status ever since. At Liverpool, he came oh-so close to winning the Premier League title, and was awarded the LMA Manager of the Year award.

Having managed five clubs in the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League, we thought we’d take a look at what a Brendan Rodgers combined XI. Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of players from the Northern Irishman’s time at Anfield, but players from his time at Reading, Swansea and Celtic all also represented.

Pepe Reina

Pepe Reina in action for Liverpool

From Michel Vorm to Craig Gordon, Brendan Rodgers has worked with some decent shot stoppers in his time, but Reina is the best all-round goalkeeper. The Spaniard spent just a year under Rodgers in his first season at Anfield, before being loaned out to Napoli and later signing permanently for Bayern Munich.

Nathaniel Clyne

Celtic full-back Mikael Lustig may stake a claim, but ultimately it is Nathaniel Clyne who comes out on top at right-back. Like Reina, the England international didn’t spend long working with Rodgers, but he is a very capable full-back with pace, power and solid defensive attributes.

Daniel Agger

Centre-back is probably the weakest area of this team. Daniel Agger was a good player for Liverpool, and he both left Anfield and retired much earlier than he could have. The big Dane won two trophies with the Reds but since retirement he has turned to business, with interests ranging from tattoos to sewage.

Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams celebrates scoring for Swansea City

One defender Brendan Rodgers could always count upon during his time at Swansea City was Ashley Williams. The Welsh international was a fine servant for the Swans, up until his move to Everton last summer. A strong and consistent performer, he deserves his place in this team.

Kieran Tierney

Rodgers has worked with a number of fine young left-back’s during his career, such as Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand and Kieran Tierney. Undoubtedly Rose is now the finest of the three, but Tierney has probably impressed the most under Rodgers, becoming a star man for Celtic at the age of just 19.

Steven Gerrard

In a deep-lying midfield role, it’s Steven Gerrard. It’s the position he played most regularly under the former Liverpool boss, already aged 33 when Rodgers arrived at Anfield. Gerrard was superb in the 2013-14 title push, despite his ultimate slip, scoring 13 and assisting 13 goals. A Liverpool legend, Gerrard won nine trophies with the Reds.

Raheem Sterling

England international Raheem Sterling

Some might make a case for Scott Sinclair deserving a place in this team, having performed well for Rodgers at both Swansea and Celtic, but the simple fact is, Raheem Sterling is a much better player. Unpopular on Merseyside following his big-money move to Manchester City, Sterling was brilliant alongside Suarez and Sturridge at Anfield.

Philippe Coutinho

Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho is equally capable of player in attacking midfield or on the wing, but it’s on the left wing that he’ll play in this Rodgers XI. The 24-year-old who joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for just £8.5 million has been an inspired signing, and he has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

There are a few options in attacking midfield, but it’s hard to look past Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic playmaker has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, scoring and assisting on a regular basis in a struggling Swansea team. Rodgers managed Sigurdsson at both Reading and Swansea.

Luis Suarez

Brendan Rodgers star man Luis Suarez

Sorry Danny Graham, but up front, Luis Suarez gets the nod over the now League One forward. Suarez is one of the greatest players in Liverpool and Premier League history, despite his tendency to practice the dark arts at Anfield. The Uruguayan superstar is without doubt the finest player to play under Brendan Rodgers.

Daniel Sturridge

It was a tough call between Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and Celtic star Moussa Dembele. Certainly now Dembele is hotter property, aged just 20 and already a key player for the Bhoys, but 21 Premier League goals is more impressive than 17 Scottish Premier League goals, and that is the comparison of both players best seasons under Rodgers. Dembele will probably go on to be the better player, but right now it has to be Sturridge.