Monk played under Celtic boss Rodgers before following him into management.
New Birmingham City manager Garry Monk has named Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers as the biggest influence on his career, from a coaching perspective.
Monk was Rodgers’ captain at Swansea City and eventually succeeded the Ulsterman after Michael Laudrup’s spell in between.
Rodgers has since managed Liverpool and Celtic, while Monk spent the bulk of the last 18 months at Birmingham’s Championship rivals Leeds United and Middlesbrough.
The 38-year-old was sacked by Boro two days before Christmas, however, and recently paid his old mentor a visit at Celtic Park.
“From a management and coaching perspective, probably the biggest influence in my time came probably under Brendan Rodgers,” Monk said via Birmingham’s official Facebook page on Monday. “He was very open with me and allowed me an insight into that world when I was still playing.
“We’re still in good contact now, he’s still a very good friend of mine. I was there not long ago up at Celtic, to share ideas and speak to him about it.”
Monk and Rodgers have quite contrasting tasks ahead of them in the final eight weeks of the season, with Birmingham looking to escape the bottom three and Celtic going for a seventh successive Scottish Premiership title.
The Bhoys boss, who is only seven years his Blues counterpart’s senior, has won four trophies in little more than 18 months at Celtic Park.
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