PLANES TRAINS FERRIES FORKLIFTS COACH

Rodgers on his 'different' journey as a manager

- BY FRASER WILSON

IN Brendan Rodgers’ own words his journey has been “different to most”.

Planes, trains and automobiles might be the norm for your top-level manager.

But throw in a weekly trip on the Isle of Wight ferry and daily shifts on a forklift truck and you get the gist of just how unique the Northern Irishman’s route has been from boyhood fan to the brink of history as Celtic manager.

Rodgers has been named Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year on the same weekend he lifted a fourth Premiership trophy with the Hoops.

A Scottish Cup Final win against Aberdeen at Hampden next weekend would see him become the first Parkhead boss to win three Trebles.

It's certainly a long way from where his coaching odyssey began at Reading while still playing non-league for Newport on the Isle of Wight and driving a cherry picker for John Lewis.

Right now that forklift license could come in handy for the pile of silverware the 52-year-old is accumulating.

Looking back to how it started, the Parkhead gaffer said: "My journey’s different to most managers but I have loved every second of it.

"I've a lot of reason to thank the size five football - it has taken me round the world that ball of air!

"Back then I was working in the morning then would train a couple of evenings in the week with Newport.

"You couldn't travel over for training so they trained in Basingstoke then, on the Saturday, we would all go down and get on the ferry.