CURTIS ON RODGERS

ALAN CURTIS approached Brendan Rodgers on his arrival at Swansea with his arm out, expected a firm handshake from the club's new gaffer.

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Instead the Welsh icon got an almighty bear hug.

And after their pair's first embrace at the Liberty Stadium, Curtis knew they had a special boss at the helm.

He wasn't disappointed as Rodgers, who had arrived from Reading, didn't just take the club to the promised land of the Premier League, he created a culture at the Swans, which is still in place now.

In fact, when managers like Russell Martin turned up years later, they were just trying to continue an ethos and style that Rodgers started.

Curtis is a Swans legend, having spent 11 years at the club over three spells. And he rates the Celtic manager as the best his club has had.

He said: “When Brendan arrived he wasn't obliged to involve me or keep me on. But that tells you what he's like as a person. Some people might have felt threatened by me.

“It’s happened before, I've been shunted by people who didn't want me anywhere near the manager. But Brendan took me at face value and we got on great.