The Irishman is back in the Parkhead hot seat with a massive derby on the offing against Rangers

Brendan Rodgers has revealed he still got a thrill from every Old Firm day when he was boss of Leicester City.

And he admits he’s as excited on Sunday for his 14th and comeback Glasgow derby fixture – seven years after his first. Rodgers has loved this rivalry since he was a kid in Carnlough, County Antrim.

As manager, he had to pinch himself as he prepared to take charge against Rangers at Parkhead in September 2016. Then, five weeks after infamously leaving for the Foxes, he tuned into the first of many TV treats – watching James Forrest’s late goal secure a dramatic 2-1 win for his replacement Neil Lennon. It’s the contest he couldn’t stay away from, however, and the 50-year-old says the game will never lose its spark. Rodgers said: “Even being away it was still a great feeling to watch the games. I always tried to watch it on the telly. I saw quite a few. I watched the first one after I left, in the hotel with my family, when James Forrest scored in the 2-1 game.

“I watched others that had early kick-offs, so I saw pretty much all of them. For me, there has always been an anticipation with Celtic vs Rangers games for me. When I watched them growing up, when I was involved in them and, likewise, when I was away. I know what the feeling is.

“It’s always an exciting fixture, which is why it’s revered around the world for the atmosphere. They are such special games. I think I was involved in 13 when I was up here last time and every single one felt really big, really special. It’s such a big part of being here. I can’t wait.”

Rodgers recalls his maiden managerial experience of the fixture, amid the Parkhead frenzy of ruining Rangers’ return to the top flight, as if it was yesterday. His Celtic dismantled Mark Warburton’s top flight newcomers 5-1 as Joey Barton flopped and a star was born in Moussa Dembele. The French striker became the first Celtic player to net a hat-trick against Rangers since Stevie Chalmers 50 years earlier.

“It was September 10th, the sun was shining,” grinned Rodgers. “I remember it all very well. I had obviously watched the game for so many years on TV and seen it. I was driving in and I realised that was me inside it, that I was in the game.

“We played ever so well. I remember Leigh Griffiths was out injured for that game. He’d been up to speed having played the games, whereas Moussa had joined us a bit later in the preseason. But Moussa really introduced himself to the Celtic support. Everything in the game was just what I wanted to see.