Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers eyes pathway for Irish talent

May 21, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has tasked the club to improve the pathway for young Irish players.

The Scottish champions have two Irish internationals in their squad including striker Adam Idah and Liam Scales.

Johnny Kenny, who moved to The Bhoys from Shamrock Rovers last summer, is also breaking his way into the senior set-up this season.

In July, Celtic will face Cork City at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Rodgers has hinted that the club will continue to invest in Irish players to improve his squad.

Reported by RTE, Rodgers said: “It’s definitely an area that we want to be better in.

“Our market to bring in Irish players is still very important for us. So we’re hoping that we can do that.

“We’ve got a couple of our younger players that have come through, but it’s just going to take a wee bit of time.

“We’ve a boy, Francis Turley, from the North. He’s had some appearances in and around the first team.

“What’s very important is bringing Celtic to Ireland to keep that connection.

“When they’re young, a lot of the players support Premier League teams, but Celtic is still a huge draw. Taking the team to America last year really proved that.”

Brendan Rodgers challenges Adam Idah to hit new levels

Idah, 24, has been a key figure in Rodgers’ side this season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions.

The Cork-born striker moved to Celtic Park on a permanent deal in 2024 for a £9.5million deal from Norwich.

His promising campaign has earned him a call-up for Ireland’s upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg and Rodgers has challenged him to hit new levels next campaign.

Rodgers added: “He’s a young player that’s got so much potential. He’s scored 20 goals in 22 starts. I think he’s had 51 appearances, so he’s contributed a lot for us in every competition.

“Settling in can be a challenge at a club like Celtic, but he’s adapted really well.

“I believe that next season, he’ll go on and be even stronger and even better. Obviously, he’ll be with us now for pre-season, which he wasn’t last season because he was still at Norwich.

“He’s a good guy, he gives his all, and he’ll kick on again next year, I’m sure.

“What we’ve tried to highlight with Adam is just that pressing aspect, because he can score goals and all different types of goals.

“How we play is very much a pressure game, an intense game, and that’s something he’s working very hard at physically.

“But when he’s full of confidence, running hard, and working well, then all these things come naturally for him. And naturally, he’s got lots of talent.”