Brendan Rodgers expresses Saudi Pro League 'surprise' as former Celtic boss embracing new challenge
The Northern Irishman has opened up on his life-changing move to the Middle East and Al Qadsiah’s ambitions
Brendan Rodgers reckons managers and players should be willing to step outside their comfort zone after confessing his move to the Saudi Pro League has changed his perception of football in the country.
The former Liverpool and Celtic manager is preparing for another season in charge of Al Qadsiah after making the move to the Middle East following more than a decade working in British football.
Rodgers admits the decision was driven by a desire to experience something completely different rather than simply remaining in familiar surroundings. For the Northern Irishman, stepping into the unknown was part of the attraction.
He explained: “I wanted to come out here and make myself a little uncomfortable, to move outside my home nations. Having managed over 800 games in the UK, I’m very comfortable there naturally, so we wanted to try something different.”
The ambition behind Al Qadsiah's project was another major factor in Rodgers' decision. He was left impressed by the club's plans and the vision presented by the board, particularly the emphasis on outlining clear strategy for long-term success.
He added: “Obviously, the project here at Al Qadsiah was very, very appealing. When I sat with the members of the board and the club, they really sold me on the vision of the club, strategically how they want to work, and then all the processes they have in place. So I find here a very ambitious club, and that's why I've always liked to go into a club that wants to succeed, but with a very clear vision on how they want to do that. So that has been really enjoyable.”
Rodgers has been pleasantly surprised by the standard of football in Saudi Arabia, particularly the quality of the domestic players and their willingness to develop. The league has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, attracting established European stars alongside some of the biggest managerial names in football.
Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Al Nassr initially provided a major statement of intent, while Ange Postecoglou has since taken charge of the club. And Rodgers believes the competition will continue to improve as more experienced bosses arrive and young players benefit from working alongside established international stars.
“The league in itself, for anyone coming here, whether you're a coach or manager, you'll be nicely surprised,” Rodgers went on. “Clearly, there's a lot of international and European players here, which adds real quality to the league. It will be better again with more experienced coaches in the league, players still developing and growing, and yeah, should be a really exciting season.
“I have to say I've been really nicely surprised by the level of the Saudi Arabian players. Without seeing a great deal of them before I arrived, they've got real, real good technique, their understanding of the game is getting better, and they have a real willingness to want to learn, which is great from any coach's perspective.”
Rodgers' perception of the country has also changed since taking the Al Qadsiah job. He is enjoying the lifestyle and found settling into his new surroundings easier than anticipated.
“I've really, really enjoyed it all so far and I've loved the simplicity of life here.” he commented. “I've been treated with kindness and made to feel genuinely appreciated. The culture itself, the friendliness of everyone, has been so welcoming since I arrived. I've found that since I arrived, everyone wants to help you, everyone wants to welcome you into their way of life and way of living.”
His attention is now firmly on taking Al Qadsiah to the next level. The club finished fourth last term, ending the campaign behind Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Asian champions Al Ahli.
Rodgers believes there is no reason for his side to be intimidated by those established rivals and wants his club to become genuine challengers at the top end of the table.
He stated: “For us this year, we still have a way to go. We finished fourth last season, so there were three teams above us. We were very competitive, but our mantra for me, and how I see it this year, is that we will be a challenger, and we won't fear anyone. We, of course, have a respect for those teams that historically have done very well in this league. But for us, we're here to disrupt the top teams, and hopefully we can do that.”
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