Brendan Rodgers, the man responsible for Liverpool’s sensational footballing renaissance this season, has revealed Donegal man Packie Bonner was one of his childhood heroes.
Brendan Rodgers has admitted he grew up admiring Packie Bonner.
Rodgers from Carnlough, Antrim has worked miracles with his Liverpool squad this season.
Their rise up the table coupled with Manchester United’s demise has Liverpool fans in dreamland.
Liverpool haven’t won the English Championship in 24 years, but Liverpool are five points clear with just three games to go and are now within touching distance of ending that drought.
In a candid interview with the Daily Express, Rodgers revealed his passion for football as a youngster and how he loved watching Celtic play.
Rodgers said, “I grew up watching Celtic play, I loved Danny McGrain, Paul McStay, Roy Aitken and of course Packie Bonner being the Irishman in the team.
“He was a fantastic goalkeeper and who’ll ever forget that penalty save for Ireland in the 1990 World Cup.
“I worked with him when he was at Reading and he was a great character and someone who had a great passion for football.
Packie Bonner worked with Rodgers at Reading, and says the influence of working under Tommy Burns is reflected in the style of play adopted by Liverpool.
Rodgers was at Reading, when he was forced to retire from the game at the age of 20 and took up a coaching position with the club’s academy.
The Reading manager at the time was Tommy Burns and his assistant was Packie Bonner.
The pair got to know each other quite well during that time and Bonner believes Tommy Burns’ football philosophy rubbed off on Rodgers.
Bonner said, “I see a lot of Tommy Burns’ in the way Brendan Rodgers has got Liverpool playing and previous to that at Swansea.
“There’s no doubt Tommy influenced him, as he did all the coaches who were starting off at that time in our academy.
“Tommy was an excellent coach and Brendan would have been watching him closely.
“When you look at the way Brendan wants to play the game it mirrors Tommy’s philosophy.