Brendan Rodgers, the former Reading manager, is in talks with Manchester City about a possible move to the club to bolster Roberto Mancini's coaching team. The 37-year-old Northern Irishman left the English Championship side in December by mutual consent and confirmed yesterday that negotiations are ongoing to take up a position at Eastlands, the home of City, this summer. "I've had talks about a role there so we'll see how it unravels," said Rodgers, who worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. "It's something that will be decided in the next couple of weeks, so we will just need to see how it goes. It's obviously a massive project that is going on at the club and it's an exciting time for them, so I'm honoured."
City, however, are not the only club interested in his services. Rodgers added: "I've had talks with a couple of clubs and there are a few roles that have come up, but we will see what works best for me." In 2004, Rodgers, while working as a youth coach at Reading, was hand-picked by Mourinho to train the Chelsea youth team. The pair bonded famously and two years later Rodgers was promoted to reserve team coach.
When Mourinho joined Inter Milan in 2008, Rodgers is believed to have been offered the chance to follow his mentor to the San Siro, but instead opted to take the managerial reins at Watford, the club in the second tier of English football. After less than eight months at Vicarage Road, Rodgers moved again, this time filling the vacancy left by Steve Coppell at Reading. But, following a poor run of results, the club and coach parted company.
A move to City would strengthen claims that the Eastlands hierarchy are keen to set up a world-class coaching staff. gmeenaghan@thenational.ae