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Brendan Rodgers: Swansea's Neil Taylor would welcome his return

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments40

Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is still very popular with Swansea supporters and directors

Wales defender Neil Taylor says Brendan Rodgers would be welcomed back to Swansea City as manager.

The Northern Irishman has been heavily linked with a return to the Liberty Stadium this summer, having left the club for Liverpool in 2012.

The 43-year-old was sacked by Liverpool in October and Swansea's current boss Francesco Guidolin only has a contract until the summer.

"Of course we would welcome Brendan Rodgers back," said Taylor.

"He's a man who has done great things for the football club, so there is no reason why we wouldn't welcome him back."

Rodgers led Swansea into the Premier League when the Welsh club beat Reading in the 2011 Championship play-off final.

The Northern Irishman then guided the newcomers to safety in the top flight, playing such attractive football that it persuaded Liverpool to make him their manager in succession to Kenny Dalglish.

But despite Guidolin being linked with a return to his native Italy to manage the national side, Taylor is still cautious about the likelihood of Rodgers rejoining his former club.

"The word speculation is key though - we don't really know anything at the moment and we shouldn't really bother ourselves with it," Taylor told BBC Wales Sport.

Neil Taylor
Neil Taylor joined Swansea from Wrexham in 2010

"We know he is a fantastic manager, but we've got more things to worry about between now and the end of the season."

Swans almost safe

Swansea have almost secured their Premier League safety having opened up a 10-point advantage over the bottom three, although they have endured a difficult season.

Garry Monk was sacked after only one win in three months and Alan Curtis was appointed interim manager.

Swansea then named Guidolin head coach in January, with both parties agreeing to review the situation at the end of the season.

One more victory is likely to be enough to ensure Swansea's survival, but left-back Taylor insists the players want more.

"We just need to keep picking up results," he said. "We don't want to get one more win from seven games - it is criminal to only do that. It would be a really poor finish to the season."

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40 comments

  • Comment posted by Zapi, at 12:02 30 Mar 2016

    Odd article to put a comments section on.

  • Comment posted by Your Call Is Important To Us, at 16:35 30 Mar 2016

    A really unlikable person, but he does have a habit of setting himself up for an almighty fall which is hilarious every time.

    I particularly liked his comments about Spurs - "If you look at Tottenham and the millions they've spent, you'd hope to be challenging for the title" - just before he spent millions and guided Liverpool to 6th. Great stuff.

  • Comment posted by User0557175479, at 12:03 30 Mar 2016

    If he ended up going back there, would that just not prove that he is not that good and nobody else really wants him ?

  • Comment posted by Desiderius Erasmus, at 12:56 30 Mar 2016

    They always say never go back ..... it never works out the second time.

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 12:02 30 Mar 2016

    I think Rogers sees himself as some sort of 'big time' manager now (look how he got a tan and new teeth with the Liverpool job).

    Although he shouldn't, I think he will feel he deserves a 'big club' to manage.

  • Comment posted by User0532541719, at 13:39 30 Mar 2016

    Walter Mitty returns to Swansea.

    All nose and no talent.

  • Comment posted by JRC1, at 13:23 30 Mar 2016

    He'll be showing great character if he goes back

  • Comment posted by Barry Man, at 13:21 30 Mar 2016

    I think Brendan would be more interested in managing a big club. It also looks like Swansea are on the slide - things don't seem to be working as slick as they did before.

  • Comment posted by NorthCareer, at 12:15 30 Mar 2016

    Surprised he'd want to go back there given he probably wouldn't do as well as he did first time around.
    It does show that there isn't a market in Europe for the British mid-range manager right as this moment either. Makes one wonder why we attract so many here though?

  • Comment posted by User0743573758, at 13:14 30 Mar 2016

    Yes, come back David Brent, we've missed your world class project.
    Twitter plc will be delighted.

  • Comment posted by User0343812631, at 13:34 30 Mar 2016

    I feel like after all the McNulty complaints of lack of comments sections on articles non-Manchester articles means they've just started throwing them in everywhere!

  • Comment posted by Moggs, at 13:29 30 Mar 2016

    Many Swansea fans' would have to eat humble pie if he returned. He was loved,then loathed for leaving. However,a return to the Liberty would see him loved again. Typical,small minded,football fan scenario. All very embarrassing.He was excellent at Swansea,taking them to the P.L. Perhaps Liverpool was a step too far,but he had to give it a try. I would welcome his return.

  • Comment posted by SFC_NM, at 13:40 30 Mar 2016

    A straw pole of my in-laws (all Swansea fans and some season ticket holders) would suggest that this article is very far from the feeling of the majority of real paying fans.

    Anyway its unlikely to happen as BR thinks he's Gods Gift and is waiting for "A Club at least as big as Liverpool" which shows after a poor showing at said club (Save one season) how deluded he is

  • Comment posted by Y0U, at 00:56 31 Mar 2016

    I'm sure he's still well regarded by Swansea fans for his time in charge, but hearing the "character" excuse got tiring after a bad result or performance and some of his decisions after his 2nd-place finish at Liverpool got a bit strange. Can't fault the guy for wanting attractive football but it went a bit off post-Suarez. Best of luck towards BR but Swansea would be taking a step backwards IMO.

  • Comment posted by User0374653698, at 16:50 30 Mar 2016

    he will light up the valleys with his smile:)

  • Comment posted by Jack, at 18:48 30 Mar 2016

    Personally, I'd like Brendan to stay away from Swansea. He has turned into a "it's all about me" type of manager. And I don't want our manager to be proud of character rather than results.

  • Comment posted by User0375117475, at 16:53 30 Mar 2016

    Well, let's be honest, has he got anywhere else to go? A so called big club isn't really going to come knocking anytime soon., and it's either back to Swansea or the Villa job atm! He could well manage abroad, like Moyes and McLaren have done? BR is a decent manager, and who knows, maybe Swansea can do a Leicester with him back in charge?

  • Comment posted by Mrs Ethel Shroake, at 13:52 30 Mar 2016

    Would this be the same Brendon Rogers who happily admits that he tried to take Ashley Williams and half the Swansea team with him to Liverpool? Go away, you cheap mercenary, I'd sooner see Brendon Cole managing us.

  • Comment posted by Nickthejack, at 11:17 30 Mar 2016

    I would be happy to see Brendan at the helm again. We played an attractive style of football under Brendan which brought success.

  • Comment posted by User0478174702, at 20:14 30 Mar 2016

    This little gem of a HYS page has been hidden. I thought this was an outstanding article.

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