Football
PA Sport 8y

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers not interested in England manager's job

New Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled himself out of the running to be the next England manager, insisting he has just landed his "dream job" at Parkhead.

Monday's humiliating Euro 2016 round-of-16 exit to Iceland led to Roy Hodgson's immediate resignation and left the national game in a state of flux.

But Rodgers, a Northern Irishman, was only appointed as the new manager of Celtic at the end of May, and is solely focused on the Scottish Premiership club, who are continuing preparations for their upcoming Champions League qualifier with a friendly against NK Celje in Slovenia.

"I haven't put a foot wrong here! Brilliant. It shows you what the world of football is now, the gossip and speculation that goes on," Rodgers said.

"I've just landed my dream job. The team I've supported all my life. I haven't even walked out for my first game.

"Imagine me as a Celtic supporter having walked out on the job at Parkhead.

"Is it flattering? It's football. There are very few professions where one minute you're up, then down, then up again -- that's just how it goes.

"If people think I can do jobs at a high level, then that's fine, but I'm busy here, worrying about what I have to do here. I'll be at Celtic, that's for sure."

Rodgers expressed sympathy for Hodgson's fate and blamed the pressure players' face as a contributing factor for England's struggles.

"It's a tough job, England. They've got a lot of good players but there is huge pressure, huge expectancy," he added.

"There is a great group of players there. They've got some wonderful talents in that England squad, but it has been difficult for them at this tournament -- and it has been like that for a few tournaments.

"So it's unfortunate how it ended for Roy because he's a good man, a very good coach. They now obviously have to appoint someone and look at creating an identity, a way the team can play."

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