Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spotted linking up with Conor McGregor on holiday as UFC fighter congratulates manager

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers has been snapped alongside world famous UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
McGregor shared a picture of the two of them on his social media just days after a SunSport exclusive showed him throwing two punches at a man at a nightclub in Ibiza.
Sign up for the Celtic newsletter
Sign up
3
UFC fighter Conor McGregor
Credit: AP
3
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Irish fighter Conor McGregor
Credit: X/TheNotoriousMMA
3
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
Credit: Alamy
Rodgers, who is taking some time out ahead of the new season kicking off soon, was praised by the Irish fighter after winning the double last season.
Aberdeen denied them a treble with a famous penalty shoot-out victory in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in May.
McGregor himself is a former UFC featherweight and Lightweight champion holding both titles at the same time - a historic first in the sport.
And he alluded to that success in his post with the Celtic manager.
McGregor wrote on twitter: "LEGENDARY DOUBLE CHAMP LINK UP!
"NEXT YEAR, TREBLE!
"God is great!
"Congrats to the Rodgers family on the new addition to their family."
Meanwhile, as the fixtures were announced for the new season, Rodgers says he is preparing for a tougher test this year ahead of facing a new-look Rangers team.
He told Sky Sports: "We create our own benchmark and our own levels and we have been doing that consistently now.
What's holding up Nygren Plus Kuhn & Maeda price tags REVEALED Celtic transfer special
"But there is no doubt that competition makes you better in whatever sport it is, or whatever pursuit of anything you are trying to achieve.
"When you have competition, it narrows the focus and we need to keep an eye on our rivals in terms of what they do and the players they might bring in and systems they play and tactics they use.
"Competition is always healthy for you, and for me, it is what really drives me up here.
"But ultimately it's about making Celtic as best we can possibly be."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Herald Scotland

31 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

Hamilton Accies' petty treatment of women's side is opportunity missed

Accies men's will not be playing games at New Douglas Park this season as they head to Broadwood following a dispute with the stadium owner, but an agreement had been reached to lease the stadium for the women's team usage. Celtic's women also use the stadium for their home games. In a cease and desist legal letter that was delivered last Friday evening from Hamilton Academical's board of directors, the women's side were told to stop using the intellectual property of the men's club, who have been relegated to Scottish League 1. Hamilton Academical FC have announced their intention to form a new women's side and academy set-up - ending their affiliation with the current women's team. The problem here is that the existing Accies women side believe they have a legally binding In Perpetuity agreement with the former club owners which entitles them to the use of the club badge and name. Their place in the SWPL for next season is also assured regardless of whether this survives a challenge to it or not, but the mess appears to be entirely unnecessary. With Accies women the only Hamilton side that will be turning out with regularity in the stadium this season, there ought to have been an embracing of the fact that they are a community based club that people within the area can still get along to see; if you live in Hamilton and have grown-up around the club, Accies women can offer to fill the void that will be left as the men head to Cumbernauld. In a league where they are going to be seriously up against it this season as the top flight shrinks to a ten-team league, their part-time status and lack of resources will be tested to the max as they look to compete and keep their place. This summer was always going to be an arduous one as Watson dons various hats as he tries to build a team to compete in a league where the chasm between the professional and part-time sides yawns ever wider while also trying to rally sponsorship to financially sustain the club through the season that lies ahead. The off-field issues add another layer of pressure to what is already a challenging set of circumstances. Accies have earned the right to go back into the top flight and have a crack at testing themselves against the best teams in the country this season. The current mess surrounding the intellectual property of the club and who owns it is difficult to be regarded as anything other than self-defeating. Yesterday's fixtures which shows Hamilton at Broadwood and Clyde at New Douglas Park shines a light on the absurdity of what has happened across recent months. A fanbase and their wishes has been overlooked – the least they could be offered is access to see the women's team represent them. Read more: AND ANOTHER THING Sheila Begbie is the latest to benefit from the SFA's Trailblazers initiative as she was induced into the Hall of Fame. She was one of four players who were honoured at Hampden before Melissa Andreatta's first game as Scotland manager – Josie Cameron, Gerry Chalmers and Marion Leith were the others. These players represented Scotland at international level but were never in the position of receiving an official cap for their efforts. It says much about how women's football – and women – were perceived at such a time that this was allowed to happen. It is impossible to conceive of the idea that players could be involved at international level and represent their country without any recognition. The hurt and frustration for those women will still linger but there is a strong step in the right direction to try and correct those wrongs. Female players who sported the colours of their country between 1972 and 1997 – and 1997 really doesn't seem like all that long ago – were not given an official cap with the SFA now keen to rectify that. More than 30 players have received retrospective caps in the Trailblazers initiative but there will be more to follow. It is only fitting that they are given their place and their moment, regardless of how late the recognition is in coming. If you or someone you know played for Scotland without being capped, please contact the SFA's research partner Dr Karen Fraser and allow those who slipped through the net to take their moment. She can be reached at Better late than never. AND FINALLY Revelations this week that England players are funding family friends to Switzerland for the start of the European Championships may not seem all that big a deal. Families of the players heading out to defend their title receive the same access to tickets and the same financial help from the English FA as the men do. The big difference, of course, is that they earn a fraction of the salaries. While women's football has taken enormous strides forward, particularly south of the border, there are still reminders of just how enormous the gap remains – and how much there is still to do.

Daily Record

44 minutes ago

• Daily Record

How Rangers can halt Celtic juggernaut but fans are right to fret over Champions League

Celtic kick-off their quest for five-in-a-row at home to St Mirren - can anyone stop Brendan Rodgers' champions this season? ANDY NEWPORT: It's hard to know what Rangers will look like come opening day but they're beginning from a standing start while Celtic have a squad that knows how to hit title-winning pace from the off. Celtic are huge favourites again and rightly so. MICHAEL GANNON: Celtic are still the team to beat. They are already in a position of strength and will add to their squad, so it's tough to see Rangers catching them when they are facing another rebuild. SCOTT McDERMOTT: Rangers can - IF they get their house in order quickly and recruitment spot on. Time is against Russell Martin in that regard and Celtic's five-in-a-row juggernaut will be difficult to stop. But if Martin's new-look team can hit the ground running, they can mount a challenge for the title. FRASER WILSON: I would absolutely love to say there's three or four clubs who can but the reality is only Rangers have the potential to go the distance. And even that's going to be a big ask for Russell Martin in his first season given the standing start he has with his squad. It's going to take an incredibly productive transfer window and some magic from the coaching staff. Russell Martin gets down to work with his new Rangers squad on Monday - but are fans right to worry only one new recruit has checked in at Ibrox with their first Champions League clash only a month away? ANDY: The new boss plans on a radical shake up of Gers' playing style and for that to click, every second on the training ground is vital. Rangers really need to get a move on if they're to be anywhere near ready for that multi-million pound clash with Panathinaikos. MICHAEL: They do need to get a shift on. The Champions League qualifiers are coming fast on the horizon and they are well short right now. It might need some patience though. SCOTT: Yes, because they're fans. And in an ideal world, there would have been a few new signings in the door already. It will have to happen fairly quickly and players who are surplus to requirements also have to be moved on. FRASER: Definitely. I'd say that squad requires at least five starters right from centre back through to striker. A new spine basically. Then they need to gel into a unit before taking on a very strong outfit in Panathinaikos. Every session over the next four weeks is going to be massive for Martin and his players. Ibrox chiefs were furious after being fined for John Brown's SFA corruption rant - are they right to be angry? ANDY: Yes. Bomber shouldn't have let rip on RTV but we've seen plenty other remarks on club channels cross the line yet go unpunished. If you sanction one offender, you have to sanction them all. MICHAEL: It all seems a bit of an unnecessary kerfuffle. You can't have club employees calling refs corrupt but a wee slap on the wrist and a reminder to keep club channels semi-sensible would have sufficed. SCOTT: Yes. Rangers were right to point to other remarks on club TV channels which have gone unpunished. Why the SFA have decided to open a can of worms and make an example of Rangers is anyone's guess. FRASER: A bit. It's certainly set a precedent. Brown's comment was naughty and the SFA have to stand up for their refs. But maybe a slap on the wrist would have sufficed. Club TV commentators might now feel the need to rein in their passion. Hibs face Danes Midtjylland in the Europa League second qualifying round while Dundee United take on UNA Strassen of Luxembourg in their Conference League opener - will both progress? ANDY: United really should be taking care of the minnows from the Grand Duchy but the words 'Progres Neiderkorn' are a reminder these ties are never straight forward. Hibs are likely to have a far tougher time against a Midtjylland outfit who have a fantastic track record of unearthing talented gems. MICHAEL: Dundee United should take care of Strassen, even though there could be some nervy moments. Hibs are right up against it. Midtjylland have had better sides in previous years but they are still a top, experienced European team and it could be a big ask. SCOTT: You would expect United to see off a team from Luxembourg, with all due respect. Hibs are in better shape than the Tannadice men but face a far more difficult tie against the Danes. If they can get through that, it would be a huge result for David Gray. FRASER: United have no excuses. Hibs are underdogs but David Gray's squad is pretty much set and just needs an addition or two. Produce a big performance in the first leg in Denmark and it could be Sunshine in Leith time again on July 31. Scotland's other Euro contestants outside the Old Firm need to start bloodying a few noses.

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

Conor McGregor links up with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers in Ibiza days after 'punch' incident

McGregor has been pictured linking up with Celtic manager Rodgers in Ibiza, just days after the former UFC champion was allegedly involved in a nightclub altercation Conor McGregor has been spotted rubbing shoulders with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers in Ibiza. The UFC star - who previously claimed he has held discussions to become a Celtic shareholder - took to social media on Friday evening to post a photo of himself alongside the Hoops boss, who was cradling a baby in the image. ‌ "LEGENDARY DOUBLE CHAMP LINK UP! NEXT YEAR, TREBLE! GOD IS GREAT! @CelticFC @ufc Congrats to the Rodgers family on the new addition to their family," McGregor captioned the picture on his social media platforms. ‌ This encounter between Rodgers and McGregor occurred shortly after the latter was reportedly involved in a scuffle at an Ibiza nightclub. The Sun published footage early Tuesday from Pacha nightclub, which purportedly shows McGregor leaning down to speak to an unidentified man on the dance floor. Seconds later, the 36 year old seems to launch two punches. Following the incident, the man was seen hitting the ground, prompting witnesses to share their accounts of what transpired. One eyewitness told The Sun that it seemed there were no repercussions for the ex-dual-weight UFC titleholder. "The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away," they reported to The Sun. "There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor." Another recounted: "About five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken." They continued: "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club. ‌ "It was right before close anyway," they added. "There was no messing around; they just removed him. Conor left through the garden a bit later; he didn't look very happy." Since then, McGregor has shared that he was in Ibiza after treating his football teammates to a trip to the Spanish resort. The UFC star has been playing in an over 35's league with his local pub team and celebrated their recent league victory. "To celebrate winning the league I took the @blackforgeinn football squad away on holiday to Ibiza! All expenses paid, VIP's," McGregor posted on social media along with a selection of snaps and clips from their getaway. He elaborated: "LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, BABY! Reach out, link up, join a team! Get active! For the sake of your mental health you will thank yourself! #ibizapartyisland." Three years ago, McGregor stated talks took place with Dermot Desmond about his shares to provide financial backing for the Parkhead side.