Chris Davies’ meteoric rise to managerial success with Birmingham City is a remarkable story of opportunity seized and hard work paying off. As the club’s manager in his debut season, Davies has turned Birmingham into one of the most exciting teams in League One, securing a place in the promotion play-offs and setting a new club record for the most victories in a single campaign with his 37th win of the season. The team’s dominant form is particularly impressive when you consider that this is Davies’ first season as a head coach after years of serving as Brendan Rodgers’ assistant at both Celtic and Leicester City. It’s a testament to his footballing intelligence, his ability to adapt to the pressure of being a manager, and the trust he’s gained from his players.
Under Davies, Birmingham City has shown a level of consistency that suggests the club is ready for a return to the Championship. With their 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers, Birmingham now finds themselves 11 points clear at the top of League One with two games in hand. They are well on track for automatic promotion, and barring an unexpected collapse in form over the remaining eight matches, their position seems unassailable. The achievement of gaining promotion after such a strong season under a first-time manager would be a massive milestone for both the club and Davies personally. His leadership has brought clarity and structure to a team that has often been inconsistent in the past.
Of course, Davies’ success is also heavily tied to the performances of key players, one of whom is Tomoki Iwata. The former Celtic midfielder, who made a permanent move to Birmingham last summer, has been instrumental in their promotion bid, contributing seven goals and two assists from midfield. Iwata’s contribution to the team’s offensive and defensive play highlights why he’s such an important asset to Davies. It’s remarkable to see a player of Iwata’s quality excelling in League One, and Celtic fans will likely be following his progress closely. Iwata’s performances demonstrate that he has much more to offer, and one can imagine he’ll be a key player for Birmingham in the Championship next season, provided they secure promotion.
For Celtic supporters, Davies’ success at Birmingham, combined with Iwata’s continued development, is something to take pride in. They’ll no doubt feel a sense of joy and satisfaction in seeing two familiar faces from their own club achieving great things elsewhere. From a Celtic perspective, seeing both Iwata and Davies doing well could also provide a sense of validation for the decisions made during their time at the club. Iwata’s technical skills and work ethic were always seen as a major plus, and his rise under Davies only adds to the positive memories of his brief but effective spell at Celtic Park. Likewise, Davies, who was highly regarded during his time as Rodgers’ assistant, has proven his worth as a manager in his own right. His future looks incredibly bright, and Birmingham City could be on the verge of an exciting new chapter under his stewardship.
Turning to Celtic’s own situation, the conversation inevitably shifts to Brendan Rodgers and his pursuit of the Scottish treble in the 2023/24 season. Having already secured the League Cup in December with a dominant victory over Rangers, Rodgers is now firmly in control of the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic boasting a 13-point lead at the top of the table. The team’s incredible form in the league, combined with their position in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, has many people predicting a treble for the club. This would be a significant achievement for Rodgers, one that would add to his already impressive legacy at Celtic.
Rodgers’ success in domestic competitions this season has been characterized by his tactical acumen, his ability to rotate players effectively, and his focus on ensuring Celtic stays competitive on all fronts. While the team has dominated the Scottish Premiership, it is their cup form that has captured the imagination of fans, as Celtic prepares to face St Johnstone in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Rodgers has shown a knack for managing pressure, particularly in high-stakes matches, and Celtic fans will be confident that he can guide the team to victory in the cup as well, ensuring that the treble remains within their grasp.
The notion of a potential treble under Rodgers raises the question of who would be the deserving recipient of the Manager of the Year award in Scottish football. The debate over this topic has garnered much attention, with Alan Rough weighing in, stating that any manager who wins a treble should automatically be considered for the award. If Celtic secures the treble, it seems almost impossible to argue against Rodgers’ candidacy for this prestigious honor. He has guided Celtic to the brink of domestic dominance, ensuring they remain in pole position for every major domestic trophy on offer. Given the caliber of his squad and the quality of Celtic’s performances this season, Rodgers would undoubtedly be the clear favorite for Manager of the Year if he completes the treble.
However, the conversation becomes more interesting when we introduce the hypothetical scenario of Barry Ferguson and Rangers’ success in the Europa League. As Rough playfully suggested, if Ferguson were to lead Rangers to victory in the Europa League, he would undoubtedly be in contention for Manager of the Year. Ferguson’s challenge in the competition is no small feat, with the upcoming quarter-final clash against Athletic Club of Bilbao posing a significant obstacle. While Ferguson has done a commendable job in steadying the ship at Ibrox after taking over as interim manager, his achievements in Europe would likely be the determining factor in whether he can rival Rodgers for the award.
That said, it’s difficult to see how Ferguson’s potential European triumph could eclipse Rodgers’ achievements if Celtic were to secure the treble. While Ferguson has certainly made strides in Europe, Rodgers has already delivered tangible success domestically, and his team is well on track to do the same in the Scottish Cup. Moreover, Rodgers has the experience and pedigree in high-pressure matches, which would give him the edge in this discussion.
Rodgers’ position as the front-runner for Manager of the Year is reinforced by his achievements across all domestic competitions. His leadership has ensured Celtic is not only competitive in Scotland but also holding its own in European competition. Should he guide Celtic to a treble, his ability to manage the pressures of both the domestic league and cup competitions, while also ensuring Celtic remains competitive in Europe, would make his case for Manager of the Year undeniable. Additionally, his record of success with Celtic, including winning multiple trebles during his first spell at the club, further strengthens his credentials.
The final stretch of the season will be crucial for both Celtic and Brendan Rodgers. With the Scottish Cup semi-final looming and the league title almost in the bag, Celtic will look to complete their domestic dominance, while Rodgers will be hoping to secure one of the most impressive achievements of his career. If he does manage to complete the treble, it would be hard to imagine any other manager in Scottish football coming close to matching his achievements this season.
Given the context of this season, it seems clear that Brendan Rodgers deserves to be considered the favorite for Manager of the Year, assuming he completes the treble. His tactical brilliance, leadership, and ability to manage Celtic through a period of dominance have been on full display. And while the hypothetical scenario of Barry Ferguson’s Europa League victory would certainly make things interesting, it’s hard to see anyone surpassing Rodgers if he clinches the treble. What’s your take on the situation? Do you think Ferguson could pull off a surprise win in Europe and challenge Rodgers for the award, or is Rodgers’ potential treble too strong a case to overlook?