Al-Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers has shared an emotional story about his late mother’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, revealing a memorable encounter from his coaching days at Chelsea.
Rodgers spoke after a warm embrace between him and Ronaldo went viral following Al-Qadsiah’s 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr.
The former Liverpool manager said his mother was a passionate football fan and deeply admired Ronaldo, despite Rodgers working for Chelsea at the time, one of Manchester United’s rivals.
Speaking with the club’s website, Rodgers recalled asking Ronaldo to meet his mother years ago, a gesture he said meant a lot to both of them.
“I spoke to Cristiano after the game to see if he could greet my mother, and he did. My mother is no longer with me, she passed away in 2010, but when he met her that day, it meant everything to me and her.
“He spent some time with her, took a picture, said very kind words to her, and that has always stayed with me. Our connection since that moment has always remained strong.”
Rodgers also praised Ronaldo’s impact on football and his influence in Saudi Arabia.
“He has done incredible things in his career, he’s probably the reason why so many people from Europe and all over the world are here in Saudi Arabia.
“But I’ll never forget that moment, because it was a really special moment for my mother and obviously for me, and I’ve never forgotten it. My mother was not a Manchester United fan, but a football fan. She knew what a good player was.”