Rodgers says his mother is a fan of Ronaldo

Al‑Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers recounted a personal story about his mother’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, recalling a memorable incident from his early coaching days at Chelsea.

Rodgers said his mother was an avid football fan and Ronaldo was her favourite player, even though Rodgers was then employed by Chelsea, a club that traditionally rivals Manchester United.

Speaking to the club’s website, the former Liverpool manager shared the memory after a warm, widely‑shared embrace with Ronaldo following Al‑Qadsiah’s 2‑1 victory over Al‑Nassr.

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“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 both of us.

“He spent a few minutes with her, took a photograph and said very kind words, and that moment has stayed with me ever since. Our connection since then has remained strong.”

“He has achieved incredible things in his career; he is probably one of the main reasons why so many people from Europe and around the world are now in Saudi Arabia.

“I will never forget that occasion because it was truly special for my mother and, of course, for me. My mother was not a Manchester United supporter; she was simply a football fan who knew what a great player looked like.”