What day 1 of Brendan Rodgers' Celtic regime will look like

The Danish defender revealed that Rodgers - who was officially unveiled on Friday afternoon as the Scottish champions' manager for a second time - issued his squad with a Celtic bible from the moment he walked through the door.

For the best part of three seasons, it certainly lived up to its billing as the greatest story ever told as Rodgers Celtic swept all before them domestically and won seven out of seven trophies including the Invincible treble of 2016/17.

Sviatchenko who spent two years in Glasgow's east end from 2016 to 2018 admits that Rodgers' green and white version of the Wee Red book was a definitive guide for the team on tactics, training, shape, philosophy and style.

It was a how-to guide on conducting yourself as a Celtic player on and off the park.

Rodgers' green print for success turned Celtic into serial winners domestically as the bar was raised significantly.

The domestic stranglehold they have on the game in Scotland shows no sign of abating now that Rodgers has decided to rejoin the Glasgow goldfish bowl.

Yet it all started in auspicious circumstances for Rodgers and Celtic after he had taken in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers on penalties at Hampden Park back in April 2016.

READ MORE: How scoring v Rangers changed everything for a Celtic Invincible

Sviatchenko said: "Brendan came into Celtic and he told us that he had seen our defeat on penalties under Ronny Deila in 2016.

"That was his initial starting point on day one and he told us that we were all dressed differently at Hampden Park that day and from then on we would all look the same and look like a team.

"He told us if we wanted to be winners not only did we have to look the part but that we would also have to play the part. He wanted the players to all look the same. It was his way of saying that we needed to pay attention to all the small details even down to the clothing that the team wore on any given day.

"We all got measured up for club suits soon after and we all wore the same club gear. He reckoned that games could be won and lost if the players were armed with such small details.

"Brendan also gave us a PowerPoint presentation on what life was going to be like representing Celtic as a player both on and off the field under his management style.

"He issued the players with a book about Celtic's playing style and what he would expect of us. I remember the book going down well with all of the players and that was one of the main reasons why it was such a fun period to be at the club.

"It was a joy to serve under a manager like Brendan. The book contained lots of tactical stuff and how Celtic was going to be a high-pressing, attacking and aggressive team. We also had a monthly schedule training plan so that the players knew exactly what they were doing on any given day.

"Monday might be speed day, Tuesday could be agility day and Wednesday was tactical day. Everything was covered in fine detail. The Celtic players were never in any doubt as to what was required of them when Brendan was the boss.

"It all made perfect sense and the players knew exactly what they were doing. It was never a lottery. It had a purpose and meaning all the time.

"I remember I found the book a couple of years ago in my football memories box. I even took it to the Midtjylland coaches to read it and it was all good stuff.

"It was great to see that the Midtjylland coaches implemented many things from it as Brendan was so meticulous in his planning of everything.

"Brendan had come to Celtic armed with an elite mentality as a manager.

"It was one thing to win at Celtic, it was quite another to stay up there and that is why Brendan and his Celtic teams were so successful.

"Brendan was the cornerstone of building the Celtic empire and creating that winning dynasty in Scottish football that still exists today."

Sviatchenko also confessed that he plundered one inspirational idea from Rodgers definitive Celtic publication from the day when the Invincible squad achieved Scottish footballing immortality by defeating Aberdeen 2-1 in the 2017 Scottish Cup final courses of Tom Rogic's dramatic last-gasp winner.

He said: "When Celtic were on the cusp of winning the Invincible Treble, Brendan had this wonderful idea of getting our family members to write a text to the players wishing us good luck.

"Before the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen in 2017 we had a video of all the best memories of the season interspersed with all the texts from the family member which were relayed to the players.

"It had that wow factor and it also reminded us that we were not done yet. It was wonderful motivation for the players and we went out and won the Invincible Treble.

"It was an inspired idea. It really was brilliant and a bit of a masterstroke by Brendan. I loved it so much that I initiated the same kind of thing at Midtjylland where all the families made videos and we played them to the players before cup final occasions."

The 31-year-old is now enjoying life Stateside having signed for MLS outfit Houston Dynamo in March.

Sviatchenko insists that Rodgers' return to Celtic came as a huge surprise to him but naturally he's delighted to see him back at the helm.

Whilst Sviatchenko knows not every Celtic supporter shares the same views, he admits that the lure of the English Premier League is hard to resist when it comes calling.

If any proof of that were needed then just ask Ange Postecoglou who quit Glasgow for London and a crack at managing Tottenham Hotspur after two successful seasons at Celtic where he won five out of six trophies as well as guiding the club to a world record eighth domestic treble.

Sviatchenko said: "I have to admit that I did not see the appointment of Brendan as the new Celtic manager coming.

"I think it is amazing. If you had to choose a manager who has had a huge impact on the team, the way of playing and the club then you would choose Brendan Rodgers.

"I know the Green Brigade are not fond of him and have issued a statement because of the way he left the club the first time.

It is so difficult when you have won everything and lifted back-to-back trebles and achieved immortality status and you can stay there forever or go elsewhere.

"It was the same with me at Midtjylland, I was there for so many years, I had won everything and I just wanted to try something else. It doesn't mean you don't love the place. Sometimes you just need a stint somewhere else in order to go back.

"Brendan has chosen to go back to Celtic. He will have had options come to him but he wanted to go back to Celtic and make them even more dominant. I think he is targeting the European side of things as he wants to improve the club even more.

"Ange Postecoglou did so well at Celtic and the club has enjoyed a wonderful two years and he has accepted a job in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur.

"It is hard for Scottish Football to beat that when an English Premier League club comes calling whether it be for managers or players then it is difficult to resist. Everybody hates it but sadly that's the way it is for clubs like Celtic."

Sviatchenko is adamant the current crop of Celtic players are in for a treat and they will adore working under their new boss.

He is convinced that Rodgers will improve a team who have been rampant and dominant domestically even more, especially in the European arena.

Sviatchenko's message to the Celtic players is to strap themselves in and enjoy the ride for the next three seasons and let the good times roll.

He said: "I had a great time with Brendan at Celtic and I have nothing but positive things to say about my spell.

"Brendan improved me greatly as a player. I had played well for Ronny Deila for six months before Brendan came in.

"People were talking about me and saying good things but I remember Brendan coming to the training camp in Slovenia and saying: "Erik, I want to build the team around you as I need your leadership and voice on the pitch so that was great to hear on one of the first day. I took the confidence from that chat and ran with it.

"I played a lot of games under him and he definitely improved me as a player. I played Champions League group-stage football under Brendan for the first time in my career and that was down to him pushing me and doing the right things.

READ MORE: Celtic Invincible ribs new team's Rangers-fan coach

"Celtic made some amazing memories under Brendan during his first stint at the club. We did the Invincible treble and nobody can take that away from us.

"He knew exactly what he was doing and he would put that protective arm around you when he needed to. Sometimes you didn't get that arm but it is always a balancing act for all managers.

"I am really looking forward to seeing what this group of Celtic players can achieve working under him. I know for a fact they will enjoy playing for him. I most certainly did.

"I hope the Celtic fans will embrace the fact that he has chosen to come back to the club. It is a huge deal they have managed to persuade a manager of Brendan's calibre to return.

"Brendan is a top, top manager and of course, it is difficult to be perfect but he has come close to it during his time at Celtic."

Ironically Rodgers autobiography is entitled: 'The Road to Paradise'.

They'll be doing a rewrite fairly soon.

There are many chapters still to be written in Rodgers' Celtic book.