IT was a season playing under Brendan Rodgers which Kelechi Iheanacho describes as a miracle.
Now he’s hoping for more extraordinary moments after linking up with him again.
Back in 2020/21 Iheanacho netted 19 times for Leicester as they went all the way in the FA Cup.
After scoring a double in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in the quarter-finals, he grabbed the only goal of the game in the semi-final triumph over Southampton before Youri Tielemans’ strike saw off Chelsea at Wembley.
They were games and experiences which will live with Iheanacho forever.
So when Rodgers came calling as the summer transfer window came to a close and with Celtic desperate for a striker, he jumped at the chance to work with him once more.
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Iheanacho, 28, said: “That FA Cup season is the best season I’ve had in my career. It was a great, great season for me.
“We won the cup and we won the Community Shield. It was a fantastic season, a miracle season. I loved it. Nobody knew it was coming.
“Hopefully that kind of thing can happen again, maybe here at Celtic.
It was a great season under the manager. Here we go again, hopefully it can be repeated here.
“It will be a process where we just have to take one step at a time. If I get my chance to play with the help of my teammates, I can achieve that and more.
“The manager knows me and I’ve worked with him quite a bit. He’s a brilliant manager and the way he manages players is top-notch.
“I think he does it quite well and I’m happy to be working with him again. I’m really excited.
“My teammates have really good qualities and they’ve got very good eyes for final passes. I need to get in good positions and hopefully get the balls for the finishes. Hopefully, it will fall for me.”
The fact Iheanacho hasn’t hit those heights again is what drives him.
Single figures scoring campaigns followed, as did relegation with the Foxes after Rodgers had departed.
A free transfer switch to Sevilla a year ago saw him score just three times in 11 appearances for the Spanish side, with a loan spell at Middlesbrough reaping just a single strike.
But after netting the last minute winner from the spot against Kilmarnock a fortnight ago he scored the opener in the 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade in midweek.
He said: “I’ve always believed in myself. I believe in my quality and what I can do. It’s just about getting the opportunity to show what I can do or what I can bring.
“If the opportunity comes, I know I’m going to do well. This time it’s come with someone who I know really well and someone who knows me really well.
“In football, sometimes people feed off what they see. If they’re not seeing it, they’re not going to remember what you’ve done before.
“So in life, you always have to prove people wrong. I’ve been living for that so I just keep working hard to get there.”
All three of Iheanacho’s first three games for the Hoops have been away from home but he should make his home debut in today’s clash with Hibs.
It won’t be his first taste of Parkhead though. Back in September 2016 he sat on the bench as his Manchester City side were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw in the Champions League group stages.
Then three months later he started at the Etihad and grabbed an eighth minute equaliser following Patrick Roberts’ fourth minute opener.
He said: “I remember when I was at Manchester City, we came here. It was a long, long time ago. I didn’t have a chance to get on in that first game.
“But it was a very, very loud atmosphere here. It was a good atmosphere and it was a great game.
“Celtic has been a great team for a long time. It would be great to play at home on Saturday.”
Hoops skipper Callum McGregor claimed Iheanacho has settled so quickly it feels like he’s been at the club for longer than he has.
In the dressing room he has a peg alongside Kasper Schmeichel, just as he did at the King Power Stadium when they played for Leicester together.
Iheanacho said: “I always try to be nice to everyone in the dressing room. I have quite a good energy in the dressing room so hopefully everyone will like it.
“I didn’t really speak to Kasper before coming here so he was surprised to see me!
“I’d sat with him in the dressing room in Leicester for years and here I am sitting with him again. He’s saying he can’t get rid of this guy!
“But Kasper is a good lad so I’m happy to see him again. He’s been giving me quite good recommendations for things.”
Iheanacho answered Rodgers’ call as the Hoops dragged their heels in the transfer market saw them miss out on other targets.
He was freed by Sevilla before the window closed, allowing him to make the move after the deadline.
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He added: “When you’re not playing so much, you need to try to keep the same level to try to be up there. If you don’t do that you wouldn’t be close to the people playing games.
“You’d be miles off it. You need to work more on your own if you’re not playing to try to get fitness and everything in case you have the opportunity.”
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