Rodgers offered Liverpool manager's job - Swansea

Reuters

Wed, 30 May 20:54:00 2012

* Clubs discussing compensation

* Martinez set to stay at Wigan (Adds background)

Liverpool are poised to entrust Brendan Rodgers with moulding the former European champions into Premier League title challengers after Swansea City said their highly-regarded coach had been offered the job as Kenny Dalglish's successor.

"Following on from discussions with Liverpool's owners, Brendan has informed us that he would like to take up their offer to manage Liverpool," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said on the club's website (www.swanseacity.net) on Wednesday.

Swansea said discussions were still ongoing with Liverpool's American owners over compensation for Northern Irishman Rodgers, who guided the Welsh side to a respectable 11th-place finish in the Premier League last season, their first campaign at the highest level since 1983.

"At the moment we are currently in talks with the owners to agree compensation. We are trying to finalise that within the next 24 hours," added Jenkins.

"Although we are very disappointed to lose such a talented, young British manager, we didn't wish to stand in his way. We will always remain good friends and we thank him for his hard work and passion at this football club over the past two years."

Liverpool have been searching for a replacement for Anfield great Dalglish, whose second spell in charge ended after he was dismissed following the club's eighth place finish in the Premier League, their worst for almost 20 years.

Once the dominant force in English football, Liverpool have not won the championship since 1990. They finished their 2011-12 campaign 37 points behind champions Manchester City and recorded their fewest wins in a top-flight season since 1953/54.

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez also held talks with Liverpool but Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told Sky Sports News that the Spaniard would remain in charge.

"He moves into the second year of the deal previously agreed," Whelan said.

Rodgers, 39, and Swansea won plaudits for their eye-pleasing passing game and their 1-0 victory over toothless Liverpool in their final match of the season could not have failed to impress the Anfield hierarchy.

Whether Liverpool's long suffering fans will be convinced remains to be seen with many unhappy at Dalglish's departure after a League Cup triumph and FA Cup final appearance.

After spells in charge of Watford and Reading, Rodgers moved to Swansea in 2010 and guided the Welsh club to promotion from the Championship (second division) via the playoffs.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal has been linked in the media with becoming Liverpool's new Director of Football after Damien Comolli left in April.

 

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. you can have the best manager in the world and the best­ players that money can buy but it counts for nothing­ once they cross that white line,if BR plays football­ like he wants then he has to convince the fans and­ players,given time i think he`ll come good and if not­ then back to the drawing board,only time will­ tell...LFC 4EVA!

    From Ian, on Thu 31 May 12:49
  2. Two things that will make Brendan a success at­ Liverpool. 1: The players giving him 100% every game.­ 2: The supporters backing him through GOOD wins and­ POOR results. Not who I wanted to see at Liverpool, but­ I'M BACKING THE BOSS = Mr B Rodgers.

    From Foo-kin, on Thu 31 May 9:39
  3. Let us all face the fact that at the moment we are not­ going to attract a so called "big name"­ manager. Whether you wanted AVB, or Capello, neither of­ which have been raving successes in the UK, or Jose or­ Pep, we have Brendan Rodgers, who has done well in the­ Premier league with limited resources. What did people­ think when Shankley arrived at Anfield from a­ "lower" club? So let's put pride aside­ and get behind our new manager, you never know, he­ might be great success, and revive a sleeping giant, ­ just give him a chance. Welcome to Anfield Brendan!!

    From LES, on Thu 31 May 9:14
  4. Brendan Rodgers has the right football philosophy and­ coaching abilities to succeed in ANY football club. His­ challenge is to instill confidence in the current LFC­ squad. At Swansea his team played without any pressure­ and thus manage to play free flowing passing game. Even­ when Swansea lost they are praised for their effort.­ It's totally a different scenario in LFC. No matter­ how attractive the team play the LFC fans want you to­ finish in top 4, win any trophy every year and to­ finish better than Everton ALWAYS! Your defense must be­ solidly disciplined and don't commit silly mistakes­ that cost you the match you dominated. Love to see­ coaches like BR succeed in football.

    From footballsense, on Thu 31 May 7:20
  5. Comment 1 :- brendan rodgers may not be world class yet­ but he will go to the very top of the football world, i­ will promise you that. You have got a gem of a manager­ coming to you, football will start flowing and you­ never know andy carroll may score a goal instead of­ hitting the crossbar or post all the time

    From Alan, on Wed 30 May 22:02
  6. wake up we have bin shafted again this day proves that­ the spirit of shankley is over i bin a fan over 30years­ an there was a time when the true fans off the spirit­ of shankley would never have allowed these yanks to­ dissgrace us this way by puting profit b4 lfc to save­ cash by appointing a low grade manager this is a dark­ day for lfc this is a major back step an an insult to­ kk it wouldent have bin so bad if they appointed a top­ class manager

    From Charlie, on Wed 30 May 21:29
  7. not happy.no comment

    From E, on Wed 30 May 21:21
  8. Yet another shallow, untrustworthy, mealy-mouthed,­ dishonourable manager who holds his bank balance in­ higher esteem than club loyalty. I wish him all the­ worst at Liverpool. He will soon make a hash of things­ for there is no "Plan B": Just the same old­ 4-5-1 that existed under Dalglish with a few hundred­ extra passes thrown into the mix for good measure to­ try and mesmerise the opposition. Now that his­ mercenary inclinations have been revealed, he'll­ probably try to plunder the family silver and bring in­ a few of Swansea's so-called "best"­ players, just like the Spanish waiter Martinez did at­ Wigan. Their limitations will soon show through once­ the Kop starts to get peppered with wayward shots at­ goal. Good luck Liverpool and thanks for the £5million­ compensation you just paid us. Is there no limit to the­ ineptitude of your American owners?????!

    From Theartchive, on Wed 30 May 21:04
  9. WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL FC BRENDAN HOPE YOU DO WELL

    From A S, on Wed 30 May 20:20
  10. Could be worse. Not a world class manager, but­ hopefully with the right guidance will grow into the­ role. As a Liverpool fan, I have to say that it's­ down to the team to perform well. Which frankly they­ didn't do last season. It is a team with potential­ (even Henderson). We only need a couple of good­ wingers(downing doesn't count)

    From Chris, on Wed 30 May 20:10
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account