Brendan Rodgers is the new Liverpool boss
Liverpool's search for a new manager has finally ended as Swansea's Brendan Rodgers has agreed to becoming the new manager of the Reds according to the club's website.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: May 31, 2012 01:51 PM IST
Liverpool's search for a new manager has finally ended as Swansea's Brendan Rodgers has agreed to becoming the new manager of the Reds according to the club's website.
The 39-year old, who enjoyed a brilliant season with Swansea, will sign a 3-year contract. Rodgers will replace Kenny Dalglish who was sacked after Liverpool finished a disappointing 8th in the Premier League.
Rodgers had refused a request to meet with Liverpool following Kenny Dalglish's sacking earlier this month, but the Reds made a renewed effort to speak to the former Reading and Watford chief after holding discussions with Wigan's Roberto Martinez last week.
According to reports, the Merseyside giants are ready to pay between £4 million ($6.2m) and £5 million ($7.7m) in compensation to Swansea to secure his services.
Rodgers is regarded as one of the Premier League's brightest young managers after guiding unheralded Swansea to an impressive 11th place finish on a relatively meagre budget just one season after securing promotion from the Championship.
When Liverpool first approached Rodgers, it was claimed he was unhappy that the club's American owners wanted to conduct interviews with a host of potential candidates as it would leave him having to return to Swansea with his position undermined if he failed to get the job.
Martinez had been the early favourite after meeting with Liverpool's principal owner John Henry in Miami last week, but the Spaniard was said to be concerned about the Reds' desire to hire a director of football, with former Ajax boss Louis van Gaal reportedly in the running for that role.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed Martinez had been offered the job, but Liverpool never confirmed it
Rodgers, who regards Jose Mourinho as his mentor after working as the Portuguese coach's reserve-team boss at Chelsea, has completely rehabilitated his reputation since he was sacked as Reading boss three years back.
Swansea's eye-catching style of play earned a standing ovation from Liverpool fans after a 0-0 draw at Anfield in November and Rodgers also masterminded a 1-0 win over the Reds on the final day of the season, as well as beating Manchester City and Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.
He would take over a Liverpool squad at a low ebb after finishing eighth in the Premier League, 17 points away from the Champions League spots that Henry had targeted at the start of the season.
The Reds did win the League Cup under Dalglish, but their season ended with a lacklustre 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup final against Chelsea and the new boss will be charged with reinvigorating team sorely in need of an infusion of creativity and pace.
(With agency inputs)