Roy Hodgson entering Anfield with chairman Martin Broughton.
(Photo: Reuters)
JULY 15
Boss
thrilled with Milan arrival
By Paul Eaton in Switzerland - LFC Official Website
Roy Hodgson today revealed his delight at Milan
Jovanovic's Anfield arrival - and admitted he was tracking the
Serbian striker while manager at Fulham.
Hodgson officially welcomed the 29-year old striker to the Reds'
squad this morning, where Jovanovic met his new teammates for the
first time and took part in a full training session.
Having only arrived back from his post-World Cup break last night
Jovanovic is unlikely to figure in Saturday's first friendly against
Al-Hilal, but Hodgson is confident the man who scored the winner for
his country against Germany in South Africa will make a big impact
at the club over the coming season.
"I'm very pleased we have got Milan," said Hodgson. "He looks a very
keen and enthusiastic player and it's good to have players who are
desperate to play for the club.
"I was not responsible for signing him but I was pleased to hear the
club had taken the initiative to get a player like him. I've seen
him a lot during my time at Fulham and we were watching him.
"He's a natural wide player who can play through the middle. He's
more of an attacking winger than a wide midfielder and he's a
goalscorer. He scores goals for club and country and I'm sure we'll
get a lot of use out of him.
"He scored in the World Cup, he's done well with Standard Liege at
Champions League level, so he's no stranger to the big games.
"He only joined us last night, so I don't think we'll use him at the
weekend. He looks fit, but at this stage I think I'd prefer to use
the players we have been working with all through pre-season."
JULY 15
Roy reveals
transfer plans
By Paul Eaton in Switzerland - LFC Official Website
Roy Hodgson today confirmed Liverpool are working
hard to improve their squad for next season - but warned supporters
not to believe everything printed in the newspapers.
The Reds have been the subject of much transfer speculation over the
course of the summer so far, with a multitude of players linked with
moves both to and away from Anfield.
Speaking at the club's Switzerland training camp, Hodgson revealed
work is ongoing behind the scenes to ensure Liverpool kick off
2010-11 with the strongest possible squad.
However, the new manager urged fans to take rumours in the media
with a pinch of salt until the Reds make any official announcements.
"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at
the club who you would call the 'good players' are going to be with
us for next season," Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"The board are working very hard in that area. Some players are a
bit disenchanted after what happened last season and we want to make
sure we get that enchantment back.
"We are looking to add to and improve the squad, but I prefer not to
talk or say what we are doing until we have something concrete to
announce.
"We are being linked with players left, right and centre and it
amuses me that we are sometimes linked with players we haven't even
heard of.
"I have great faith in the Liverpool public that they will see
through the snippets of information they may read in the newspapers,
take it with a pinch of salt and wait for an official announcement."
JULY 13
Aquilani boost
for Reds
By Andy Hampson - Press Association Sport
Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has
completely recovered from the ankle problem which hampered his first
season at Anfield, according to the club's new medical chief.
The Italian had to wait more than two months for his Reds debut
following his £20million move from Roma last year and then endured
an indifferent campaign.
The 25-year-old is now back with the club for pre-season training
and has already made a positive impression on newly-appointed head
of sports medicine and sports science Peter Brukner.
Brukner told LFC Weekly magazine: "Alberto's ankle, which was a
problem last year, is now 100% healed.
"He has been training and has looked very sharp. He'll have to keep
working on his injury prevention programme and if he does, I'm sure
the supporters will see the best of him because last season was very
frustrating for him injury-wise."
Brukner's next task is to assess the fitness of star striker
Fernando Torres, who pulled up with an adductor injury in Sunday's
World Cup final in South Africa.
Torres has now returned to Madrid with the rest of the victorious
Spain squad and Liverpool staff are to fly out to meet him this
week.
The 26-year-old is due to have a scan before beginning his summer
break.
Torres has been plagued by injury in recent months. He struggled
with a groin problem before Christmas and his domestic season ended
prematurely after two knee operations in the space of four months.
He returned to action at the World Cup but looked well short of
match sharpness throughout the whole tournament and failed to score.
Torres has been linked with big-money moves away from Anfield this
summer but his latest injury may go some way to quelling speculation
about his future.
Brukner is generally pleased with the health of the squad but the
group is only coming back together slowly because of varying lengths
of involvement at the World Cup.
"Staggering pre-season presents a challenge," he said. "I'm guessing
that the World Cup guys will be pretty fit anyway.
"You don't lose a lot in three weeks and they've all been in contact
with us to speak about their programme over that period."
JULY 12
Torres'
injury puts
£50m Chelsea move in doubt
By Jason Burt - Telegraph.co.uk
An injury to Fernando Torres late into last
night’s World Cup Final between Spain and Holland may further
confuse the striker’s future, with Chelsea hoping he will ask
Liverpool to consider offers for him when he returns from holiday.
Torres cut a forlorn figure after he was left out of the starting
line-up by Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque - and did not even warm-up
with the rest of the substitutes - but he came on at the start of
the second-half of extra-time to replace David Villa as his
country’s lone striker.
However as he chased down a long ball forward he pulled up suddenly,
feeling his groin, before collapsing on the turf in apparent agony.
He was eventually stretchered off. It capped a miserable tournament
for Torres, although he was involved in the build-up to Andres
Iniesta’s winning goal, and there will now be frantic concern over
the extent of the injury and whether it might place his hope for a
summer move to Chelsea in jeopardy.
Torres wants clarity on Anfield goings on Torres did manage to
collect his winners’ medal and join his team-mates on a lap of
honour but he was clearly in some discomfort and given his constant
record of injuries, which has been an issue for him throughout his
career then it will be a concern to any potential buyer.
Chelsea are leading the chase for the 27-year-old and are set to
open the bidding, hoping that Torres will ask for a move although he
may fall short of handing in a transfer request. They remain
confident that Torres wants to join them and may, eventually, offer
up to £50 million for him.
However this would fall short of Liverpool’s valuation for Torres
which is believed to be closer to £70 million. At the same time it’s
understood that, significantly, Liverpool are already actively
looking at alternatives should Torres eventually be sold.
Contact is believed to have been made with the German club
Wolfsburg, now managed by Steve McClaren, over the future of their
striker Edin Dzeko who is believed to be admired by Liverpool’s new
manager Roy Hodgson.
Negotiations for the Bosnian, who has previously also attracted
interest from Chelsea, to move to Manchester City are at an advanced
stage although a fee is yet to be agreed.
If Liverpool were to sell Torres for £50 million or more then it
would give them the funds to purchase Dzeko and although they would
not be able to out-bid City it could well be that the 23-year-old
would prefer a move to the Merseyside club.
The sale of Torres would also provide Hodgson - who has stated he
wants to keep the striker and intends to hold talks with him when he
returns from holiday, if not before - with further funds to
strengthen his squad as he goes about re-shaping his team for the
new season. That could be bolstered with Javier Mascherano, who may
hand in a transfer request, also pushing for a move.
City had hoped that they might strike an agreement with Torres but
although they retain interest they also accept that the failure to
qualify for the Champions League has severely damaged their chances.
Instead they have concentrated on trying to sign Dzeko or, if that
bid fails, to secure Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli.
Torres has been cagey over his future throughout the World Cup,
declaring that he wants to hear from Hodgson over his plans for
Liverpool before he decides what he wants to do. Earlier this year
Torres made clear that he wanted the club to strengthen
significantly this summer but they have to generate funds first.
The player is believed to want to stay in England, unless there is a
bid made for him by Barcelona who he regards as the only other club
he would consider moving too. He has told friends that he wants to
now be challenging for major trophies and is desperate to win the
Champions League.
JULY 11
Thompson send message
to Gerrard to stay at liverpool
By Steve Millar - Daily Star
Kop legend Phil Thompson has belted out a
heartfelt message to Steven Gerrard: Winning a title away from
Liverpool means nothing.
Gerrard has gone on holiday without officially committing his future
to his one and only club with new boss Roy Hodgson hopeful he will
stay.
But the test of that optimism will come when either Real Madrid or
Chelsea slam hard cash down on the Anfield boardroom table.
Thompson is still fearful that Gerrard will do a runner as time runs
out on his quest to win a title before hanging up his boots.
Gerrard, 30, is obviously deeply concerned that he won’t be able to
fulfil that ambition at Liverpool.
That’s following a disastrous last season for the club and with
major doubts now also hanging over the futures of his team-mates
Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.
Thompson, though, is adamant that picking up a champions’ trophy at
another club will be tarnished.
Only winning one in the red shirt of Liverpool will mean anything,
he insists.
That’s why Thompson would love Gerrard to give it at least one more
year at Anfield where the prize he treasures can still be won.
The same goes for Torres and Mascherano to show loyalty and give
something back to the club which has made them the players they are
today.
Thompson, 56, said: “Stevie has held this team together with Jamie
Carragher for the last six years.
“People say he deserves the chance to go elsewhere for what he’s
done for Liverpool.
“But I hope he now says, ‘Do I need to move on?’ He will be thinking
long and hard while he’s on holiday and wonder if he needs what’s
happening to him at the moment.
“There have been smear campaigns about his private life on internet
sites. I think that’s an absolute disgrace. That alone could have
driven him away.
“He’s risen above that and thank goodness he has.
“Now I hope he feels that if he is to win a title he’d love to still
win it with Liverpool.
“It wouldn’t be the same with any other club, whether that be
Chelsea, Real Madrid or Manchester City.
“The medal would only mean something if he won it as a Liverpool
player.”
Thompson believes Torres and Mascherano, both 26, should now come
out publicly and commit to the Hodgson cause at Anfield.
He added: “I know it’s been frustrating for Fernando because of the
injuries since he arrived at Liverpool.
“But he’s a top player who was welcomed with open arms when he came
to the club.
“Liverpool and Rafa Benitez have made him into the player he is now.
“He was a big player at Atletico Madrid but now he’s a regular
international footballer and one of Spain’s main strikers. I hope he
shows loyalty too.
“Liverpool deserves another year from Fernando, Javier and Stevie.
“Let’s remember Mascherano was a reserve team player at West Ham
when Rafa got him.
“Rafa resurrected his career and he was captain of Argentina in the
World Cup.
“Stevie was captain of England. All this has come about because of
their time at Liverpool.
“I would like to see them all give at least another 12 months to
help Roy Hodgson get this club back to the Champions League.”
Hodgson, he believes, will never have had a tougher battle on his
hands in his long-standing managerial career.
He is facing possibly the biggest rebuilding task since Bill Shankly
walked through the delapidated Anfield gates 51 years ago.
Liverpool then were in the bottom half of the old Second Division.
They had been knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by
non-league Worcester.
Thompson said: “No one, not even Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness,
Gerard Houllier or Rafa has faced a serious situation like this with
players openly talking about quitting the club. Roy knows this is a
tough test and he will need all his managerial skills to keep the
club intact.
“This is the toughest since Shanks came to Liverpool’s rescue.
“This is still going to be a summer of turmoil and, to me, that is
an awful prospect.
“I do fear for my club. That’s why we need to show the spirit of
Istanbul and fight together.
“We need to get the fans firmly behind Roy and together we can turn
around the fortunes of this great club.”
JULY 10
Smells like team spirit to Hodgson
TEAMtalk
Roy Hodgson has stressed the importance of team
unity to his Liverpool squad as he hopes to restore the Reds back
among England's top four.
The new Liverpool manager, speaking to LFC Weekly, claims he wants
to instil the same mentality into his Liverpool side that was
present when Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were at the helm.
He said: "It would be foolish of anyone to dismiss the importance of
team spirit. The Liverpool sides of the 70s, and particularly the
80s, achieved greatness because all of the players had similar
values to one another both on and off the pitch.
"That has been a strength of the club for so many years and it has
been the mantra that has taken the club so far and made it one of
the most important football institutions in the world."
The Croydon-born coach highlights the negative influence
individualism can have on the squad and team performance.
He added: "Bill Shankly was a socialist and he believed in the
combined effort - nothing is achieved by individuals. I'm not
comparing myself to Shankly at all because nobody can. But I buy
into his view when it comes to managing a successful football team.
"It is vitally important to make sure all of the players are
fighting for the same cause. It is my job to find the right
combination of players to bring success back to Liverpool. I want
Melwood to be a place where the players enjoy coming to work because
of the training and the way they are treated."
JULY 9
Hodgson assures Liverpool
players, fans new signings on way
tribalfootball.com
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has assured fans he
plans to add to his squad in the coming weeks.
Hodgson is desperate to avoid any repeat of the dressing room
friction that forced Rafa Benitez to admit, midway through last
season, that his players’ body language wasn’t all it might have
been.
"It’s vital all the players are fighting for the same cause and it’s
my job to find the right combination of players to bring success
back to Liverpool," said Hodgson.
"I want Melwood to be a place where the players enjoy coming to work
because of the training and the way they’re treated.
"Hopefully, over the coming weeks and months, we will make some
changes to the team. It’s important to be able to bring in new
players to freshen everything up and keep the others on their toes.
"But it’s not right to talk about strengths and weaknesses based on
last season because the year before, with virtually the same
players, they might have won the league with a bit more luck. So I
will give them all a fair opportunity."
JULY 9
Liverpool to
resist
all offers for Torres
By Sam Wallace - Irish Independent
The Liverpool hierarchy will tell Fernando Torres
that they have no intention of selling him this summer and that they
plan to resist the offers from Chelsea and Manchester City for the
Spanish striker.
Torres' future has been one of the key issues in the arrival of Roy
Hodgson at the club and the feeling is that to sell him -- no matter
what the price -- would undermine any hope of success in the coming
season.
Torres' future is balanced against that of Steven Gerrard, whom the
club would allow to leave if he asked to do so -- and providing Real
Madrid made a suitable offer.
The difference in attitudes towards the two players is because
Liverpool feel that they would owe Gerrard the right to play
elsewhere after 12 years of loyal service.
They do not feel the same debt towards Torres, who signed a new
five-year contract in May last year. It is accepted that it may be
practical to consider a sale of the Spanish international next
summer.
There are plans to give the player an attractive and innovative
commercial deal that the club hope will give him greater incentive
to stay. But the key element in Liverpool's favour is Torres'
long-term contract, which means that even if he is sold next summer
he would still attract a considerable price.
Hodgson said yesterday that he expected both Torres and Gerrard to
stay and planned to meet with the former soon after the World Cup
final.
Holland's Dirk Kuyt has said he wants to stay at Anfield, but
Liverpool have virtually given up on Javier Mascherano and are
likely to sell him to Barcelona. There have also been suggestions
that Hodgson could be interested in bringing Peter Crouch back to
Anfield, having tried to sign him for Fulham last summer.
Hodgson said: "I anticipate there might be a situation where other
big clubs will try to sign Steven, but he gave no indication (when
he met with Gerrard) that he wanted to leave. Nobody at the club
wants him to go so I will be doing my utmost to make sure he stays.
I am confident he will.
"Fernando is a wonderful striker and I understand the fans' concerns
about his future. When I do meet him, I'll be doing everything I can
to convince him that Liverpool is the place to be."
JULY 8
Hodgson
reveals Gerrard talks
By James Carroll - LFC Official Website
Roy Hodgson has revealed his delight at the
content of his talks with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher - and
the new boss is confident of a similar outcome when he meets with
Fernando Torres after the World Cup.
Just hours after being confirmed as Liverpool manager last Thursday,
Hodgson met with Gerrard and Carragher - and later Academy
Ambassador Kenny Dalglish - in his new office at Melwood.
And the tactician was left thrilled with the positive nature of the
conversations.
"I think they went splendidly," Hodgson told LFC Weekly. "I was very
happy to meet the players and, of course, Kenny who I already know
so well.
"I was delighted to see how positive they are. Everybody is looking
forward to the new season."
He added: "Obviously Steven and Jamie are the playing heartbeat of
the club and it's very important we keep people like that with us.
"I anticipate there might be a situation where other big clubs will
try and sign Steven, but he gave no indication that he wanted to
leave.
"Nobody at the club wants him to go so I will be doing my utmost to
make sure he stays. I am confident he will."
One player Hodgson has yet to meet is Torres due to the striker's
World Cup commitments.
However, the Spain star announced over the weekend he was pleased
with the appointment of the 62-year-old and eager to hear the new
gaffer's plans for 2010-11 - and Hodgson admits the feeling is
mutual.
"Fernando is a wonderful striker and I understand the fans' concerns
about his future," he said.
"Unfortunately with the World Cup still on, I won't be able to meet
him face to face for another few weeks. That's just circumstance and
you won't hear me complaining about it.
"When I do meet him, I will be doing everything I possibly can to
convince him that Liverpool is the place to be.
"If he sees progress, I am confident that he won't want to go
anywhere else. I think he understands the club and the city."
Meanwhile, the manager is planning a new role for Dalglish under his
Anfield reign.
Hodgson believes the Kop legend has a significant role to play in
strengthening communication between the Academy and Melwood as the
Reds look to develop new talent.
He explained: "I never doubted that Kenny would leave. He's been
offered a role, which I believe is a crucial role for the club - not
just in the short term, but in the long term.
"The club will benefit from Kenny's work long after I've left
Liverpool and long after he's left as well.
"He is very aware of all the players at the Academy and I understand
there are a few promising players emerging.
"He will liaise between Melwood and Kirkby and keep me updated with
any developments that he deems necessary.
"There is a bridge between the Academy and the first team that needs
to be created and I believe he can help build that bridge."
JULY 8
Liverpool FC departures unlikely
without new signings first
By David Randles - Liverpool Echo
There are unlikely to be any players heading out
of Anfield until replacements have been lined up.
A number of Liverpool players are being linked with possible
transfer window moves but manager Roy Hodgson is also keen to see
what he has at his disposal before sanctioning any departures.
Fiorentina are reported to be ready to offer Liverpool in excess of
£3.5million for left-back Emiliano Insua while newly promoted West
Bromwich Albion are thought to be eyeing a loan deal for striker
David Ngog.
Including Milan Jovanovic, Liverpool had 13 players on World Cup
duty in South Africa – more than any other Premier League club.
With the majority of those players not expected to return to the
club until after the pre-season training camp in Switzerland,
Hodgson has a threadbare squad to work with and can ill afford to
release anyone until he has brought new players in to the club.
First, though, the former Fulham boss has pledged to give everyone a
chance to prove their worth at the club regardless of their status
under the previous managerial regime.
His first opportunity to do that will be against Saudi Arabian
champions Al-Hilal in Liverpool’s opening pre-season game a week on
Saturday at the Cashpoint-Arena in Altach, Austria – home of
Austrian second division outfit SCR Altach.
One player he may be able to call on soon is Jovanovic who is edging
closer to securing his switch to Anfield from Belgian side Standard
Liege.
The Serbian international revealed last week that he is hopeful of
linking up with his new teammates in Switzerland, and the club are
quietly confident that will be the case.
Jovanovic will join Liverpool on a free transfer. He can play as an
out-and-out striker or in a wider attacking role and could fill the
void left by Yossi Benayoun’s weekend departure to Chelsea.
Liverpool head to Switzerland next Wednesday, July 14.
JULY 6
More backing for
Roy
This is Anfield
Former Blackburn assistant boss Tony Parkes has
had his two cents worth in regard to Roy Hodgson’s appointment as
new Liverpool manager, declaring his former boss the perfect man for
the job.
Hodgson was unveiled at Anfield as Rafa Benitez‘s successor last
Thursday, a decision which has received mostly positive response and
backing from fans, players and Reds legends.
And Parkes, who worked with Hodgson during his years at Blackburn
Rovers between 1997 and 1998, says Hodgson is the perfect man to
sheer the Liverpool ship.
“I think with the players he’s got to coach and work with at
Liverpool, I think he’ll be the ideal manager,” Parkes told BBC
Radio Merseyside.
“I think by coming back to this country he’s got some unfinished
business.
“He started that at Fulham with players who are probably not as good
as the players at Liverpool, without being too unkind to Fulham.
“He’s very experienced, he’s very determined and you’ll find that he
doesn’t like certain things. His team talks are usually all about
his own team and he mentions the opposition very little.
“It’s all about how his team will play and he has good knowledge and
he’s a good tactician and I think the players will enjoy working
with him.”
JULY 6
Roy explains
route to LFC
LFC Official Website
Roy Hodgson believes his insatiable appetite for
football may have kept him away from a job at one of Europe's elite
clubs for so long.
Hodgson has been a football manager for 34 years and his previous
most high-profile job came when he coached Inter Milan in the 1990s.
The new Anfield boss thinks his love for the game may have held back
his career in the past.
"I wouldn't say I've done things the hard way because there are all
kinds of routes a person can take in football management that throw
up contrasting challenges," Hodgson told LFC Weekly magazine.
"It would be disrespectful to other managers to say that I've had it
tougher. What I would say is that my route to Liverpool has been
slightly different.
"My problem has been that I love working and I hate being out of it.
Whenever I have been, after a few weeks I have found myself yearning
for a return. So maybe on occasions I've been prone to jumping at an
offer at a smaller club when I should have waited a little longer
before a better job has come around."
It's a common complaint that England's top clubs don't often appoint
English managers, but Hodgson believes his perceived lack of
'Englishness' may have been a problem for him.
"There have been times when I've tried to blend in too well to the
surroundings I'm in, rather than be myself and portray my
Englishness.
"I sometimes think that people in England probably view me as the
least English of the English managers. Maybe that's one of the
reasons why it has taken me longer than others to get one of the big
jobs."
JULY 2
Carra confident Reds pair will stay
TEAMtalk
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is confident
star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will still be at the
club next season.
The pair have both been the subject of speculation this summer
following the Reds' failure to qualify for the Champions League and
the departure of manager Rafael Benitez.
Some observers believe retaining their services is one of the first
tasks facing new boss Roy Hodgson but Carragher expects them to stay
at Anfield.
The 32-year-old told talkSPORT: "I think there is a lot of talk
about this but the people who say these things, a lot of them are
doing this to create a bit of pressure around the club.
"I don't think anyone knows these people personally to come out and
say that.
"I am sure they will still be involved at the club next season and
if they are the aim for the club will be to get back into the
Champions League."
Hodgson stated at his unveiling yesterday that his goal for next
season is to get Liverpool back into the elite European competition.
Carragher added: "We didn't just miss out, we finished seventh. That
is a big disappointment.
"If we could get back in there that would be a great achievement for
the club and the manager.
"It is going to be a tough season but if we keep the players we have
got and get back to where we were a few years ago I am sure we will
give everyone a run for their money."
Carragher is looking forward to working with veteran boss Hodgson,
who led Fulham to the Europa League final last season.
"I think it is a great appointment by the club," he said. "I am sure
we can move on from this and it will go well."
JULY 2
Hodgson defends Blackburn Rovers record
Daily Post
New Liverpool FC manager Roy Hodgson has defended
his record in English football and insisted he has learned from
failures earlier in his career.
The 62-year-old's appointment on a three-year contract at Anfield
has received a lukewarm response in some quarters. Despite his
relative success with Fulham, making them a solid mid-table Barclays
Premier League side and guiding them to the Europa League final,
there are those who still remember his unsuccessful spell at
Blackburn between 1997 and 1998.
"Blackburn was the only place I have been sacked and that was
somewhat harsh," he said. "I took a team which had avoided
relegation by one point into European football and then lost four of
the very best players - three to injury and one to a forced sale to
Rangers - the following year."
Hodgson led a side which narrowly escaped relegation to a
sixth-placed finish in his first season only to be sacked in
December 1998 with the club bottom of the table.
He added: "Admittedly the start of the following season was not as
good and we built up expectations but it is difficult for me to see
Blackburn as a complete failure.
"I did make mistakes there; you always make mistakes when you fail
somewhere.
"I have analysed those failures but I don't think they were quite as
blatant as some people would like to think."
The former Inter Milan boss also hit out at critics who say he has
not had enough experience at big clubs.
"Blackburn were a top side when I went there, we finished sixth in
the league, Udinese have had success in the past and the four years
I had with the Swiss national team going to the World Cup and
European championships was successful.
"I regard comments like that as far too insular."
JULY 2
Rush
full of praise for new boss
This is Anfield
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has spoken very highly
of newly appointed Reds manager Roy Hodgson, who was unveiled at
Anfield yesterday.
Hodgson’s appointment has been met with a mixed reaction from
Liverpool fans, but Rush is not in doubt that the club have made the
right appointment to replace Rafa Benitez.
He said, “I know Roy quite well and its a good appointment.
“When he was manager of Finland I spent some time over there and
when I was doing my UEFA Pro badge in Wales he came down to spend
two days with us.
“I’ve also met him at various UEFA meetings over the years and I’ve
always been really impressed with what he has to say.
“Tactically, he’s very astute, he’s highly respected across Europe
and if you look at his CV he’s been everywhere.
“Roy has proved himself at club and international level and has
managed big clubs like Inter Milan.
“He was being talked about as the next England manager so its good
to see Liverpool move quickly to get him before the FA make any
decision about Fabio Capello.”
JULY 2
Roy:
Reds rebuilding not required
TEAMtalk
Roy Hodgson does not anticipate a major rebuilding
job at Liverpool and fully believes he can bring trophies back to
Anfield.
However, he has stressed he cannot hope to do that without quality
players - both those he has inherited and some he will look to bring
in.
Much has been made of what a parlous state the Reds seem to find
themselves in after their worst Premier League finish for 11 years
(seventh), an early Champions League exit and, off the field, being
in £351million of debt.
But the 62-year-old is experienced enough to recognise, even at this
early stage, that it may not take wholesale changes to get things
back on track.
With injuries and loss of form affecting key personnel - most
notably Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard - this season could be
written off as a "blip".
Previous boss Rafael Benitez's departure had as much, if not more,
to do with his constant battles with the hierarchy off the field
than it did with issues on it.
Hodgson is confident if he can hang on to the likes of Torres and
Gerrard - and that may be a big if - he can start having a positive
effect almost immediately.
"I hope it is not a rebuilding process," said the former Fulham
boss, who is reportedly working with a transfer budget of just
£15million.
"It is well documented there is uncertainty about star players but I
am confident we will deal with that situation and we won't lose any
star players.
"That is my hope and my aim and if I can bring it about hopefully we
will be able to add to the squad.
"I am pretty sure everyone at the club will agree with me when I say
our task is to keep hold of the very good players we have and find
some other good players to complement them.
"If we are really going to achieve the goals that Liverpool must
always set we are not going to do that on organisation alone, we are
going to do it on the quality of players.
"We haven't discussed transfer budgets in any great detail, this is
not the right time to talk about that.
"The financial situation at many clubs is not what they want it to
be and I know the chairman in particular is working really hard to
put that right."
Hodgson is viewed by many as a safe pair of hands, a man to bring
stability to a club which had more leaks than the Titanic and was
beset by rumours of in-fighting among the power figures.
He may not be a name to set pulses racing but what he achieved with
Fulham in taking them all the way to the Europa League final,
combined with his vast experience with other European clubs, has
earned him a reputation for being an efficient operator.
Hodgson is no Jose Mourinho, no Benitez for that matter, but what he
does provide is commitment and a sense of security and he is quite
happy with that tag.
"I would have thought stability and having a reputation of someone
who can provide stability is not faint praise, I think it is quite
high praise," said the first Englishman to manage a 'big four' club
since, coincidentally, Roy Evans lost his job at Anfield in 1998.
"I regard myself as a coach who works very hard to produce winning
football teams.
"That is what I have been doing for 35 years and long may it
continue.
"All football managers' major task is to organise the team so you
get the best out of the individuals.
"What clubs of this stature require of course are the quality of the
players that can bring about the results the club want.
"Organisation alone unfortunately won't do that because the team has
been well organised for some time: it was well organised under
Gerard Houllier and it was well organised under Rafael Benitez.
"Sometimes when the best players are not available to you the
organisation can stand you in good stead and maybe help you get
results you wouldn't have otherwise.
"But I am confident that as long as the quality of players remains
at the level it should be for Liverpool and as long as we continue
to maintain the traditions of a good work ethos, players sweating
blood for the shirt and never letting fans down, I see no reason why
we can't win things in the future.
"But I can't pretend that the current situation is not somewhat
different to the situations that maybe Rafa and Gerard had when they
came to the club.
"My job to some extent will be initially to steady the ship but
there is no doubt our ambitions remain as high as they ever were."
JULY 2
Dalglish approves
of Hodgson appointment
TEAMtalk
Roy Hodgson says Kenny Dalglish has "a very big
part" to play in Liverpool's future after the Anfield legend gave
his backing to the new boss.
Dalglish was a contender to replace Rafael Benitez at Anfield but
has given his approval to the former Fulham manager, who took over
at the Premier League club yesterday.
The Scot said in the Daily Mail: "I look very favourably on the
appointment.
"I have known Roy a long time and have a great respect for him.
"We've not had detailed conversations yet but my interests are in
Liverpool."
Hodgson is keen to retain the services of Dalglish - even though he
was appointed to the top job the Scot was overlooked for.
Dalglish is currently involved in youth development at the academy
and is an ambassador for the club.
"Kenny will play a very big part in bringing youth players through,"
said Hodgson.
"If he is going to take on the role of head of football development
his role in making that bridge between Kirkby (where the academy is
based) and Melwood (the first team training ground) is going to be a
vital one.
"I think he has lots of other roles to play. With his position at
the football club I compare him to Giacinto Facchetti at Inter or
Bobby Charlton at Manchester United - they have such a role to play.
"When this club needs representing, especially on a foreign stage,
who better to represent it than Kenny Dalglish?
"I am hoping that between those two roles, ambassador and head of
youth development, and the advice and help he is going to give me in
my job, we will get great currency out of Kenny if he wants to be
part of that and I hope he does.
"I had a long conversation with Kenny before I got the job and we
need to sit down together now to work out how it will work in
practice.
"With goodwill on his side - and there is plenty of goodwill on my
side - we should find a solution."
Chairman Martin Broughton was somewhat dismissive when asked about
how Dalglish's expression of interest in the manager's job had been
received by the board.
"Kenny put his name forward for wanting the job and we appreciated
the fact he was keen to do it but for us he was never a candidate
and I explained that to him," he said.
"We see Kenny as having an excellent long-term future at this club.
"He is happy in his current ambassadorial role but we would like to
build on that role - although we haven't defined what that will be
yet because it is for Roy and Kenny to work beyond that."
Hodgson said who the board chose or did not choose was out of his
control but that in no way did he want to force Dalglish out of the
club, quite the opposite in fact.
"Kenny Dalglish should be at Liverpool until he decides he no longer
wants to be a part of football," added the former Fulham manager.
"I can't have any comment on the people who wanted to be candidates,
it was up to the board to decide who they wanted and the chairman
distinctly answered that question by saying they did not want Kenny
to be a candidate for the job, but they do want him to be a part of
the club today and in the future.
"They want him to use all of his skills to be part of the club
long-haul to make sure we bring some players through."
JULY 1
Hodgson targets
Champions League return
Irish Independent - Press Association
Roy Hodgson has targeted a return to the Champions
League after being unveiled as the new Liverpool boss.
Hodgson today signed a three-year deal to succeed Rafael Benitez in
the Anfield hot-seat and is hoping to get the Merseysiders back in
the top four.
 He said: "This is a very big club, a club with enormous tradition
and when the club is sold it will get stronger rather than weaker.
"My priority is to try to get the team doing better than last season
and get them back into the Champions League spots."
Hodgson led Fulham into the final of the Europa League last
(Photo: Getty Images)
season
and felt now was a good time to make the step up to a club with
greater expectation.
He added: "It is the right move for me at this stage of my career.
"I am here on merit, I know the club did their homework before
asking me to be their manager and my aim is to work for the club and
the people of Liverpool."
One of Hodgson's first tasks will be to meet experienced campaigners
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher this afternoon.
"I am anxious to meet them," he said.
"They are two key players and two key players in my future at this
club.
"I need to know how they feel and talk to them about general
things."
JULY 1
Hodgson:
Liverpool impossible to turn down
Irish Independent - Press Association
New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has described his
appointment as an opportunity that was "absolutely impossible to
turn down".
Hodgson was Liverpool's first choice to replace Rafael Benitez after
the 62-year-old enjoyed a couple of impressive seasons at Fulham,
which culminated in them reaching last season's Europa League final.
Hodgson admitted it had been difficult to leave the west London
club, where he had built up a bank of goodwill, but believes taking
on the Anfield job will be a highlight of his long and varied
managerial career that has included stints in charge of Inter Milan,
Blackburn and the Finland national team.
His appointment, on a three-year contract, has already received the
backing of club captain Steven Gerrard, and Hodgson is keen to begin
the job of reviving the club's on-field fortunes after they finished
seventh in the Barclays Premier League table last term.
"I'm extremely proud. The club's tradition in terms of its football
and its managers is really second to none and it was an opportunity
which was absolutely impossible to turn down," Hodgson told
liverpooltv.com
"I am both proud and excited at the prospect of working as the
Liverpool manager.
"I don't think there are many jobs that would have tempted me away
from Fulham, to be perfectly honest.
"I had such a good relationship with the chairman and the chief
executive, the players were magnificent to work with and everything
was as good as it gets, but on the other hand when there was a
chance that Liverpool wanted me, and they asked to speak to me, I
asked the chairman for permission.
"He wasn't too happy to give it but fortunately for me this job came
about and I am really happy to be here.
"It'd be foolish to compare but it'd also be dishonest to say
anything other than it's going to be a highlight of my career.
"I have worked long and hard to reach the level I have reached."
Hodgson arrived at the club's Melwood training ground this morning
to meet those players who had returned for the first day of
pre-season, although many of the club's stars are still on leave
after playing at the World Cup.
He will give his first press conference at 1.30pm at Anfield this
afternoon before meeting with senior players such as Gerrard and
Jamie Carragher.
With the futures of Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres at
Anfield a matter of some uncertainty, Hodgson said it would be an
immediate priority to ensure they remained.
"It's important, of course. I don't think there's anybody here at
the club who would welcome losing them," he said.
"Certainly the fans wouldn't welcome losing them and us as a club
I'm sure will do everything we can to make certain they stay with
us.
"I'll be trying to persuade them that this is the place to be. I'll
ask them to give me a chance to work with you and give us a chance
to improve on last season.
"It would be foolish to give guarantees that it's going to happen
because I can't speak for the players themselves, but I'll be doing
my best to keep them."
He added: "There are a couple of meetings this afternoon with senior
players, in particular Steven and Jamie, and I'll contact the rest
by telephone.
"I will make certain that before the end of the week I have had a
conversation with all of the players to tell them I'm here and am
looking forward to welcoming them back when they come."
Hodgson's hopes of keeping Gerrard would, however, seem strengthened
after the midfielder endorsed his appointment this morning.
"The club have made a good appointment in Roy Hodgson," added
Gerrard.
"Rafa left a few weeks ago and I know the club were determined to
take their time and get the right man for the job.
"Roy is hugely experienced and I believe he is the right man for
Liverpool.
"I think it's been worth the wait and I'm sure he's just keen now to
get on with it and start to quickly put in place his plans for the
new season."
JULY 1
Gerrard:
Roy right man for LFC
By Jimmy Rice - LFC Official Website
Steven Gerrard today backed the appointment of Roy
Hodgson by declaring: "He's the right man for LFC."
Hodgson was this morning announced as the successor to Rafael
Benitez after a four-week search by the club.
The former Fulham boss agreed a three-year deal and is now charged
with getting Liverpool back among the Champions League elite.
Club captain Gerrard is confident Hodgson will prove a successful
acquisition.
"The club have made a good appointment in Roy Hodgson," the
30-year-old told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"Rafa left a few weeks ago and I know the club were determined to
take their time and get the right man for the job.
"Roy is hugely experienced and I believe he is the right man for
Liverpool.
"I think it's been worth the wait and I'm sure he's just keen now to
get on with it and start to quickly put in place his plans for the
new season."
JULY 1
Carra
relishing Hodgson era
By Jimmy Rice - LFC Official Website
Jamie Carragher is relishing the prospect of
working under Roy Hodgson.
The former Fulham boss was today announced as the 18th Liverpool
manager after agreeing a three-year deal.
He will become the fourth coach to preside over the Anfield hotseat
during Carragher's playing career following Roy Evans, Gerard
Houllier and Rafael Benitez.
Even at 32, the vice-captain is always eager to learn and improve -
and he cannot wait to team up with a manager whose CV boasts success
in both domestic and international football.
Carragher told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I'm really looking forward to the
opportunity of working with Roy Hodgson as he's got such a great
reputation in the game and is one of the most experienced managers
in world football.
"After this period of uncertainty, his appointment has given us all
a lift."
JULY 1
Thompson: Hodgson can begin new era
TEAMtalk
Phil Thompson believes the appointment of Roy
Hodgson as manager will hopefully signal the beginning of a new era
at Anfield.
The ex-Fulham boss was confirmed as Rafael Benitez's replacement on
a three-year contract this morning after the finer details of his
severance from Craven Cottage were finalised.
Thompson, a European Cup-winning captain with the Reds, now hopes
new owners can also be found so the club can move forward after a
period of stagnation under co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
"We need the sale of the club sorted to enable us to really go
forward," he said.
"I just hope it won't be too long before that's done. With a new
boss and new owners it really would be the dawn of a new era."
Thompson, who was assistant manager during Frenchman Gerard
Houllier's reign, believes Hodgson will help bring stability to
Liverpool.
"After having foreign managers in Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez,
it seems there was a thought process of going back to British," he
added.
"The club needs a steadying influence and Roy will provide that.
"He's done a fantastic job at Fulham and has a wealth of experience
having managed all over Europe.
"This is one of those jobs Roy had hoped and prayed for and it's a
fantastic opportunity for him."
Thompson admits Hodgson's appointment will probably not be
wholeheartedly welcomed by fans but he urged everyone at the club
and supporters to get behind the new boss.
"The big thing now is to get everyone on board comfortable with his
ideas and visions for the football club. He has to unite everyone,"
he told the Liverpool Echo.
"All summer there have been rumours about players going, but he's
only just arrived and he won't want anyone leaving.
"He's a shrewd talker and I'm sure he will find the right words and
the right manner to speak to players and convince them to stay.
"He will want to build for the future around Steven Gerrard,
Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.
"If - and it's a big if - players are sold then that cash has to be
reinvested in the squad, and not go to the banks to pay off debt.
"No matter what you say about Rafa Benitez, he wasn't helped in that
area. The board have to back Roy financially."
JULY 1
Roy Hodgson confirmed as
the new manager of Liverpool FC
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool FC have formally announced the
appointment of Roy Hodgson as new manager.
The 62-year-old former Fulham, Inter Milan and Switzerland manager
has agreed terms with the club on a three-year contract and becomes
the 18th manager in Anfield history.
He will be unveiled this afternoon after overseeing the first day of
pre-season training at Melwood.
Hodgson joins from Fulham, where he guided the Cottagers to the
Europa League final in May and was voted Manager of the Year by the
League Managers' Association.
He said: "This is the biggest job in club football and I'm
honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most
successful football club.
"I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and
getting down to work at Melwood."
JULY 1
Murphy backs
Roy's Reds move
Sky Sports
Danny Murphy has backed Roy Hodgson as the right
man to transform Liverpool's fortunes.
Hodgson is expected to be confirmed as Rafa Benitez's successor
later on Thursday once his switch from Fulham is finalised.
Former Blackburn and Inter Milan chief Hodgson faces a stiff task at
Anfield following a disappointing season last term and one of his
first jobs will be to persuade the club's top stars to stay on
Merseyside.
Murphy, who is being linked with a move back to Liverpool along with
Hodgson, is a big admirer of the 62-year-old's management style and
feels he is the right fit for the Reds.
"Liverpool need someone who has an understanding of the history and
heritage that lies behind the club and what it means in the context
of English football," Murphy told the Daily Mirror.
"People spoke about Mourinho, but I personally didn't see him as an
ideal fit with Liverpool, because right now, they need someone who
has an empathy for the club.
"I admire Roy Hodgson. He has a philosophy of playing good football
which will fit well at Liverpool, and he gives players
responsibility and a platform to work from.
"Maybe it is time Liverpool had an English manager who knows about
the club."
Murphy added: "Roy is a talented manager who succeeds because he
works incredibly hard.
"He instils confidence in his players and has a style the players
can enjoy.
"His success has been a mix of a lot of things, but primarily hard
work.
"He has real tactical knowledge too - in a way it has come from
Roy's Italian (managerial) roots, it is an Italian style."
JULY 1
Is new Liverpool FC boss Roy Hodgson
the flavour of the month, or the chosen one?
Comment by David Prentice - Liverpool Echo
Last November Roy Hodgson laughed off a newspaper
article touting him to manage Britain’s 2012 Olympic footballers.
“I’m flavour of the month, that’s all,” he joked. “I can think of a
more suitable job.”
He never suggested what job was more suitable.
But Hodgson is now the new Liverpool manager. And the fear amongst
some Reds fans is that it’s because those seven-month old words have
become a self-fulfilling prophecy, because, to use Hodgson’s own
description, he’s “flavour of the month.”
If so, Hodgson has been a particularly enduring flavour.
Fulham were undoubtedly Europe’s surprise package last season.
But Hodgson’s record as a manager is no surprise to people who have
followed football outside these shores.
It was way back in 2002 that Hodgson said: “Of course, my track
record, if people bothered to study it, would put me in the same
category as Sir Alex Ferguson enjoys today, but people don’t talk
about what I’ve done outside England.
“Here, they just talk about Blackburn Rovers, but that’s just a very
small part of a 26-year career.”
That’s a glittering 26-year career, by the way – which he has only
enhanced in the eight years since.
The list of achievements are as impressive as the variety of
landscapes in which they were achieved.
He won one championship with Halmstads in Sweden, then five
successive titles with Malmo.
He coached Neuchatel Xamas in Switzerland before taking over the
Swiss national team, where he enjoyed unparallelled success.
“At our peak, I got a mysterious phone call from FIFA House in
Zurich,” he explained.
“It said ‘We’d rather not tell you why, but Sepp Blatter would like
you here’. I arrived and met Berti Vogts.
“He didn’t know why he’d been summoned either.
“We found they were announcing the new FIFA world ranking system,
and it was Brazil 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 3.
“We were no more third in the world than I was a Chinaman!”
A self deprecating tale, perhaps, but it also underlines that
Switzerland had never before enjoyed such a lofty standing in world
football, and Hodgson guided them there by cannily selling the Swiss
FA on the idea of regular internal training camps where players
would play for their clubs at the weekend, then join the national
squad for Mondays and Tuesdays. The move developed a club ethos
within a country framework.
From there Hodgson took Inter Milan from bottom of Serie A to Europe
and a UEFA Cup final.
In Norway he took Viking Stavanger from the relegation zone into the
UEFA Cup and he narrowly missed qualification for Euro 2008 with
Finland.
Unfortunately our closest point of reference with Roy Hodgson here
on Merseyside was an unhappy 18-month stint at Blackburn. But that
disappointment aside, the man can clearly manage.
The appointment of the 62-year-old Londoner, however, has not been
instantly and universally celebrated amongst the club’s fan-base –
largely because he’s not a 59-year-old Scotsman.
There are other negatives, too.
He is an advocate of zonal marking.
He’s a pal of David Moyes.
And even though he’s fluent in Norwegian, Swedish and Italian, and
competent in German, Danish, French, Japanese and Finnish – will he
still be able to converse in fluent Carragher?
Those last three light-hearted downsides apart, the positives appear
to heavily outweigh the negatives.
The fear is that while his managerial qualities appear equipped to
steer Liverpool on an upwardly mobile course again, the question
remains as to whether he will be given the tools and the backing to
do so.
The Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres questions have to be answered
quickly.
If one or both do depart, he must find out how much money he will be
able to reinvest in his playing squad.
And he will quickly find out whether the Liverpool fans’ long-held
and renowned tradition for fiercely supporting their managers
remains unimpaired by the total lack of trust those same fans have
in the club’s hierarchy. If Roy Hodgson faces the greatest test of
his footballing faith as he takes charge of a football club at a
historical crossroads, so too, do Liverpool’s fans.
The name Hodgson has figured twice before in Liverpool’s long and
illustrious history.
Gordon Hodgson was one of the greatest goalscorers ever to grace the
club.
David Hodgson was a journeyman striker who managed barely 10 goals
in 49 games.
Both enjoyed the passionate backing of the fans.
Roy Hodgson deserves that backing, too, because he is clearly more
than just a “flavour of the month.”
The 2010/11 campaign could be a pivotal one in Liverpool’s fortunes.
But Roy Hodgson is a safe pair of hands to guide them through it.
JULY 1
Roy Hodgson set for biggest
challenge yet at Liverpool FC
Comment by David Randles - Daily Post
Once the formalities and pleasantries are out of
the way today, Roy Hodgson will embark on the biggest challenge of
his 35-year managerial career at Liverpool FC.
From taking the reigns at Halmstads aged just 28, to guiding
unfashionable Fulham to the Europa League final last year, Hodgson
is not averse to overcoming the odds.
Other than his time at Inter Milan, though, there is nothing on his
varied and globetrotting CV to compare with what he is now facing at
Anfield.
In what has been referred to as the most significant summer in the
club’s history, Hodgson has a huge job on his hands.
Significantly, that was also the case when he took over at the San
Siro.
With Inter rooted to the bottom of Serie A a month into the 1995/96
season, new owner Massimo Moratti took drastic action and replaced
Luis Suarez with Hodgson.
As now, Hodgson’s appointment was a gamble. As then, Liverpool will
desire a similar effect.
After lifting Inter up the table to claim a place in Europe, the
following season saw Hodgson guide the Nerazzurri to the UEFA Cup
final and third in the league.
At 62, Hodgson is one of football’s elder statesmen who is steeped
in age old traditions of discretion and diplomacy.
Rightly or wrongly, the firebrand that was Benitez at times became
too hot to handle, prompting the club’s board to finally end last
month a battle the Spaniard was never going to win.
Should Hodgson encounter the same frustrations as his predecessor,
he is unlikely to go down the same route.
But while there is much good to be said about the man from Croydon
there are also those who seem unprepared to give him a chance.
According to an online poll conducted by Radio City this week, only
21% of supporters agree he is the right man for the job
But the harsh reality is that Liverpool can no longer afford the
Guus Hiddinks or Jose Mourinhos of this world and Hodgson’s first
task will be to convince Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard that he
is the man to help them fulfil their insatiable ambition.
After that he will be charged with returning Liverpool to the
Champions League by way of a top four Premier League finish next
season – no mean feat given the spending power at Manchester City
these days.
JULY 1
This is Anfield
and Roy must rebuild it
Comment by Ian Herbert - Irish Independent
The assertion by ex-Liverpool striker John
Aldridge that Roy Hodgson faces the toughest challenge of any
incoming Anfield manager since Bill Shankly -- who arrived in 1959
to a club in the bottom half of the old Second Division, with a
crumbling stadium, poor training facilities, a sub-standard playing
staff recently knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Worcester
City -- sounded like hyperbole.
It was actually an understatement.
The stadium is intact, though not a place Liverpool want to be as
they survey a business plan with projections of extra millions in
match-day revenues from a new purpose-built facility. Hodgson's job
is to prevent Liverpool sliding down amongst the also-rans for as
long as it takes his board to find the financial salvation of a new
owner, to build the stadium and provide a transfer budget.
The big imponderable is whether he will have his three prime players
-- each now weighing up their options -- along for the rocky ride.
Steven Gerrard gave Hodgson's appointment his tacit approval when
told of it last week, though that does not mean he will be staying.
Gerrard is in two minds about whether finally to break his ties.
If he goes -- and there has been no bid from Jose Mourinho's Real
Madrid just yet -- then it will only be after the same
soul-searching we witnessed when Mourinho's Chelsea came calling
five summers back.
Hodgson's most vital task is to convince Gerrard to stay.
He may have to give up on Javier Mascherano, who seems to want out,
and there are good grounds to say he should not flog himself coaxing
Fernando Torres, either. Torres has been in a stew about Liverpool
for so long that you wonder whether, if he stays, he can apply
himself.
Any club meeting a £50m valuation would be paying more than the
value Torres has offered in the past injury-plagued season,
compounded by a poor World Cup. Manchester City may be the only one
willing.
David Silva's eye-catching move to City might persuade Torres that
he should join him. Torres to City looks far more of a prospect than
it did when Roberto Mancini publicly declared his appreciation of
him two months ago.
The payout would give Hodgson the chance to invest on the wide
players and left-back Liverpool need, though if Torres stays,
Hodgson may have even less to spend than the £20m he was assigned by
Jack Walker to invest at Blackburn Rovers 12 years ago.
Either way, he will need the eye for a bargain which saw him sign
Brede Hangeland relatively cheaply and turn him into a commanding
Premier League defender; the ability to revive new life out of
players who seem to be heading over the hill, to which Danny Murphy,
once of Liverpool, Damien Duff, Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora stand
testament.
He will also need the temperament to handle the owners Tom Hicks and
George Gillett, whose £500m demands for a club worth nearer £300m is
crippling it; and the nerve to deal with Liverpool fans' eternally
huge expectations at a time when the club is being financially
eclipsed.
Hodgson's appointment today will coincide with Manchester City
announcing signings to take their summer outlay to over £60m.
This is Anfield. A place far more forbidding today than the one
Shankly ever found.
JULY 1
Aldridge views Hodgson's
task as similar to Shankly's
By Colin Stewart - The Scotsman
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has warned
Roy Hodgson he has a "massive job" on his hands at Anfield.
The club are expected to end their search for a replacement for
Rafael Benitez by finalising the appointment of the Fulham manager
by this morning.
Hodgson has been linked with the post for several weeks after
emerging as first choice to take over from the Spaniard, who left
Anfield on 3 June.
The 62-year-old's name also cropped up as a potential replacement
for Fabio Capello should he pay the price for England's dismal World
Cup but negotiations have been ongoing with the Merseysiders for
some time.
However, Aldridge believes the extent of the task Hodgson will have
to do is akin to what the legendary Bill Shankly was faced with when
he rebuilt the club in the 1960s.
"He's got a massive job on his hands at Liverpool," said Aldridge.
"This is the most important stage in Liverpool's history since Bill
Shankly took over with what's happening off the field with the
owners and the lack of stability at the club."
Benitez departed after Liverpool's worst season for 11 years, with
the club finishing seventh in the Barclays Premier League.
Performances were not helped by uncertainty surrounding the sale of
the club by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and the futures
of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano.
Aldridge believes Hodgson has to decide very quickly his plan of
attack and make key decisions in order to be able to move the club
forward.
"Something has to happen as soon as possible; you have to go in and
test the situation about which players need to go out, what you've
got to bring players in and who you can keep," added the former
Republic of Ireland international.
"That's very important as Mascherano has been using the wild card
about his wife (being unhappy] and there's question marks about
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. They've got to be sorted out
asap."
JUNE 30
Hodgson is the
new
Liverpool FC manager
By Dominic King - Liverpool Echo
Roy Hodgson will be officially named Liverpool
FC’s new manager today (Wednesday).
The 62-year-old is due on Merseyside to complete the formalities of
signing a contract after the Reds agreed a compensation package in
the region of £2million with Fulham for his release.
Cordial negotiations have been ongoing in the past 72 hours between
Liverpool’s Managing Director Christian Purslow and Fulham Chief
Executive Alastair Mackintosh and they have now reached a successful
conclusion.
Though Liverpool – who have remained tight-lipped throughout their
search to replace Rafa Benitez – were linked with a clutch of names,
Hodgson was always the number one candidate.
Other names in the frame included former Real Madrid boss Manuel
Pellegrini, Galatasary’s Frank Rijkaard and Didier Deschamps of
Marseille, while Kenny Dalglish also made it clear he was desperate
to take the job on.
Dalglish had initially been named as part of the recruitment process
but he was desperate to have a second crack at the post he occupied
between 1985 and 1991 when he felt his claims were as strong as the
other candidates.
The board, though, were anxious to pursue Hodgson and Liverpool will
be his 16th job in a managerial career that has spanned almost 35
years.
His first post was with Swedish side Halmstads in 1976 and he
enjoyed instant success, leading them to two Swedish titles; he
would later coach Malmo after a brief stint with Bristol City.
Success in charge of the Swiss national team led to him being
appointed Inter Milan manager in 1995 and the highlight of his time
at the San Siro was an appearance in the 1997 UEFA Cup final
appearance, which they lost on penalties to Schalke 04.
Hodgson’s first crack at the Premier League came later that year,
when he took over at Blackburn, but things did not go according to
plan at Ewood Park – despite qualifying for Europe, he was sacked in
December 1998.
Stints with Udinese, the United Arab Emirates, Viking Stavanger and
Finland followed before Fulham turned to him in December 2007 and he
successfully led their battle to avoid the drop, which they did
thanks to a last day with at Portsmouth.
After that, his time at Craven Cottage went from strength to
strength and he enhanced his reputation while transforming Fulham’s
fortunes, guiding them to their highest Premier League finish and an
appearance in the Europa League final.
Now he has a fresh challenge and Hodgson, the LMA’s current Manager
of the Year, will meet those Liverpool players who have not been at
the World Cup tomorrow when they return for pre-season training.
It had been mooted that Hodgson, who is expected to bring his
trusted assistant Mike Kelly with him to Anfield, would be favourite
to become England manager if the Football Association decided to
sack Fabio Capello.
However, it is understood the delay in Hodgson being appointed to
his new role had nothing to do with him waiting to see what happened
with England.
One of Hodgson’s first jobs at Anfield will be to ratify Yossi
Benayoun’s move to Chelsea after the clubs agreed a fee in the
region of £6m for the Israeli midfielder.
Thor Zakariassen © |
