Brendan Rodgers agrees deal to become new Liverpool manager

 

Brendan Rodgers has agreed a deal to become the new Liverpool manager.

The 39-year-old will sign a three-year contract at Anfield and his appointment is likely to be officially confirmed within 24 hours.

Who is Brendan Rodgers?

  • 1973: Born 26 January in Carnlough, Northern Ireland
  • 1987: Begins career as a defender with Ballymena United
  • 1990: Joins Reading as a teenager before being forced to retire through injury. Remains as a coach
  • 2004: Jose Mourinho appoints Rodgers as Chelsea youth team manager
  • 2006: The Blues promote him to reserve team manager
  • 2008: Joins Watford
  • June 2009: Returns to Reading to replace Steve Coppell
  • December 2009: Leaves by mutual consent after a bad start
  • July 2010: Returns to management with Swansea
  • May 2011: Guides the Swans to promotion via play-offs
  • May 2012: Leads Swansea to 11th in their first Premier League campaign

Liverpool are negotiating a compensation package  - expected to amount to between £4m and £5m - with Swansea to secure Rodgers' services.

Liverpool sacked former manager Kenny Dalglish on 16 May after finishing eighth in the Premier League.

The Reds were 17 points away from a Champions League qualification spot, but won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final.

In contrast, Northern Irishman Rodgers guided his Swansea side to an impressive first season in the top flight, including a 1-0 win over Liverpool on the final day of the season.

After parting ways with Dalglish, Liverpool embarked on an extensive search for a new manager.

The Reds were linked not only with Rodgers and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez but also former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas,  ex-England coach Fabio Capello,  and Ajax manager Frank de Boer. 

Rodgers declined the opportunity to speak to Liverpool about the vacancy 12 days ago, and instead the club's hierarchy sought a meeting with Wigan's Martinez.

Jose Mourinho on Rodgers

"I like everything in him. He is ambitious and does not see football very differently from myself. He is open, likes to learn and likes to communicate"

But it appears Rodgers was always the preferred candidate, despite Wigan chairman Dave Whelan at one point suggesting his manager had been offered the job at Anfield.

The proposed appointment of Louis Van Gaal as sporting director looked increasingly unlikely on Wednesday night with Rodgers demanding complete control of football matters.

Swansea released a statement from chairman Huw Jenkins on the club's website  on Wednesday, which read: "I was contacted by Liverpool last night and they expressed their wish to speak to Brendan regarding their vacancy.

"I had a discussion with Brendan to talk about their interest and his views on whether he wanted to speak to Liverpool.

"He expressed his wish with me to do that and he has spoken to Liverpool today.

"Following on from discussions with Liverpool's owners, Brendan has informed us that he would like to take up their offer to manage Liverpool.

"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."

Rodgers' managerial career began at Watford in 2008 after coaching spells at Reading and Chelsea.

His return to Reading was an unhappy one but, after his appointment as Swansea boss in July 2010, Rodgers guided his Welsh side to promotion to the top flight in May 2011, making Swansea the first Welsh team to reach the Premier League.

Former England striker Gary Lineker, tweeted:  "I feel this could be a very shrewd appointment. Totally gets the way the game's evolving."

The career of Brendan Rodgers