Brendan Rodgers has admitted the chance to manage a footballing “dynasty” like Liverpool was something that he could not turn down.
Speaking to the South Wales Evening Post ahead of his introductory press conference today Rodgers had this to say about taking over at Liverpool:
“For me, the only way I was going to leave Swansea was for a big club, and I mean a big club.
“It was an extremely, extremely difficult decision because my plan was always to stay here at Swansea for a number of years.
“I have always been up front and honest. I have always said that I wouldn’t be here forever and that one day I would go, but I honestly never thought the opportunity would come round now.
“In my life and in my football, I have been very happy in Swansea.
“But when an opportunity to work at a club which is more than a club comes round, it’s a professional challenge which is too good to turn down.
“Liverpool are one of the dynasties of the game. They have won five European Cups and their status is up there with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.”
Speaking at his introductory press conference today Rodgers said:
“I’m very proud, it’s a club with wonderful tradition and I feel very blessed with the opportunity to manage the club.
“Once I had found out I was the number one target from the important people at Liverpool it was quite an easy decision.”
Liverpool’s Principal Owner John Henry says they’ve got the man they want:
“Fenway Sports Group is committed to building for the long-term. Brendan Rodgers’ appointment today as manager of Liverpool Football Club is one of the most important steps we will take in building the kind of club on and off the pitch supporters can be excited about.
“Brendan’s comprehensive football philosophy is perfectly aligned with those at the club and those soon to join the club. He was the first choice unanimously among them and he had no hesitation at all in embracing exactly what we want to try to build at Liverpool.
The decision to hire Rodgers was met with approval at the Bernabéu where Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said that he believes that his former assistant Brendan Rodgers will be a big success at Anfield.
“I am very happy with his appointment at Liverpool, especially because he did it as a consequence of all his amazing work at Swansea” Mourinho said.
“Brendan is a good man, a family guy and a friend.
“When he joined us at Chelsea he was a young coach with lots of desire to learn.
“But he was also a coach with ideas, who was ready not just to listen but also to communicate and share.”
