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Liverpool appoint legend Dalglish to replace manager Hodgson

09 January 2011 03:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Liverpool’s American owners have sought to halt the 18-time English football champions’ poor run of results by parting with manager Roy Hodgson, APA reports quoting CNN.
New England Sports Ventures, which also owns baseball’s Boston Red Sox, announced on Saturday that former Liverpool manager and playing legend Kenny Dalglish will replace Hodgson until the end of this season.
The 63-year-old, who took charge in July, has been unable to turn around the Premier League club’s fortunes since NESV bought out compatriots Tom Hicks and George Gillett in October.
Dalglish, known as "King Kenny" by the club’s fans after winning eight league titles as a Reds player and another three as manager, will take over a team languishing in mid-table ahead of Sunday’s trip to arch-rivals Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup -- England’’s prestigious knockout competition.
Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers.

The 59-year-old former Scotland international last managed Liverpool in 1991, and has not been in charge of a club since leaving Scottish side Celtic in 2000, but returned to Anfield with ambassador and youth academy roles in July 2009.
"We are grateful for Roy’s efforts over the past six months, but both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down from his position as team manager. We wish him all the best for the future," principal owner John Henry told the Liverpool website on Saturday.
"We are delighted that Kenny Dalglish has agreed to step in and manage the team for Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford and for the remainder of the season.
"Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers -- three giants. We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season."
Former Fulham, Inter Milan and Switzerland manager Hodgson called the last few months "some of the most challenging of my career."
"I am very sad not to have been able to put my stamp on the squad, to be given the time to bring new players into the club in this transfer window and to have been able to be part of the rebuilding process at Liverpool," he said.
"The club has some great, world-class players with whom it has been a pleasure to work, and I wish the entire squad well for the rest of the season.
"I thank those with whom I have built up a close working relationship at the club for their loyalty and support during very testing times, and finally of course to the Liverpool fans, your passion and dedication to the club will see Liverpool at the top of the game once more."
Hodgson’s departure is the fourth managerial casualty of the 2010-11 Premier League season, with Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill quitting before the kickoff and then Newcastle’s Chris Hughton and Blackburn’s Sam Allardyce being sacked last month.
Former Manchester United star and Sunderland boss Roy Keane was relieved of his duties at second division Ipswich on Friday.