Liverpool are likely to unveil new manager, Roy Hodgson, today – just a day before the players begin to return to Melwood for pre-season training. The 62 year old manager is set to sign a 2 year contract with a possibility of a further one year extension.
After the £6M exit of Rafa Benitez at the start of the month, Christian Purslow has been charged with finding a new manager for the club. Although it required some arm-twisting to get Roy Hodgson, transfer budgets and the possibility of a vacant England job all clouding the issue, the reds have agreed to pay £2M to Fulham as compensation.
The Liverpool players not involved at the World Cup will return to pre-season training tomorrow – with the reds friendly campaign and Europa League qualification needed during July.
Liverpool will be Roy’s 16th club in his 35 year management career. Despite success back in the 70’s, and 80’s with Swedish and Danish sides – Roy’s brief stint at Inter Milan, his only major club, proved relatively unsuccesful.
He has been an international manager on a number of occasions including Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Finland.
Last season he took Fulham to 12th place in the Premier League (W12 D10 L16) and to the final of the Europa League. He was named Manager of the Year.
Roy is likely to bring Mike Kelly, his assistant from Fulham to the club, leaving no role for Sammy Lee. Some of Liverpool’s technical staff have already moved to Inter Milan with Rafa Benitez.
It is likely that one of Roy’s first jobs is to oversee the sale of Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea.
Anfield Online would like to wish Roy all the best in his new role. Our advice would be to trust none of the snakes in the boardroom.