Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool FC today confirmed that Kenny Dalglish has been appointed as Team Manager.
Dalglish,
who was initially given the job until the end of the current campaign,
has signed a three year deal with the Reds. It was also announced that
First Team Coach Steve Clarke has put pen to paper on a three year
contract.
Principal Owner John Henry said: "Kenny is a legendary
Liverpool figure both as a supremely gifted footballer and successful
manager. Since returning in January he has shown extraordinary
leadership and the ability to bring the best out of so many people
associated with the Club. It was obvious to us very early on that the
atmosphere surrounding the Club had been transformed by his presence. No
one else could have produced such a response. Therefore, I'm delighted
we have agreed to a new contract. We didn't need nor want to look
elsewhere for the right man to manage the team.
"Working closely
with him, we've seen first-hand his love for the Club and his
determination to do whatever is necessary to produce a winning side
again. He has a unique relationship with our supporters and embodies
everything that is special about the Liverpool way of doing things.
Liverpool enjoys a global standing within the sport, but having Kenny in
the dug-out will help us in our efforts to bring the best available
talent to the Club as we continue to move the club forward.
"I'm
also pleased we have reached an agreement with Steve Clarke, as his
contribution to Kenny's backroom team has been significant over the past
four months."
Chairman Tom Werner commented: "It was extremely
important that we enjoyed a period of stability after some difficult
times and Kenny has done a tremendous job over the last three months in
bringing the whole Club back together. It's clear how much the players
have responded to his leadership, his man management skills and
knowledge of the game and that sense of optimism now runs throughout the
Club. We have a clear vision of the way a Liverpool team should play
and the way the Club should be run and Kenny's inspirational effect on
the senior squad and his keenness to involve and feature the younger
players from our Academy set-up sits perfectly with that way of
thinking."
John Henry added: "This has been an exciting time in
the history of the Club. The appointments of Ian Ayre and Damien
Comolli and now Kenny represent a significant strengthening of our
senior management team going forward. We face a huge challenge to take
Liverpool back to the level its fans deserve and in an increasingly
competitive environment, but I'm confident we now have the right people
in place to do that."
Managing Director Ian Ayre said: "This is
great news and it was an easy decision to make in the sense that there
was never anybody else in the running. Over the last few months
everybody has had a great opportunity to work together; the owners,
Kenny, Damien and myself and it's there to be seen what Kenny and Steve
Clarke have achieved together.
"I'm not surprised by what Kenny
has achieved since he returned to the Club. It's an amazing achievement
for him to have got us where we are but somebody who I respect a lot in
football said to me once if you are going to pick a manager then pick a
winner and that's what Kenny is. For a long time we have needed people
here who really understand what this Club is, what it means to our fans
and what makes it different to other clubs. Kenny knows that inside out
and I think that's a key quality. He understands what matters at
Liverpool and what needs to be done here."
Kenny Dalglish said:
"I said when I took the job on in January that I was just happy to help
the Club out for the remainder of the season. Now the owners have
decided in their wisdom that they want me to stay a little longer and
it's fantastic news for both myself and Steve Clarke that we have signed
these contracts. Both John and Tom have taken their time to assess what
was best for the football club and bring in the people they wanted to
take the Club forward. They are both winners, but understand what the
supporters want from a Liverpool side and the way that we should go
about things. This is a unique football Club and I'm delighted to have
the opportunity to help build something special here again.
"I
want to salute the efforts of all the players as they have been
fantastic and thank everyone at the Club for the welcome they have given
me since I returned in January.
"I also want to pay tribute to
Steve Clarke's input since we started working together as he has brought
great experience and knowledge to the role. The players enjoy the
training sessions, understand their relevance to our actual football
games and have responded brilliantly."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-n ... -year-deal
[uredio afhx - 12. svibnja 2011. u 15:40]