Liverpool have sacked manager Brendan Rodgers, barely an hour after the Red’s 1-1 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.
A statement issued by the club read:
Liverpool Football Club has announced that Brendan Rodgers will leave his post with immediate effect after having his contract terminated. The process to appoint a new manager is underway.
The Northern Irishman joined Liverpool FC in June 2012 and helped the club mount a memorable title challenge in his second season, as well as helping to develop many exciting young players. LFC’s ownership have paid tribute and thanked Rodgers for his contribution.
In a joint Fenway Sports Group statement, Principal Owner John W Henry, Chairman Tom Werner and President Mike Gordon said:
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Brendan Rodgers for the significant contribution he has made to the club and express our gratitude for his hard work and commitment.
“All of us have experienced some wonderful moments with Brendan as manager and we are confident he will enjoy a long career in the game.
“Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch. Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it.
“The search for a new manager is underway and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner.”
It’s a decision that has been coming for a while. If you go back to last season, Liverpool have won just 5 of their last 17 Premier League matches under Rodgers (29.4%). That is not good enough for any Premier League side, nevermind one as big as Liverpool.
Rodgers leaves the club as the first manager not to have won a trophy in three full seasons in charge since the 1950s.
Early frontrunners for Rodgers’ replacement include Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti and Frank de Boer, but Klopp expected to be named the Reds new manager in the coming week.
For all the gloom and doom that surrounded Rodgers recently, the new manager will take over a side that is only 3 points off a Champions League spot.
What do you think of FSG’s decision to fire Rodgers now? Who do you want to replace him?
