New Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has described his return to the Reds as a ‘great honour’ and paid homage to predecessor Roy Hodgson.
With Liverpool languishing 12th in the English Premier League, just four points clear of the drop zone, Hodgson was shown the door on Saturday after overseeing just seven league wins in a 21-game tenure.
A 3-1 defeat away to Blackburn in midweek proved to be the final nail in Hodgson’s coffin.
Upon his appointment, Dalglish flew to Merseyside from a holiday in Dubai in time for Liverpool’s third round FA Cup match with arch-rivals Manchester United and admitted his pride at returning to such a great club but his regret at Hodgson’s exit.
“It is a great honour to be asked to come back,” Dalglish told Sky Sports News at Manchester airport.
“It is unfortunate circumstances because a very good man, with great dignity and integrity, has lost his job.”
Dalglish resumes the role as manager, having previously guided the Anfield club to three league titles and two FA Cups in his six years in charge from 1985-91.
The 59-year-old went on to guide Blackburn, a second-division side in 1991, to the Premier League title in 1995 and they remain the only club outside the Big Four (Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool) to win a Premier League title.
He also won seven league titles and three European Cups as a player, remains Scotland’s most capped player (102) and holds the record for most goals (30) for his country.
Dalglish has spent a long time in the wilderness having not managed a club since he left Celtic in 2000 and when asked about the considerable challenge ahead, he replied: “We’ll find out, I’ve only come off a plane.”
Sun 9 January, 2011
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