Roy Hodgson was tasked with reviving Liverpool’s flagging fortunes yesterday when the 62-year-old was confirmed as the club’s new manager after resigning from Fulham.
The 18-times English champions, who parted company with Spaniard Rafael Benitez last month, said Hodgson had agreed a three-year contract.
Vastly experienced, Hodgson takes over after a woeful season for the Anfield club, who finished seventh and missed out on qualifying for the Champions League.
“This is the biggest job in club football and I’m honored to be taking on the role of manager of Britain’s most successful football club,” Hodgson told Liverpool’s Web site. “I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood.”
Hodgson becomes Liverpool’s 18th manager and the first Englishman to hold the post since Roy Evans left in 1998.
Hodgson has gained a reputation as an astute tactician after an odyssey that has taken in 12 clubs in six countries during his 34-year coaching career.
As well as spells in club soccer in Sweden — where he won five league titles with Malmo, Denmark and Norway — Hodgson, who is fluent in several languages, also managed the Swiss national side.
Last season Hodgson was named Manager of the Year in England after leading Fulham to the Europa League final in which they were beaten by Atletico Madrid.
“Fulham confirm that at 9.20am this morning, Roy Hodgson resigned from his position of first team manager, effective immediately,” Fulham said in a statement.
“The club would like to wish Roy the very best for the future and thanks him for all that was achieved during his tenure. Ray Lewington will take temporary charge of team matters, until a successor is announced in due course,” the club said.
Hodgson’s biggest job previously was as coach of Inter from 1995 to 1997, taking the Italian side to third in Serie A and to the UEFA Cup final.
A short spell in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers followed but he was sacked in 1998 before returning briefly in caretaker role to Inter.
Hodgson returned to English football in 2007 and saved Fulham from relegation on the final day of the season before guiding them to a seventh-placed finish the year after and into European soccer.
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