Signing a manager with no titles to back him is a bold move for any big club no matter Liverpool and it was bold move when they signed Brendan Rodgers. Irrespective of the titles, Rodgers had enough credentials to his name after his very impressive spell at Swansea City in which he earned points from top clubs like Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and winning against Arsenal with a relegation favourite club. This also earned him Premier League manager of the month. This was enough for Liverpool to notice.
On 1st of June 2012, Liverpool announced their new coach after the departure of the club’s legend Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers. The Irish man had a mixed start to his Liverpool life, winning his first competitive match against Gomel in Europa league and winning the 2nd leg at Anfield as well. His first Premier League match was a disaster, losing the game 3-0 to West Brom.
Rodgers’s time at Liverpool wasn’t all good, he hit quite a few bumps on the way. He brought back Liverpool in among the elites in the Champions league after almost half a decade. He reignited the fire of Champions League nights in Liverpool supporters, only to see the team exit the competition in the Group stages. He brought back Liverpool from the dead in Europe, only to be battered by the big clubs of Europe.
But the Irishman’s Liverpool career will undoubtedly be epitomized with the team ALMOST winning the Premier League after more than 2 decades in the 13-14 season. A run of 11-straight wins for Liverpool left them five points clear at the top of the Premier League with just three matches to play. And then tragedy struck in form of Steven Gerrard’s slip, something that Rodgers will never forget. That surrendering of 3-0 lead to Crystal Palace will still haunt him. But never the less Rodgers lead a team that scored 101 league goals in the season, the most any living Liverpool fan had seen. For this incredible season Rodgers was awarded the Manager of the Year by the LMA (League Managers Association) for the first time in their history.
But after a shaky start to the 2015-16 campaign, Liverpool decided to sack him after a disappointing draw against Merseyside rival. Rodgers was disappointed with this but didn’t blame the club for it.
Rodgers wasn’t out of work for too long as the Scottish Champions Celtic signed him in May 2016, where he won his first major silverware in November that year. He made an already strong Celtic even stronger, he kept on breaking records in the Scottish League. From going the full season undefeated to winning the league with record points, from becoming the first manager in the club’s history to win his first four domestic trophies to having an unbeaten in 69 matches record, Rodgers achieved everything he could at Celtic’s park.
Now was the time to prove his worth in the Premier League, now was the time to shut those doubters who thought he was successful at Liverpool because of Luis Suarez. He got his opportunity when Leicester City came knocking on his door. This was an opportunity he simply couldn’t refuse, he resigned as the Celtic’s boss and was announced as the Leicester boss in February 2019.
After helping the club reach 9th in 2018-19, Rodgers got the backing of the Leicester board to make whatever changes he wanted to the squad.
The Foxes have already transferred out 18 players out of which 14 were released by the club, a very bold move; goes to show that the club has faith in Rodgers’s vision for the club. He took the decision to sell the English Defender Harry Maguire and decided to replace him with the Turkish international Çağlar Söyüncü, a move which several people doubted but has turned out great. He made the club make the loan deal of Tielemans, the Belgian midfielder permanent, along with this he signed Ayoze Pérez one of the most consistent performer in Premier League.
The signings made by Rodgers showed his intent and vision for the club.
8 games in and the club is sitting 4th in the Premier League table and reaping the rewards of having faith shown in the Irishman. The team is playing free flowing football, they are scoring goals for fun. Leicester are looking a well organised defence as well as nonchalant attack. They look like a team any team would be afraid at take on. The Champions of Europe at their home managed to get a narrow victory against this Leicester side with what certainly didn’t look like a penalty, goes to show how good the Foxes have become.
Anfield was the place the last time Rodgers announced himself to the Premier League ……Anfield is the place Rodgers announced himself to the world, this time with a team of Foxes.
