Rodgers demands total control Buck stops with him at Anfield

• zocoss

  27 May 12, 10:31

  Liverpool oweners Fenway Sports Group sounding out experienced Dutchman Louis van Gaal for senior role

  Liverpool have made the first steps towards appointing Louis van Gaal as sporting director after meeting with him in Portugal last week.

  

  Red alert: Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are thought to be interested in luring the proven talents of Louis van Gaal to take on a senior role at Anfield Photo: EPA

   

   

   

   

  There are, though, complications as to whether the Dutchman’s methods match the way the Fenway Sports Group are seeking to restructure the club.

  Van Gaal has been spending the summer at his house near Albufeira in the Algarve and it is understood that Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s managing director, flew out to meet him last week.

  There are very few available candidates that possess Van Gaal’s pedigree. He has been out of work since falling into dispute with Ajax and Johan Cruyff.

  While Van Gaal wants to be a head coach or manager, and has had plenty of offers, he recognises that Liverpool is a unique opportunity for him, even if it means working in a different role.

  He has won titles in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany with Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively and wants to test himself in English football.

  The difficulties lie in Van Gaal being able to adapt to how Liverpool want their new structure to work. The first issue will be how comfortable the new manager would be working with Van Gaal, especially if it is a young manager like Brendan Rodgers or Roberto Martínez.

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  Rodgers and Martinez are the leading contenders to succeed Kenny Dalglish. Martinez met John W Henry, the principal owner, in Miami last week while Rodgers is thought to be back in serious contention after intially declining a meeting with Liverpool.

  Such is FSG’s admiration for Martínez that, after sacking Damien Comolli in April, they considered approaching him for the role of director of football. At Wigan he has had a lot of control about the way the club works and he will be reluctant to cede too much influence to a sporting director at Liverpool.

  Van Gaal has a reputation for setting the highest standards and being forthright to the point of arrogance. When he was technical director of Ajax in 2004, his demands caused him to fall out with head coach Ronald Koeman. Van Gaal ended up resigning.

  Another issue is that, in all his previous jobs, Van Gaal has taken a substantial staff with him, made up of coaches and analysts. It is understood that he would want to bring key people with him to help infuse his football philosophy.

  Andries Jonker, his former assistant at Bayern, has announced that he will be leaving Munich this summer, giving rise to speculation that he will be joining up with Van Gaal again. Van Gaal would also want to bring Frans Hoek with him, the innovative goalkeeping coach who Pepe Reina credits with developing his distinctive style at Barcelona.

  Liverpool, though, have apparently refused to accept Steve Clarke’s resignation as first team coach, and only appointed Kevin Keen as a coach last summer, so may seek some continuity in this area. Then, of course, any new manager is surely going to want to bring some trusted coaching staff along with him.

  To add to this complicated picture, FSG are also contemplating appointing a technical director as well as a sporting director. They felt that Comolli was taking on too much as director of football and want to divide the responsibilities into two jobs. Pep Segura, the technical manager of the Liverpool academy, is the favourite for the technical director role.

  The next step for the owners is to decide whether to meet Van Gaal personally and find a way to resolve the issues that his appointment would bring, or whether to look for a candidate who, while not having Van Gaal’s track record, would prove a more straightforward fit for the way they want to run the club.

• zocoss

  28 May 12, 10:26

  See you next Tuesday? Roberto Martinez set to announce Liverpool decision at press conference in next 48 hours

   

  It is understood Wigan boss has not made up his mind completely whether to accept the challenge and has given himself until Tuesday to do so

   

   

  It's mine! Kenny Dalglish challenges Roberto Martinez for the ball

   

   

   

  Roberto Martinez will announce on Tuesday whether he will become Liverpool's new manager.

  The Spaniard has been heavily linked with the Anfield job since Kenny Dalglish was fired a fortnight ago.

  Wigan boss Martinez met Liverpool owner John Henry in Miami last week and has jetted to the Carribbean for a family break.

  Wigan will hold a press conference this week in which Martinez is expected to announce whether or not he will stay at the club.

  The 38-year-old met Liverpool's owners in Miami on Thursday to discuss the managerial vacancy and was not put off by the huge challenge that would face any new manager.

  However, it is understood Martinez has not made up his mind completely whether to accept that challenge and has given himself until Tuesday to do so.

  Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed on Friday the Spaniard had received an offer from Liverpool's principal owner John Henry after their meeting in Miami on Thursday.

  Doubts emerged over Whelan's interpretation of the situation, with the Reds refusing to comment amid the general belief no formal offer had been made.

  Martinez's appointment would doubtless divide opinion among Liverpool supporters, some of whom may have been expecting a bigger name to be recruited to replace the sacked Kenny Dalglish.

   

   

   

  Steven Gerrard: behind Martinez

   

    

   

  But captain Steven Gerrard has already pledged his full support to Martinez should he get the job.

  Gerrard, was a big supporter of Dalglish but cautiously welcomed the idea of Martinez taking charge.

  "We'll have to wait and see," said the midfielder.

  "My focus has been on the game. I'm aware Roberto Martinez has been talking to the club but all I've heard about him is positive.

  "If he is going to be the manager, he's got my full support."

  Throughout the process, Whelan has insisted it was not a foregone conclusion he would lose his manager to the club's north west rivals, claiming there were still some issues - mainly surrounding working under a technical director - to be overcome before Martinez would even be in a position to accept.

   

   

   

  If anyone knows what's going on, it's Dave Whelan

   

   

  "He went to Miami and had a very constructive meeting with the owner of Liverpool," the Latics chairman told Sky Sports News.

  "They're going to talk again on Tuesday. They've made Roberto an offer and he has agreed to consider it.

  "He's said, 'What are my responsibilities?' These are American owners and the rules and regulations are a bit different from what we English set down.

  "Roberto is a seven-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day worker and I don't know whether they realise how hard he works.

  "He has rules and regulations to be fully in charge of football and I know he won't move anywhere unless he is fully in charge of the football.

  "I think he'll give it fair consideration. Hopefully, he stays with us but, wherever he goes, he's 100% dedicated to that football club."

  Liverpool, who have also been linked with former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas and Swansea's Brendan Rodgers, are looking to finalise the technical director post, with which Dutchman Louis van Gaal has been linked.

• dragg

  28 May 12, 10:39

  liverpool really pathetic to have to wait for martinez. its not like he is a championship winning manager.
• zocoss

  28 May 12, 10:55

  Well, it seems like he has been offered the job and has until tue to inform them of his decision. His hesitation comes from not being in total control like what he has at Wigan of who comes in or goes as that will be the job of the Director of Football to be appointed very soon as well.

  His only responsibility will be just to coach the team and other minor team affairs stuff like doing interviews and keeping them look respectable infront of the Press and cameras as their previous manager bombed at it.

• charlize

  28 May 12, 18:20

  Originally posted by dragg:

  liverpool really pathetic to have to wait for martinez.

  its not like he is a championship winning manager.

  He got experience fighting against relegation.

   

  If you can't challenge at the top, you can challenge from the bottom. 

• charlize

  28 May 12, 18:23

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  Well, it seems like he has been offered the job and has until tue to inform them of his decision. His hesitation comes from not being in total control like what he has at Wigan of who comes in or goes as that will be the job of the Director of Football to be appointed very soon as well.

  His only responsibility will be just to coach the team and other minor team affairs stuff like doing interviews and keeping them look respectable infront of the Press and cameras as their previous manager bombed at it.

  He won't be in control at all because he is not a top rate manager. 

   

  What leverage does he have? 

   

  If you have won league titles or champion's league, then you can yaya a bit and make some noise.

   

  If not, you think the owners give a craps ass when you open your mouth? 

• zocoss

  29 May 12, 11:19

  Rob Kop chop

  

  ANFIELD SNUB ... Wigan boss Roberto Martinez

   

    

   

    

  DAVE WHELAN will today announce Roberto Martinez is STAYING on as Wigan manager.

  And that has opened the door for Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers to become Liverpool’s next boss.

  Martinez was hot favourite to replace Kenny Dalglish at Anfield and met Kop owner John W Henry last week for talks.

  But Latics owner Whelan has pulled off a sensational coup in talking the Spaniard into remaining at the DW Stadium, with the promise of a huge cash injection.

  That will see Martinez being given a new contract, a serious transfer kitty and fresh terms for his backroom team.

  Yet while it is a huge boost for Wigan, the news is another embarrassment for Liverpool whose managerial search has seen Henry’s Fenway Sports Group widely ridiculed.

  Whelan broke cover a week ago to reveal he had given Martinez the green light for talks with the Reds’ American owners.

  But he always insisted he had not given up on keeping the 38-year-old and yesterday turned his guns on the Kop by claiming they had no idea who they actually wanted.

  With Martinez out of the running, Rodgers will be strong favourite to land a job seen by many as a poisoned chalice.

  Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp was also heavily backed yesterday but German sources insist he will not be moving.

  Frank de Boer declined the chance of an interview, while fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal claims he is close to landing a senior management role at Anfield.

• zocoss

  29 May 12, 11:34

  If pool ends up with Brendan Rodgers, it must be one of the biggest joke in recent years in football... Martinez was quite an good choice as he is young and quite proven in the premier league... Who the hell is Rodgers seriously? He has only been in the premier league for one season. If like this also can, then those clubs who were previously promoted and stayed in the league for one season are also good enough i guess. The Steve Coppell kinds...  Martinez was a good choice but the fans have made it difficult. I think their fans have scored an own goal again if Martinez turns down the job just like that time they were all so sure Kenny was going to take them back to the glory days...

• dragg

  29 May 12, 12:46

  his managerial career also not glamorous. swansea first, then now wigan. i think he is good for clubs wanting to survive in the premiership.
• zocoss

  29 May 12, 12:53

  At least he has kept them up for a good number of years already with hardly any cash injection and also having to sell his best players one season after another.

  Rodgers hasn't done anything worthwhile to be fair...

• dragg

  29 May 12, 13:02

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  At least he has kept them up for a good number of years already with hardly any cash injection and also having to sell his best players one season after another.

  Rodgers hasn't done anything worthwhile to be fair...

  
  but then for a club as big as liverpool its quite sad.
• zocoss

  29 May 12, 23:49

  Liverpool manager search

  Reds to reveal new manager on Friday

  May 29, 2012

  

  GettyImagesBrendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez are favourites to land the Liverpool job

   

   

   

   

  Liverpool plan to make the announcement of their new manager on Friday, ESPN understands. They have whittled their list of candidates down to Wigan's Roberto Martinez and Swansea's Brendan Rodgers, after a thorough search for the right man to replace Kenny Dalglish.

   

  Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins met Rodgers on Tuesday to discuss his future at the club, with Rodgers believed to be interested in discussing the Anfield job with the Reds' owners.

  Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told ESPN that his manager is back in England but he is yet to speak to him. Informed that Liverpool are keen on Rodgers, Whelan said: "I hope they sign him but I have not heard from my manager yet."

  Martinez had looked the clear favourite to be named Liverpool manager but his concerns over the mooted appointment of Louis van Gaal as sporting director, and his expected control over transfers, have swung a two-horse race back towards Rodgers.

  However, Jenkins has shown marked reluctance to even grant Rodgers permission to speak to Liverpool, whereas Whelan has fulfilled his pledge to Martinez to allow him to go to a big club, should he wish to do so.

  Amid growing speculation, Jenkins said of Rodgers on Monday: "We would like to confirm that there has been no contact from Liverpool and nothing has changed since our previous statement on the issue."

  Fed up with the procrastinations of Liverpool, Whelan has given Martinez until Thursday to make his decision. Liverpool will take the next 48 hours to finalise their plans and an announcement is expected to be delivered on Friday.

• charlize

  30 May 12, 00:09

  Swansea manager?

   

  That's even worse than Wigan who at least has played in the premier league for a few seasons unlike Swansea.

   

  If Brendan Rodgers decides not to take up the offer, who's next?

   

  Some manager from the S League?

   

   

   

   

• Nigho17

  30 May 12, 18:08

  Originally posted by charlize:

   fSwansea manager?

   

  That's even worse than Wigan who at least has played in the premier league for a few seasons unlike Swansea.

   

  If Brendan Rodgers decides not to take up the offer, who's next?

   

  Some manager from the S League?

   

   

   

   

  wah.. this isn't a very fair statment.

  Liverpool wants Brendan Rodgers bcuz Swansea played very attractive football last season. Their passing game resembled Barcelona but lack quality in final third of the field.

  He isn't just some random manager

• charlize

  30 May 12, 18:23

  Originally posted by Nigho17:

  wah.. this isn't a very fair statment.

  Liverpool wants Brendan Rodgers bcuz Swansea played very attractive football last season. Their passing game resembled Barcelona but lack quality in final third of the field.

  He isn't just some random manager

  I think liverpool is looking to win games.

   

  Not play attractive football.

   

  Losing games with a 3-4 scoreline every game will get you relegated at the end of the season. 

• I.imba

  30 May 12, 19:25

  Dun bother following Liverpool's chase for their manager already. 

  Today news is Martinez in the lead for the position, then next day become Rodger liao. Then the next day is Rodger suddenly dun want to be interviewed.....

  Being club with so long history, why dun they know that they should have a man in mind for the manager position before even sacking Kenny. 

• zocoss

  30 May 12, 21:50

  Looks like Martinez doesn't want to work with a sporting director while Rodgers don't mind. But I think it would be a blessing for Martinez to reject the job as it's a problematic post. Better stay at Wigan or go to Villa better for him. Anyway, I feel Rodgers if he is appointed, will be out of his league. 

• Nigho17

  30 May 12, 22:52

  Originally posted by charlize:

  I think liverpool is looking to win games.

   

  Not play attractive football.

   

  Losing games with a 3-4 scoreline every game will get you relegated at the end of the season. 

  True too. But newly promoted team finishing 11th with style is a great achievement.

  Brendan Rodgers is risker than Capello and AVB.

• Nigho17

  30 May 12, 22:55

  Originally posted by I.imba:

  Dun bother following Liverpool's chase for their manager already. 

  Today news is Martinez in the lead for the position, then next day become Rodger liao. Then the next day is Rodger suddenly dun want to be interviewed.....

  Being club with so long history, why dun they know that they should have a man in mind for the manager position before even sacking Kenny. 

  This is the problem with the press rather than Liverpool.

  'lead for the position' is made up by the press rather than official statement by Liverpool.

  But it's also true that liverpool shorlist too many manager liao......

• zocoss

  30 May 12, 23:27

   

  Brendan Rodgers to be confirmed as Liverpool manager in next 24 hours after talks with Swansea

  Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is meeting with Liverpool this afternoon as they seek to finalise the appointment of Kenny Dalglish's successor.

  

  Long live the king: Brendan Rodgers (left) is set to replace Kenny Dalglish Photo: ACTION IMAGES

   

   

   

   

  The clubs are currently discussing compensation for the 39 year-old, with Swansea likely to receive a payment of between £4m and £5m.

  It is also understood that Liverpool will not now be appointing a director of football.

  Reports had suggested the club were seeking to install a high-profile figure such as Johan Cruyff or Louis van Gaal, as well as a manager, but it appears Rodgers will be in sole control.

  Wigan's Roberto Martinez had been the long-time front-runner for the Anfield job, but Rodgers' recent return from a short trip to New York cast doubt on the theory that a decision had already been made in the Spaniard's favour.

  Rodgers's appointment at Anfield could now be made in the next 24 hours.

  There has been no official comment from either Liverpool or Swansea but once the formalities have been concluded the Northern Irishman is set to be unveiled as Dalglish's successor this week.

• zocoss

  30 May 12, 23:58

  Martinez turns down Liverpool over plans for three sporting directors

  The Reds' American owners are preparing a major restructure of managerial affairs, leaving Brendan Rodgers the clear favourite to replace Kenny Dalglish at Anfield

  May 30, 2012 1:48:00 PM

  

   

  Martinez not willing to work under three men, plus managing director informed Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) on Tuesday that he would not join the club

   

   

   

  Roberto Martinez ruled himself out of contention to manage Liverpool because of the club’s plans for an inflated new management structure, Goal.com can reveal.

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  The Reds want a tier of three directors to take up the duties performed by former director of football Damien Comolli in a pioneering plan to make their operations more effective.
  
  Martinez, however, was not willing to work under three men, plus managing director Ian Ayre, and the Wigan boss informed Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) on Tuesday that he would not join the club.

  .

  It leaves Brendan Rodgers in line to take over at Anfield, with a fresh approach for the Northern Irishman expected in the next few days.
  
  The Swansea manager is prepared to work within Liverpool’s proposed structure and fits FSG’s vision for a young, dynamic manager who is capable of introducing a footballing ethos which runs through all levels at the club.
  
  Goal.com understands Liverpool’s groundbreaking plan is to employ one executive to oversee statistics, another whose role will be to conduct negotiations and a third ‘football man’ with contacts within the game.
  
  FSG has already interviewed four candidates to take on the duties, with current Head of Analytics Michael Edwards set for a promotion to take charge of the ‘Moneyball’ concept of finding value in the transfer market based on statistics. Edwards was previously a performance analyst at Tottenham and Portsmouth.
  
  Louis van Gaal remains the outstanding candidate to take on the more traditional sporting director duties given his wealth of experience, his knowledge of players and his worldwide contacts.
  
  Rodgers is believed to have told Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins that he would like to take over at Anfield during a two-hour meeting on Tuesday.
  
  That came shortly after Martinez turned down the job, believing his power and control over the football side of the club would be too diluted for him to realise his vision to bring regular Champions League football back to Anfield.
  
  Martinez, 38, still feels ready for a new challenge and remains a leading candidate for the vacancy at Aston Villa.
  
  
  

  http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2012/05/30/3136920/martinez-turns-down-liverpool-over-plans-for-three-sporting
• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  31 May 12, 09:32

  The guy who rejected liverpool earlier want liverpool job now.
  
  

• charlize

  31 May 12, 10:53

  So confirm liverpool will become a mid table team from now onwards. 

• zocoss

  31 May 12, 11:18

  Originally posted by Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1):

  The guy who rejected liverpool earlier want liverpool job now.

  
  Maybe that was his plan all along, first one to reject them and it made them want you even more... 

  Like they say how you will always missed the gf that got away rather than the one by your side kind...  

   

  Rafa was begging to come back for free while they have to pay £5m compensation for Rodgers. Looks like his plan worked...  

   

   

• dragg

  31 May 12, 11:27

  rodgers is smart to accept the liverpool offer. if he 'succeeds' he will become even more famous. if he doesnt he will get the sack and a good compensation. its a win-win situation.