Brendan Rodgers

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Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers (cropped) 2.jpg
Rodgers in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-01-26) 26 January 1973 (age 40)
Place of birth Carnlough, Northern Ireland
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Liverpool (manager)
Youth career
1984–1987 Ballymena United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1987–1990 Ballymena United ? (?)
1990–1993 Reading 0 (0)
1993–1994 Newport (IOW) ? (?)
1994–1995 Witney Town ? (?)
1995–1996 Newbury Town ? (?)
National team
1988 Northern Ireland Schools 7 (?)
Teams managed
2006–2008 Chelsea Reserves
2008–2009 Watford
2009 Reading
2010–2012 Swansea City
2012– Liverpool
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Brendan Rodgers (born 26 January 1973) is a Northern Irish former footballer who is the current manager of Premier League club Liverpool.

Rodgers began his career as a defender at Ballymena United, where he stayed until he was signed by Reading at the age of 18, although injury forced him to retire at the age of 20. He remained at Reading as a coach before being invited by José Mourinho to join Chelsea as their youth team manager in 2004. He was then promoted to reserve team manager in 2006.

In 2008 he was appointed manager of Watford, where he remained until accepting an offer to become manager of his former club Reading in 2009. He left the club by mutual consent after a series of disappointing results six months later, later returning to full-time management with Swansea City in 2010. He led the club to win promotion to the Premier League, the first Welsh team ever to do so, before guiding them to finish 11th in their début Premier League season. On 1 June 2012, Rodgers accepted an offer to become the new manager of Liverpool.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Rodgers was born in Carnlough, Northern Ireland, to parents Malachy and Christina, the eldest of five brothers.[1][2] He was educated at St Patrick's College in Ballymena, playing Gaelic football and hurling before taking up football when he was 13. He grew up as a supporter of Celtic[3][4] and Sheffield Wednesday.[5]

Early career [edit]

As a teenager Rodgers represented Northern Ireland at Schoolboy level,[6] notably playing against Brazil in 1988.[7] He began his senior career in Northern Ireland as a defender for Ballymena United.[8] He was signed by Reading at the age of 17, where he played in the reserves. His playing career was cut short at the age of 20 due to a genetic knee condition.[9][10] Following this enforced retirement, Rodgers briefly played in non-league football for Newport (IOW), Witney Town and Newbury Town, whilst remaining a youth coach at Reading.[11][12][13]

Rodgers travelled around Spain studying different coaching methods, and was eventually invited by manager José Mourinho to join the Chelsea Academy as the head youth coach in 2004.[9] He was promoted to reserve team manager two years later, and was kept in that position by Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari.[10]

Managerial career [edit]

Watford [edit]

On 24 November 2008, Rodgers left Chelsea in order to become manager of Championship side Watford.[14] Rodgers won only two of his first ten league games as manager, and Watford were in the relegation zone by January. Watford's form dramatically improved however, and Rodgers was able to guide them to finish 13th.[15]

Reading [edit]

After Steve Coppell resigned as Reading manager, Rodgers quickly became the favourite to rejoin his old club.[16] He initially distanced himself from the job, saying that his "concentration (is) fully on Watford", although he would later agree a deal to become the new manager of Reading on 5 June 2009 after a compensation package of an initial £500,000 had been agreed, which later rose to £1 million.[17][18][19][20] The Watford Supporters' Trust stated that because of the move, Rodgers' reputation was "severely damaged" in the eyes of the supporters, but they nevertheless "thanked (Rodgers) for his efforts last season" and "(wished) him well for the future".[21]

On 11 August, Rodgers got his first win as Reading manager with a 5–1 win over League Two side Burton Albion in the first round of the League Cup. Despite a good start in the league, a very disappointing string of results followed, culminating in Rodgers leaving Reading by mutual consent on 16 December, just over six months after his arrival.[22]

Swansea City [edit]

Rodgers following the 2011 Football League Championship play-off Final

Rodgers accepted an offer to become the manager of Championship side Swansea City on 16 July 2010.[23] Prior to this appointment he had had talks with regard to joining the coaching staff at Manchester City under manager Roberto Mancini.[24] He got off to a winning start as manager, leading to Rodgers being awarded the Championship Manager of the Month Award for February 2011 after Swansea won five out of the six league games they played that month, whilst keeping four clean sheets.[25] By 25 April 2011, Rodgers had managed to secure Swansea City's place in the 2011 Championship play-offs for promotion into the Premier League with a convincing 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town at the Liberty Stadium.[26]

On 16 May 2011, Rodgers led Swansea to the 2011 Football League Championship play-off Final after overcoming favourites Nottingham Forest over two legs.[27] He faced his old club Reading in the final at Wembley Stadium on 30 May 2011, which Swansea won 4-2 thanks in part to a hat-trick from Scott Sinclair, meaning Swansea became the first Welsh team ever to gain promotion to the Premier League.[28] Rodgers was also praised for consoling Reading manager Brian McDermott and owner John Madejski before the trophy presentation.[29]

Rodgers' first win in the Premier League came on 17 September 2011 when Swansea beat West Bromwich Albion 3–0 at the Liberty Stadium.[30] Despite many predicting before the season began that Swansea were favourites to be relegated, their debut season proved very impressive, as they picked up points against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, keeping them well above the relegation zone.[31][32][33][34]

In January 2012, Swansea claimed their first away win of the season at Aston Villa, a month which saw them beat Arsenal 3–2 at home and hold Chelsea to a 1–1 home draw. This saw Rodgers earn the Premier League Manager of the Month.[35][36][37] In February 2012, Rodgers signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract to keep him at the club until July 2015, although the 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium on the final day of the season – a result that saw Swansea finish 11th – turned out to be Rodgers' last as manager.[38]

Liverpool [edit]

On 1 June 2012, Rodgers was unveiled as the new Liverpool manager on a three-year contract following the departure of Kenny Dalglish two weeks previously.[39][40] Rodgers' appointment was immediately endorsed by former colleague and Real Madrid manager José Mourinho.[41] In July 2012, Rodgers wrote an open letter to the Swansea City supporters, thanking both staff and supporters for his time at the club and wishing them well for the future.[42] Days later, Rodgers held his first training session as Liverpool manager at Melwood as some of the squad reported back for pre-season training.[43][44]

On 2 August 2012, Rodgers oversaw his first competitive game as Liverpool manager, a 1–0 win in the Europa League against FC Gomel, and won his first home game in charge in the second leg one week later.[45] In his first league game as manager on 18 August, Liverpool lost 3–0 against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.[46] His first win in the league came against Norwich at Carrow Road, Liverpool winning 5–2.[47] On 31 October, Rodgers welcomed his former club Swansea to Anfield in the fourth round of the League Cup, but fell short as Liverpool were defeated 1–3.[48] On 6 December, Liverpool defeated Udinese 1–0 away in the Europa League to qualify for the last thirty-two as group winners.[49] On 27 January 2013, Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round, surprisingly losing 3–2 to League One team Oldham Athletic.[50][51] Liverpool finished in seventh position in the Premier League in his first season in charge, one position higher than the previous season.[52]

Personal life [edit]

Rodgers is married to Susan, with whom he has a daughter, Mischa, and a son, Anton.[53]

Anton Rodgers was born on his father's 20th birthday in 1993 and plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, having previously played in both the Reading and Chelsea academies.[54] He faced charges along with three other Brighton players in May 2013, in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage girl in July 2011. All four were cleared of the charges.[55][56]

In June 2011, Brendan Rodgers joined a team representing The Football League to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care in honour of his mother – who died in 2010 – and his father – who died of cancer in 2011.[1]

Rodgers speaks Spanish and Italian.[57] His nickname is "Buck Rodgers", after the Buck Rogers character with a similar name.[14][58][59]

Managerial statistics [edit]

As of 19 May 2013
Team Nat. From To Record
M W D L GF GA GD Win % Sources
Watford England 24 November 2008[14] 5 June 2009[16] 700132000000000000032 700113000000000000013 70007000000000000007 700112000000000000012 700147000000000000047 700148000000000000048 −1 700140630000000000040.63 [60][61]
Reading England 5 June 2009[16] 16 December 2009[22] 700123000000000000023 70006000000000000006 70006000000000000006 700111000000000000011 700130000000000000030 700133000000000000033 −3 700126090000000000026.09 [62][63]
Swansea City Wales 16 July 2010[23] 1 June 2012[39] 700196000000000000096 700139000000000000039 700129000000000000029 700128000000000000028 7002148000000000000148 7002118000000000000118 +30 700140630000000000040.63 [64][65][66][67]
Liverpool England 1 June 2012[39] Present 700154000000000000054 700125000000000000025 700115000000000000015 700114000000000000014 700198000000000000098 700164000000000000064 +34 700146300000000000046.30 [68][69]
Total 7002205000000000000205 700183000000000000083 700157000000000000057 700165000000000000065 7002323000000000000323 7002263000000000000263 +60 700140490000000000040.49

Honours [edit]

Managerial [edit]

Swansea City

Individual [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Swansea City's Brendan Rodgers climbs Kilimanjaro". BBC News. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
  2. ^ Ben Smith (30 May 2012). "Brendan Rodgers agrees deal to become Liverpool manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  3. ^ "Brendan relishing Celtic test". Swansea City A.F.C. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  4. ^ "Life just gets better and better for Swansea boss: Boyhood Celtic supporter Brendan Rodgers relishes pre-season showdown". Give Me Football. 
  5. ^ "Rodgers was a big Owls fan:Royals' boss Rodgers became a massive Owls fan while growing up in Northern Ireland through a close family connection". The Reading Chronicle. 
  6. ^ "NISFA U15 & U16 International Players". Northern Ireland Schools Football Association. Retrieved 10 March 2013. 
  7. ^ "From School to Full". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2013. 
  8. ^ "Chelsea ready for Milk Cup debut". BBC Sport. 12 May 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2008. 
  9. ^ a b "Bold Brendan Rodgers shows how football should be played". Daily Express (London). 15 January 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012. 
  10. ^ a b Spackman, Conor (31 May 2011). "Brendan Rodgers: Getting to the top the hard way". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  11. ^ "Ex-Newport coach on verge of Anfield move (From Daily Echo)". Dailyecho.co.uk. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012. 
  12. ^ Dillon, John (23 September 2011). "Brendan Rodgers learnt the hard way". Daily Express (London). Retrieved 30 August 2012. 
  13. ^ Everard, Aleck (1 June 2012). "New Liverpool Manager Played For Witney". Witney Town F.C. Retrieved 30 August 2012. 
  14. ^ a b c "Rodgers named new Watford manager". BBC Sport. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2012. 
  15. ^ "Watford 2008–2009 results". Statto. Retrieved 19 April 2012. 
  16. ^ a b c "'If money talks Watford's Brendan Rodgers going to Reading is a done deal'". Watford Observer. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  17. ^ Smith, Frank (14 May 2009). "Brendan Rodgers: 'Reading? I'm concentrating fully on Watford job'". Watford Observer. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  18. ^ Frank Smith (22 May 2009). "'No contact at all' from Reading for Brendan Rodgers". Watford Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  19. ^ "Rodgers confirmed as Reading boss". BBC Sport. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009. 
  20. ^ "Club disappointed as Rodgers departs". Watford F.C. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  21. ^ Matthews, Anthony (4 June 2009). "Watford supporters' organisation hoping for quick appointment". Watford Observer. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  22. ^ a b Dulin, David (16 July 2010). "Swansea City appoint Brendan Rodgers as new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  23. ^ Wilson, Paul (25 August 2012). "Brendan Rodgers' sales spiel entices Nuri Sahin to Liverpool". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 31 August 2012. 
  24. ^ "Brendan Rodgers secures monthly accolade". BBC Sport. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
  25. ^ "Swansea 4 – 1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011. 
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  28. ^ "Championship play-off final as it happened". BBC Sport (BBC). 30 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  29. ^ "Swansea 3 – 0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 
  30. ^ "Liverpool 0 – 0 Swansea". BBC Sport. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  31. ^ "Newcastle 0 – 0 Swansea". BBC Sport. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  32. ^ "Swansea 1 – 1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  33. ^ "Swansea 1 – 1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  34. ^ "Aston Villa 0 – 2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  35. ^ "Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers & Tottenham's Gareth Bale rewarded". BBC Sport. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
  36. ^ "Swansea 3 – 2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. 
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  38. ^ a b c "Liverpool and Swansea agree Brendan Rodgers compensation". BBC Sport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012. 
  39. ^ "Brendan Rodgers saddened to leave Swansea for Liverpool". BBC Sport. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012. 
  40. ^ "Brendan Rodgers given ringing endorsement by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho". The Daily Telegraph (London). 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
  41. ^ "Liverpool FC boss Brendan Rodgers writes open letter of thanks to former club Swansea City". Liverpool Echo. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  42. ^ "Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani seeks clarity over future at Anfield after two seasons on loan". The Daily Telegraph (London). 4 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  43. ^ "Rodgers: Fight for Liverpool or leave". ESPN Soccernet. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  44. ^ "Brendan's Gomel pride". Liverpool F.C. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012. 
  45. ^ "Baggies condemn Reds to nightmare start". ESPN Soccernet. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012. 
  46. ^ "Norwich 2 - 5 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012. 
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  48. ^ "Udinese 0 Liverpool 1". Daily Telegraph. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012. 
  49. ^ "Oldham dump Liverpool out of FA Cup after Matt Smith double". Guardian UK. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013. 
  50. ^ "Rodgers points finger after Reds are dumped out of the FA Cup by Oldham". Daily Mail. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013. 
  51. ^ "Rodgers: I needed that experience". Official Liverpool Website. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013. 
  52. ^ "Brendan Rodgers: Northern Ireland is where my heart lies". Belfast Telegraph. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012. 
  53. ^ Owen, Brian (30 May 2011). "Ex-Blues kids can shine with Seagulls". The Argus (Brighton). Retrieved 4 June 2011. 
  54. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22657259
  55. ^ "Liverpool boss Rodgers in court with son as Old Bailey is told how 'arrogant' players sexually assaulted teenager". Daily Mail. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013. 
  56. ^ "Brendan Rodgers signs new Swansea City deal". BBC Sport. 
  57. ^ Mawhinney, Stuart (16 July 2007). "Buck Rodgers". The Football Association. Retrieved 25 August 2010. 
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  62. ^ "FC Reading" (in German). Fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 16 March 2013. 
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  68. ^ "FC Liverpool" (in German). Fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 16 March 2013. 

External links [edit]

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