Liverpool has appointed the Premier League’s top manager of last season in Roy Hodgson.
Who says so? None other than the boss of the Anfield club’s bitterest rivals – Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fergie has clashed in the past with Liverpool managers – particularly Rafa Benitez, Hodgson’s predecessor in the Anfield hot seat.
But there could be a thawing in the relationship between the giants following ex-Fulham boss Hodgson’s arrival.
Hodgson, 63 next month, is one of the elder statesmen of management in this country – just like Fergie himself.
And there is no doubting the respect the United boss has for the man hoping to be the new king of the Kop. That was clear at the end of last season, when Hodgson was named by his peers as the Manager of the Year for leading Fulham to the Europa League Final.
Fergie said: “Roy absolutely deserves to be manager of the year. He’s had a fabulous season – getting Fulham to that final, well, it’s a miracle.
“It’s one of the best British performances of all time. His team has played with great consistency and his team selections are always consistent and sensible.”
The United boss was convinced Fulham would win the Europa League but it was not to be with Spain’s Atletico Madrid coming out on top in Hamburg.
But Hodgson’s achievement convinced Liverpool that he was a safe and experienced pair of hands to take over after a season of failure for the Anfield club.
Finishing seventh in the Prem was great for Fulham a year ago – but not good enough for Liverpool last season. And it’s left Hodgson trying to convince Liverpool’s top players – Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard – that he can restore the good times to Anfield.
Hodgson admits he has inherited players who are “disenchanted” after last season, when Liverpool fell five places after being runners-up to United in the previous campaign.
What is clear is that British managers like Fergie are pleased to see a top job like the Liverpool post go to a boss from this country.
Scouser Peter Reid, back in management at Plymouth, said: “We keep hearing about the foreign bosses but look at Fergie.
“Look at the job Harry Redknapp did at Tottenham last season, finishing fourth and taking them into the Champions League. Would a foreign boss have done better?”
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