Soccer:Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post as Liverpool manager after his contract was terminated, Fenway Sports Group and the club have announced in a joint statement.
The news comes after the Scot flew to the United States on Sunday to present his end-of-season review to principal owner John Henry and Tom Werner.
Rumours began circulating yesterday that the 61-year-old’s tenure as boss was coming to an end and it was officially confirmed today.
Today’s statement from FSG read: “After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. The search for a new manager will begin immediately”.
Principal owner John Henry was fulsome in his praise for the outgoing manager.
“Kenny will always be more than a championship-winning manager, more than a championship-winning star player. He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.
"Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months.”
In a separate statement, Dalglish said he is proud to have served such a great club.
He said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as manager. I greatly appreciate the work that Steve, Kevin, the players and all of the staff put in during my time and feel proud that we delivered the club’s first trophy in six years winning the Carling Cup and came close to a second trophy in the FA Cup Final.
“Of course I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.
“Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here.
"I would like to thank all of the staff at the club for their effort and loyalty. I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same.
"Finally, I want to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to Liverpool's fans, who have always given me and the club their unwavering support. Without them neither the club nor I would have achieved anything.”
Dalglish’s departure brings to an end his second spell at the club where, as a player, he won numerous honours, including six English league titles and three European Cup trophies. As manager he won three league titles, two FA Cups and this season’s the Carling Cup.
Despite that victory and reaching the final of the FA Cup the Reds’ league form was disappointing.
A 14th defeat of the season at Swansea on the final day of the season condemned the club to an eighth-place finish, their worst for 18 years and their lowest points tally (52) since 1953/54.
Prior to the start of the season Henry had suggested that Champions League qualification was the minimum requirement.
There had been progress made under Dalglish, who initially took temporary charge in January 2011 with the club dangerously close to the foot of the table after a disastrous six months under Roy Hodgson.
The Scot was given a three-year contract a year ago but an inability to sufficiently close the gap to the top four despite a significant outlay on transfers appears to have persuaded Fenway Sports Group a change is required.
