Monday, February 6th, 2012
Former Liverpool captain & assistant manager (during Gerard Houllier’s tenure) Phil Thompson backs Roy Hodgson to succeed at Anfield for the next three years.
The ex-Fulham, Inter Milan & Switzerland coach has signed a three-year contract which was unveiled on Thursday and after the severance from Craven Cottage were finalised.
Thompson, a European winning captain with the Reds, now hopes new owners can also be found so the club can move forward after a period of stagnation under co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
“We need the sale of the club sorted to enable us to really go forward,” Thompson said. “I just hope it won’t be too long before that’s done. With a new boss and new owners it really would be the dawn of a new era.”
Thompson, who was assistant manager during Frenchman Gerard Houllier’s reign, believes Hodgson will help bring stability to Liverpool.
“After having foreign managers in Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, it seems there was a thought process of going back to British,” he said. “The club needs a steadying influence and Roy will provide that.
“He’s done a fantastic job at Fulham and has a wealth of experience having managed all over Europe. This is one of those jobs Roy had hoped and prayed for and it’s a fantastic opportunity for him.”
Phil admits that Hodgson’s appointment as new manager will not be welcomed by fans but he urged all fans to get behind the new boss.
“The big thing now is to get everyone on board comfortable with his ideas and visions for the football club. He has to unite everyone,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “All summer there have been rumours about players going, but he’s only just arrived and he won’t want anyone leaving.
He is a shrewd talker and can talk Mascherano, Gerrard & Torres to stay at Anfield and build the future for them.
“If – and it’s a big if – players are sold then that cash has to be reinvested in the squad, and not go to the banks to pay off debt. No matter what you say about Rafa Benitez, he wasn’t helped in that area. The board have to back Roy financially.”
Tags: EPL, Liverpool, Liverpool news, Roy Hodgson