On this day in 2012, Brendan Rogers became the youngest man to be appointed manager of Liverpool football club since Graeme Souness.
Rogers joined after a successful period at Swansea City where he took them to 11th in the Premier League. His previous clubs included Reading, Watford and a spell as reserve team manager for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.
Liverpool principle owner John Henry said of the appointment “Brendan Rodgers’ appointment today as manager of Liverpool Football Club is one of the most important steps we will take in building the kind of club on and off the pitch supporters can be excited about.”
“We do not expect miracles overnight nor should anyone else. But we firmly believe that the direction the club is heading in will lead to Premier League championships.”
It certainly wasn’t a miracle first season as they finished in 7th below Merseyside rivals Everton, and missing out on a place in Europe.
This season, however, laid the foundation for the following year, where Liverpool looked destined to win the title. But a home defeat to Chelsea and throwing away a 3 goal lead at Crystal Palace put paid to those dreams.
The departure of Luis Suarez and lack of appearances from Daniel Sturridge through injury plagued the following season as they registered on 1 more point than they did in Rogers’ first season in charge, finishing 6th.
“Judge me in 3 seasons” Rogers famously said when people questioned his appointment. The jury is still out on that one Brendan!
Overall league record for Liverpool
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD | Points | Win % |
| 114 | 60 | 27 | 27 | 224 | 141 | +83 | 207 | 52.6% |
Birthdays: Alexi Lalas – 1970 – (45) , Jean Beausejour 1984 – (31) , Javier Hernandez 1988 – (27) Stephane Sessegnon 1984 – (31)