Updated 5.05pm
KENNY DALGLISH HAS left Liverpool FC, the club have confirmed.
The 61-year-old, who took the position for a second time after Roy Hodgson’s departure in January 2011, travelled to Boston this week to meet owners John Henry, Tom Werner and the Fenway Sports Group.
“Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated,” a statement released this evening reads.
“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.”
Dalglish for his part admitted he’s disappointed at having his tenure cut short.
“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,” he added.
Kenny Dalglish with chairman Tom Werner and owner John W Henry after the Carling Cup win in February. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)
The club’s American owner praised Dalglish as someone who ‘personifies everything that is good’ about the Merseyside club.
“Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager,” said Henry in a statement, “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.”
Chairman Tom Werner, meanwhile, admitted it was a tough decision to cut loose the man widely regarded as the Reds’ greatest ever.
“Kenny came into the club as manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him,” he said. “He didn’t ask to be manager; he was asked to assume the role. He did so because he knew the club needed him. He did more than anyone else to stabilize Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward. We owe him a great debt of gratitude.
“However, results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change. We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs.”
Despite winning the Carling Cup and reaching the final of the FA Cup, Liverpool suffered a disappointing league campaign — finishing in eighth position behind city rivals Everton.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has emerged as the early favourite to replace Dalglish with reports suggesting the club have already made contact with a manager currently employed by a Premier League team.
