Brendan Rodgers was appointed Liverpool manager Friday with the Premier League club's American owners hailing him as the man with the vision and flair to bring back the glory days to Anfield. The former Swansea City boss, who had initially turned down one of the hottest jobs in English soccer, replaces Kenny Dalglish after the Scot was sacked in the wake of a disappointing eighth place finish last season. Rodgers, only the 18th manager in the club's 120-year history, said he would dedicate his life to fight for Liverpool and defend its principles on and off the field. “We might not be ready for the title now but the process begins today and it's a new cycle,” he told a news conference at Anfield. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said the 39-year-old was “our first choice and the right choice”. “A forward thinking coach at the forefront of a new generation of managers, he will bring to Liverpool a style of attacking, relentless football,” he declared. “Our common goal is to see Liverpool play among the best teams in Europe and be the best team in England. We believe this appointment today will put us on the path to achieving the goals we all want at Liverpool.” Liverpool's main owner John Henry added in a statement that nobody was expecting an overnight miracle. “But we firmly believe that the direction the club is heading in will lead to Premier League championships,” he added. Swansea had announced Wednesday that Rodgers had been offered the Liverpool job subject to compensation being agreed with the Welsh club. That was settled Thursday. “I'm blessed to be given this opportunity,” said Rodgers, who has a 20-year career in coaching behind him including a stint with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea despite his relative youth. “This is a long-term (project). That was important to me, to come in to a project that is going to be over a number of years,” he added.
