Kenny Dalglish confirmed as permanent Liverpool manager

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has been appointed as permanent manager of the Anfield club on a three-year deal.

The 60-year-old Scot has masterminded a remarkable turnaround at the Merseyside club since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January. First-team coach Steve Clarke has also signed a three-year contract.

“I said when I took the job on in January that I was just happy to help the club out for the remainder of the season,” said Dalglish.

“Now the owners have decided in their wisdom that they want me to stay a little longer and it’s fantastic news for both myself and Steve Clarke that we have signed these contracts.”

He continued: “Both John [Henry, the club’s principle owner] and Tom [Werner, the club chairman] have taken their time to assess what was best for the football club and bring in the people they wanted to take the club forward.

“They are both winners, but understand what the supporters want from a Liverpool side and the way that we should go about things.

“This is a unique football club and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to help build something special here again.”

Liverpool have claimed 10 wins in 16 games under Dalglish – a run which has hoisted the Reds up from the bottom half of the Premier League table and into the top five.

John Henry, whose US-based Fenway Sports Group owns Liverpool, says they were unanimonous in their decision to appoint Dalglish as permanent boss following his extraordinary success taking over.

“Kenny is a legendary Liverpool figure both as a supremely gifted footballer and successful manager,” Henry said in a statement.

“Since returning in January he has shown extraordinary leadership and the ability to bring the best out of so many people associated with the club.

“It was obvious to us very early on that the atmosphere surrounding the club had been transformed by his presence. No one else could have produced such a response.

“Therefore, I’m delighted we have agreed to a new contract. We didn’t need nor want to look elsewhere for the right man to manage the team.

“Working closely with him, we’ve seen first-hand his love for the club and his determination to do whatever is necessary to produce a winning side again.

“He has a unique relationship with our supporters and embodies everything that is special about the Liverpool way of doing things.

Henry added: “Liverpool enjoys a global standing within the sport, but having Kenny in the dug-out will help us in our efforts to bring the best available talent to the club as we continue to move the club forward.”

Liverpool’s director of football, Damien Comolli, said: “We didn’t really look elsewhere because Kenny turned things around very quickly, with the help of Steve Clarke. For us, it was a no-brainer.”