Rodgers thrilled to accept Liverpool challenge

Liverpool FC have appointed Brendan Rodgers as their new manager, with the 39-year-old joining from English Premier League rivals Swansea City AFC.

Rodgers has signed a contract at Anfield to replace Kenny Dalglish, who departed following a season where Liverpool won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final but finished eighth in the top division. He will lead his new team in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round next season and brings with him assistant Colin Pascoe among other members of his Swansea backroom team.

"I'm blessed to be given this opportunity," Rodgers said. "I'm really excited and I can't wait to get started on this incredible project going forward. I promise to dedicate my life to fight for this club and defend the great principles of Liverpool Football Club on and off the field."

Originally a coach at Reading FC after his playing career ended early due to injury, Northern Irishman Rodgers was taken to Chelsea FC's youth set-up by José Mourinho in 2004 and he was later promoted to reserve-team manager. In 2008 he took over at Watford FC and the following year had a short spell at the Reading helm.

He went to Swansea in 2010 and in his first season Rodgers took them into the Premier League via the play-offs. His team finished 11th in 2011/12 employing an impressive brand of passing football, and ended the season by defeating Liverpool 1-0. Mourinho told the Sun newsapaper: "When he joined us at Chelsea he was a young coach with lots of desire to learn. But he was also a coach with ideas, who was ready not just to listen but also to communicate and share."