Liverpool appoint Roy Hodgson as manager

Roy Hodgson has been appointed the new manager of Liverpool after the club agreed compensation with Barclays Premier League rivals Fulham.

The 62-year-old takes over at Anfield on a three-year contract, 28 days after the departure of Rafael Benitez, who parted company with the Reds after a disappointing season saw them finish seventh in the table.

Hodgson, a former Inter Milan and Blackburn boss, was Liverpool's first choice despite a host of other names being mentioned.

It is believed it has cost Liverpool £2million to release the Englishman from his contract at Craven Cottage.

Former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, who was part of the selection process with managing director Christian Purslow and is currently an ambassador for the club's academy, had expressed an interest in returning to a role in which he enjoyed great success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but was overlooked for the post.

Hodgson's name had been linked with England after their disappointing World Cup campaign under Fabio Capello, but negotiations were already at an advanced stage with the Merseysiders and the deal has now been completed.

FACT FILE

1947: Born on August 9, Croydon.

1965-75: Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.

1976: Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.

1980: Joins Bristol City as assistant manager to Bobby Houghton.

1982: Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club is taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.

1990: Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchatel Xamax.

1992: Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Was in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.

1995: Appointed manager of Inter Milan.

1997: Agrees to become Blackburn manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the UEFA Cup final on penalties.

1998: May: Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.

November: Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.

1999: Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on April 27 as technical director until the end of the season. Joins Grasshoppers.

2000: Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after resignation of Kevin Keegan.

2001: May - Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.

August: Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.

December 10 - Udinese and Hodgson part company.

2002: April - Appointed manager of United Arab Emirates.

2004: January - Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.

May - Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.

2005: August - Agrees to take over as boss of Finland national team.

2007: November 30 - Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008, and is immediately linked with Republic of Ireland vacancy.

December 30 - Appointed Fulham manager.

2008: Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to stave off relegation.

2009: After overhauling the squad in pre-season, guides the Cottagers to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.

2010: March 18 - Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

April: Having seen off Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, leads the club into the final as they draw 0-0 in Hamburg despite a nightmare journey due to Icelandic volcanic ash, winning the second leg 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

May 12 - Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in extra time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.

July 1 - Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.