da premier bet：
da lvbet： Five days on from the departure of Rafael Benitez from Anfield and Reds fans are still none the wiser as to the identity of the Spaniard’s successor. Although the bookmakers have selected Fulham manager Roy Hodgson as the man most likely to fill the vacant Anfield hot-seat, many still believe that Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish will be the man to take the reins. Dalglish, who was brought back to the club in an ambassadorial role by Benitez, has been enlisted by the club’s board to seek and assess potential managerial candidates. Whilst it is highly foreseeable that Dalglish may oversee first-team matters in an interim capacity, many have called upon the affable Glaswegian to take on the role permanently. Given the sentimental nature of football, it is unsurprising to hear of such conjecture, but I feel that appointing ‘King Kenny’ as Rafael Benitez’s replacement would not be the right answer for the club or the individual.
Having won three league titles in his first stint as Liverpool manager between 1985 and 1991, as well as being one of only four managers in history to have won the league title with two different clubs (Dalglish won the Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers in 1995) Dalglish’s managerial pedigree is unquestionable. Unfortunately, Dalglish’s last involvement in top-level management was ten years ago (he left Celtic in the summer of 2000). His last Premier League managerial role was even longer ago, having left Newcastle United in August 1998. In this period of time, the nature of the game has evolved dramatically, and it is unclear whether or not Dalglish would be able to acclimatise to the modern game in a sufficiently short space of time. Whilst few would doubt that the Scotsman’s man-management and motivational skills are still second to none, many have expressed uncertainties over Dalglish’s ability to adapt to the tactical nature of the contemporary game.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Dalglish’s former team-mate Bruce Grobbelaar stated that “I think there is only one man for the job and that is Kenny Dalglish. As a manager he’ll be respected and if fresh players come in, he’ll be able to lead them.”
Whilst Dalglish would undoubtedly be able to galvanise the likes of local lads Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, as well as ‘adopted’ Scousers Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, I am unsure if his achievements and status are contemporary enough to attract the best of the world’s up and coming talent. As a relatively young Liverpool fan, I have only learned of Dalglish’s unrivalled status through reading about the club’s history and from hearing of his talents from older fans. It is unlikely that, for example, a 21-year-old South American prospect may be aware of the former Celtic man’s legendary reputation. Installing a more ‘contemporary’ manager would increase the club’s ‘pulling’ power.
Dalglish himself may wish to think long and hard before considering the permanent role of Liverpool manager. Voted number one in the ‘100 Players Who Shook the Kop’, Dalglish is a bona fide Liverpool legend, regarded as the finest player to put on the famous red shirt. ‘King Kenny’ is revered and deified upon Merseyside, with his reputation exacerbated by the manner in which he conducted himself following the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989. Liverpool have previously seen Graeme Souness tarnish his reputation amongst the club’s fans by under-performing upon his return to Anfield in a managerial capacity; whilst the goodwill of Liverpool fans is unlikely to see Dalglish treated like Souness, there is always the risk that his status may be sullied.
Although appointing Dalglish in a caretaker capacity may act to ‘steady the ship’, deciding to install him as Benitez’s long-term replacement is not the best solution for the club. I believe that his current ambassadorial role is the most suitable position for the club and the man. Given the contempt and hatred Liverpool fans have for the club’s owners and board members, Dalglish is probably the only man in a position of power at Anfield that the fans like and trust. Maintaining Dalglish in his current role means that whenever the new manager arrives, he will be able to turn to seek the advice of man who has knowledge and love for the club like no other. Whilst I welcomed the return of ‘God’ in 2006, I would be less eager to welcome the long-term managerial return of the ‘King’ in 2010.
Would you like to see King Kenny return to the throne?
Follow all things Liverpool at www.twitter.com/Liverpool_FFC
Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul