With Liverpool about to announce the sacking of Rafael Benitez, club legend Kenny Dalglish could be the man to replace the departing Spaniard as the Anfield giants struggle to find a replacement due to their financial woes.
Another of the club’s famous former player, John Aldridge, has said that Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will line up a replacement for Benitez within a week. The prolific striker suggested that Dalglish could be amongst those who would be first in line due to the club having next to nothing to spend.
“Liverpool is still a massive club with a massive history – we won’t struggle to attract a big name,” Aldridge said.
“Okay, we don’t have a lot of money but what a challenge it is to come in at this time and try to turn it around.
“I can’t for the life of me believe they are going to let Rafa go without having someone else lined up.
“You don’t make a decision like that without knowing who you are going to get in his place. When Gerard Houllier went, Liverpool had Rafa lined up.
“Some people will say give the job to Kenny Dalglish in the short term. Of course Kenny knows his stuff but we need a permanent boss in place within a week.”
Dalglish remains hugely popular with Liverpool fans having led the club to major silverware numerous times as both a player and then when he succeeded Joe Fagan as coach after the Heysel tragedy – amassing a total of ten league championships in both roles. Ironically, the former Scottish international stepped down in 1991 after admitting that the toll of managing the club in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy had finally become too much for him to handle further.
Dalglish is still revered by many players at Liverpool and helped Fernando Torres settle down at Anfield and understand the history of the club when the Spanish striker joined from Atletico Madrid. His appointment could possibly galvanise a team that had lost their support for Rafa Benitez and perhaps convince the key players to remain on Merseyside.
Tags: English Premier League, football managers, Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool, Rafael Benitez
