March 18th of this year:


Brendan Rodgers’s phone will constantly buzz this summer with tempting offers for his managerial alchemy. Those suitors will, he says, be disappointed. With the recent passing of both his parents offering perspective and with the contentment of life in south Wales, Swansea City’s manager is going nowhere soon.

After Fulham were handed a 3-0 lesson of kaleidoscope passing – they were allowed only 38.1% possession in front of their home crowd – Rodgers was asked how easy it would be to stay at Swansea beyond this season. “Very, very simple. The sea is beautiful there, it’s a beautiful part of the world,” he said. “I’m allowed to work, I’m the manager of the club. There’s no political games, there’s nothing.

“I’ve learnt I have my health – I lost both my parents in the last 18 months or so and that put a massive perspective on my life. My family’s happy. As you can see I love working with the team and the players. There’s no doubt somewhere along the line in the next 30 years – I’m 39 so hopefully I’m going to be around a long time – if I keep working well maybe the chance [will come] later on. But my only focus and my only respect is with Swansea City. I signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and I love being here.”


Liverpool are on the brink of appointing Brendan Rodgers as their new manager after Swansea City’s chairman, Huw Jenkins, accepted he could not refuse the 39-year-old Northern Irishman the opportunity of a move to Anfield.

Two weeks after sacking Kenny Dalglish for finishing eighth in the Premier League, Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, concluded the search for his replacement during talks with Rodgers in London. The former Watford and Reading manager agreed a three-year contract with John W Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool’s principal owner and chairman respectively, before informing Swansea he wished to quit after a hugely successful two-year spell at the Liberty Stadium.

He sounded so certain, lo those two months ago, didn’t he? Ah, well, I can’t help but laugh a little at the abrupt 180º turn, but I’m intrigued nonetheless. Liverpool are my sentimental favorites in English football, but Swansea were my favorite team to watch in the league last season, especially with Liverpool’s dreadful form often making their games unbearable to sit all the way through. I wish him immense reserves of luck trying to transplant Swansea’s splendid passing style into schlubs like Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

Speaking of football news, just over a week until the European Championship tournament starts! If I go missing for days on end during the month of June, don’t panic.