Why dalglish was sacked

Werner insisted that the club owed a "great deal of gratitude" to Dalglish. He did so because he knew the club needed him. Dalglish had been expected to take a holiday this week, but flew to the United States instead to review the season with Henry and Werner.

Dalglish's dismissal follows and the club's head of sports medicine Peter Brukner in April. Dalglish returned to manage the club for a second time in the wake of Roy Hodgson's departure in January , initially on a caretaker basis until the end of the season.

After a strong finish in which Liverpool climbed from 12th to sixth, he was given the role on a three-year contract on 12 May but was unable to maintain that momentum into the new campaign. Dalglish's second stint in charge at Anfield proved controversial at times. He didn't ask to be Manager; he was asked to assume the role. He did so because he knew the Club needed him. He did more than anyone else to stabilize Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward.

We owe him a great debt of gratitude. Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson, who is now the England manager, in January last year. Initially Dalglish was appointed on a caretaker basis, but was given a three-year deal last summer.

It will be seen as an irony that on the day Hodgson announced his first England squad, Dalglish was shown the door at Anfield. In the year-old's first spell as manager of Liverpool between and , he delivered the old First Division three times and the FA Cup twice, and his return last year was hugely popular among fans. Those same fans are unlikely to take this decision to fire the former Liverpool player lightly, and will be eager to see FSG has a plan.

Before being appointed manager last year, Dalglish was working behind the scenes with the youth academy and in an ambassadorial role. Henry, who also owns baseball's Boston Red Sox. Dalglish won the English League Cup in February but despite huge outlay on players before the start of this season, his side struggled in the Premier League, finishing in eighth place -- their worst return for 18 years.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Fenway Sports Group FSG and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily. More Videos What next for Liverpool FC? Campbell on Dalglish sacking Photos: Liverpool's long trophy wait ends. Dalglish's team beat second division Cardiff City in a penalty shootout at Wembley on Sunday.

Skrtel squares it — Liverpool eventually equalized in the second half, when Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel turned a low shot into the net from a corner. The score was level at after 90 minutes, forcing the match into extra time. High as a Kuyt — Substitute Dirk Kuyt thought he had won the match for Liverpool when he found the back of the net with 12 minutes to play. Turner's turnaround — But Cardiff refused to lie down and made it with two minutes left in extra time when defender Ben Turner squeezed the ball over the line to force a penalty shootout.

The Heat-on Liverpool — Liverpool made the worst possible start to the shootout when captain Steven Gerrard saw his kick wonderfully saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Penalty heartbreak — But Liverpool rallied and Gerrard's cousin Anthony had to score to keep Cardiff's hopes alive -- but he rolled his penalty wide. Apparently, Kenny Dalglish the person is friendly and down-to-earth with a great sense of humor. That makes his thorny persona in front of the cameras and during interviews all the more baffling.

Because, as John W. Henry will know all too well, to keep up with the rest of the pack, Liverpool need to be able to dip into the vast riches offered by the Champions League, to provide those ambitious players with a chance to play against the best teams, and of course with the best wage packages.

As one of the most successful football clubs in history, Liverpool rightly have a fascination and obsession with the past. For merely having the conviction, the passion and the commitment to even consider stepping into the breach and steadying the sinking ship at Anfield, Kenny Dalglish must be commended. Merely a few months into their ownership, John W. Henry was faced with fans calling for the head of an under-performing manager Roy Hodgson and for the appointment of their idol. Still, the improvements that Dalglish oversaw in his first six months meant he had to be the overwhelming favorite for the permanent role.

For all the doom and gloom that might loom over Anfield, the vacant managerial position at Liverpool should be an attractive one, with sizable and record-breaking commercial ventures established despite the lack of a high-profile European presence, and with the club owners willing to bankroll the Reds to victory.