Kenny Dalglish return to Liverpool will not have any impact on Brendan Rodgers and the way he runs the team

Former manager was replaced by Rodgers in 2012 but he insists he will not be a hindrance on the current boss at Anfield

Jack de Menezes
Saturday 05 October 2013 16:33 BST
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Kenny Dalglish has returned to Liverpool as a non-executive director
Kenny Dalglish has returned to Liverpool as a non-executive director (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish has insisted that his return to Anfield as a non-executive director will not be any hindrance to current manager Brendan Rodgers after the Northern Irishman replaced the former Reds’ striker at the helm 17 months ago.

Dalglish’s second spell in charge when the club’s owner Fenway Sports Group chose to sack the Scot, hiring Rodgers in his place after they agreed a deal to bring him in from Swansea.

However, his relationship with the American owners – as well as his iconic status with the club – doesn’t appear to have been tarnished in any way, with the Merseyside outfit approaching Dalglish about a possible return.

"The most important person in me coming back was Brendan," Dalglish told www.liverpoolfc.com.

"The manager is more important than I am and his position was more important to me than my position.

"You could fully understand if the manager wasn't in agreement with it. If he wasn't, he would never have known I'd been asked.

"That was the most important thing for me, the fact that people within the club knew I was coming back and wanted me to come back and I wasn't standing on anybody's toes.

"If you're coming back to help the football club in any way you certainly don't want to come back to hinder.

"We'll be in close proximity but Brendan is in charge of the team 100 per cent.

"It's nothing to do with me. I'm here to be of help to anybody; if he wants to have a conversation, I'm here to do as I'm told or asked to do, and that suits me fine."

"I want people around us who have this club and what it stands for in their heart."

Dalglish spent 13 years with Liverpool during his playing days until he retired in 1990, although he had been player-manager of the club since 1985. His first spell in charge ended in 1991, although he was described by all areas of the game as “iconic” during the Hillsbrough disaster for his support and presence to those families affected.

He returned to the in 2009 under then-manager Rafael Benitez, and after his replacement Roy Hodgson struggled with results and he was replaced by Dalglish in early 2011, where he remained in charge until his sacking in May 2012.

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