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Liverpool should turn to Frank Rijkaard for a return to the elite
Who will Liverpool's next manager be? New HITC writer Jay Howley believes a certain Champions League winning manager should be their top target...
John W Henry’s decision to relieve Kenny Dalglish of his duties this week brought to an end a marriage that was once made in football heaven but had been heading for an increasingly difficult divorce.
Dalglish rode into Anfield in January 2011 as the returning King back to reclaim the throne. In the wake of Roy Hodgson’s disastrous reign as manager, the former Liverpool hero was hailed as the man to restore pride and passion into a football club that had so obviously lost its way.
Immediate results were impressive and Dalglish was handed the reigns permanently in May 2011. The sense of excitement for Liverpool fans was evident, but what followed was a series of errors by Dalglish that gave one clear impression – this was a man who was painfully out of his time.
Dalglish was sacked on Wednesday as the result of a disastrous league campaign that culminated in a 17-year low finish of 8th. Coupled with the failure of his big money signings such as Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll, Liverpool’s American owner called time on the Liverpool legend’s second stint at the club.
The names touted as potential replacements for the Scot include Wigan’s Roberto Martinez and former manager Rafael Benitez. The cue to take the reigns at Anfield will inevitably be long. Despite what some would have you believe, Liverpool remain a huge draw – a mammoth of a football club with a global fan base and a rich history – but also undeniably a sleeping giant.
For a club of their size, they are in the wilderness – on the outside looking in. Similar sentiments can be made about a former Barcelona head coach now plying his trade in a land unworthy of his football expertise.
Frank Rijkaard, the man who brought the good times back to the might of Barcelona, is the current head coach of the Saudi Arabian national team. It is a position that may be financially lucrative for the Dutchman but does not do justice to a coach that has so much to offer to top level football.
When Rijkaard arrived at Barcelona in 2003, they were a club going through a similar situation to what Liverpool find themselves in now; undeniable transition.
Without a trophy since 1999, the club had gone through 5 managers in the 3 years that preceded Rijkaard’s appointment and the team was littered with under achieving ego-maniacs. Quite frankly, the place was a mad house.
Rijkaard’s arrival marked a change in fortunes for Barcelona. His decision to banish much of the previous old guard was an inspired one. He brought with him a fresh approach and together with the support of President Joan Laporta oversaw the transfers of new players who would come to represent his brave new world.
A young Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho was snatched from the claws of Manchester United as he arrived from PSG to be the new pin-up boy for Rijkaard’s new-look Barcelona. The club would finish second that year to great rivals Real Madrid but pride had been restored. The following summer brought greater change, the arrivals of Samuel Eto’o, Ludovic Giuly and Deco would prove Rijkaard’s intent on delivering trophies for an expectant Catalonia crowd.
Greater still, the famed Barcelona youth academy had the faith of a manager determined to play the kind of football that the first team had become accustomed to before its barren years. Faith was placed in the likes of Víctor Valdés and Andrés Iniesta to become mainstays in Rijkaard’s grand idea. Back-to-back La Liga championships followed and the Dutchman’s crowning glory came in 2006 as he guided his team to a European Cup success in Paris after breaking Arsenal hearts.
It is testament to Rijkaard’s ability and vision that he could take a club going through such transition and littered with has beens and turn them into the Champions of Spain and Champions of Europe within three years. Money had invariably played a part but Rijkaard represented an idea at Barcelona that few others could carry out in practice. He rekindled the spirit of Johan Cryuff that had previously fell in to disrepair, a desire to play the game in the right way and a belief in youth – Total Football.
Let us not forget that it was Rijkaard who handed a debut to the then 17-year-old Lionel Messi in a league game against Espanyol in 2004. It was Rijkaard who oversaw the development of Ronaldinho from a tricky player with undoubted promise into one of the finest players of his generation.
The Dutchman departed the Camp Nou in 2008 having won 2 La Liga’s, 2 Supercopa’s and a Champions League. An unsuccessful spell at Galatasaray followed before a surprising move to Saudi Arabia as national coach in June of last year.
While it can be argued that Rijkaard’s decline since the heady heights of his spell at Barcelona is alarming, it is also true to say that his previous work should not be overlooked. The Dutchman’s managerial clout is there for all to see – greater still it manifests itself in a way that the written word cannot do justice to – large lumps of silver.
Five trophies in as many years at Barcelona was a very impressive haul given the circumstance he found upon his arrival at the Camp Nou. Rijkaard is exactly the type of manager that Liverpool need – a big name, still young, proven track record and a philosophy that few others can claim to have. With due respect to Saudi Arabia, Rijkaard is wasted there. He knows it, we know it and John Henry should know it too. ‘King’ Kenny’s departure renders him a part of Liverpool past – and now Rijkaard should be a part of its future.
Who will Liverpool's next manager be? New HITC writer Jay Howley believes a certain Champions League winning manager should be their top target...
John W Henry’s decision to relieve Kenny Dalglish of his duties this week brought to an end a marriage that was once made in football heaven but had been heading for an increasingly difficult divorce.
Dalglish rode into Anfield in January 2011 as the returning King back to reclaim the throne. In the wake of Roy Hodgson’s disastrous reign as manager, the former Liverpool hero was hailed as the man to restore pride and passion into a football club that had so obviously lost its way.
Immediate results were impressive and Dalglish was handed the reigns permanently in May 2011. The sense of excitement for Liverpool fans was evident, but what followed was a series of errors by Dalglish that gave one clear impression – this was a man who was painfully out of his time.
Dalglish was sacked on Wednesday as the result of a disastrous league campaign that culminated in a 17-year low finish of 8th. Coupled with the failure of his big money signings such as Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll, Liverpool’s American owner called time on the Liverpool legend’s second stint at the club.
The names touted as potential replacements for the Scot include Wigan’s Roberto Martinez and former manager Rafael Benitez. The cue to take the reigns at Anfield will inevitably be long. Despite what some would have you believe, Liverpool remain a huge draw – a mammoth of a football club with a global fan base and a rich history – but also undeniably a sleeping giant.
For a club of their size, they are in the wilderness – on the outside looking in. Similar sentiments can be made about a former Barcelona head coach now plying his trade in a land unworthy of his football expertise.
Frank Rijkaard, the man who brought the good times back to the might of Barcelona, is the current head coach of the Saudi Arabian national team. It is a position that may be financially lucrative for the Dutchman but does not do justice to a coach that has so much to offer to top level football.
When Rijkaard arrived at Barcelona in 2003, they were a club going through a similar situation to what Liverpool find themselves in now; undeniable transition.
Without a trophy since 1999, the club had gone through 5 managers in the 3 years that preceded Rijkaard’s appointment and the team was littered with under achieving ego-maniacs. Quite frankly, the place was a mad house.
Rijkaard’s arrival marked a change in fortunes for Barcelona. His decision to banish much of the previous old guard was an inspired one. He brought with him a fresh approach and together with the support of President Joan Laporta oversaw the transfers of new players who would come to represent his brave new world.
A young Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho was snatched from the claws of Manchester United as he arrived from PSG to be the new pin-up boy for Rijkaard’s new-look Barcelona. The club would finish second that year to great rivals Real Madrid but pride had been restored. The following summer brought greater change, the arrivals of Samuel Eto’o, Ludovic Giuly and Deco would prove Rijkaard’s intent on delivering trophies for an expectant Catalonia crowd.
Greater still, the famed Barcelona youth academy had the faith of a manager determined to play the kind of football that the first team had become accustomed to before its barren years. Faith was placed in the likes of Víctor Valdés and Andrés Iniesta to become mainstays in Rijkaard’s grand idea. Back-to-back La Liga championships followed and the Dutchman’s crowning glory came in 2006 as he guided his team to a European Cup success in Paris after breaking Arsenal hearts.
It is testament to Rijkaard’s ability and vision that he could take a club going through such transition and littered with has beens and turn them into the Champions of Spain and Champions of Europe within three years. Money had invariably played a part but Rijkaard represented an idea at Barcelona that few others could carry out in practice. He rekindled the spirit of Johan Cryuff that had previously fell in to disrepair, a desire to play the game in the right way and a belief in youth – Total Football.
Let us not forget that it was Rijkaard who handed a debut to the then 17-year-old Lionel Messi in a league game against Espanyol in 2004. It was Rijkaard who oversaw the development of Ronaldinho from a tricky player with undoubted promise into one of the finest players of his generation.
The Dutchman departed the Camp Nou in 2008 having won 2 La Liga’s, 2 Supercopa’s and a Champions League. An unsuccessful spell at Galatasaray followed before a surprising move to Saudi Arabia as national coach in June of last year.
While it can be argued that Rijkaard’s decline since the heady heights of his spell at Barcelona is alarming, it is also true to say that his previous work should not be overlooked. The Dutchman’s managerial clout is there for all to see – greater still it manifests itself in a way that the written word cannot do justice to – large lumps of silver.
Five trophies in as many years at Barcelona was a very impressive haul given the circumstance he found upon his arrival at the Camp Nou. Rijkaard is exactly the type of manager that Liverpool need – a big name, still young, proven track record and a philosophy that few others can claim to have. With due respect to Saudi Arabia, Rijkaard is wasted there. He knows it, we know it and John Henry should know it too. ‘King’ Kenny’s departure renders him a part of Liverpool past – and now Rijkaard should be a part of its future.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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