Since taking over from Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool Brendan Rodgers has taken a mid-table team back to the heights of Champions League football in just two seasons.
This has led to the principal owner of the Fenway Sports Group John W. Henry and Tom Warner today issuing a joint statement that read: “We are very fortunate to have a hugely talented individual leading our football performance and in whom we place our trust to deliver the vision we share for Liverpool Football Club.
“Brendan is at the heart of what we, as an ownership group, are trying to achieve on the pitch. This season has reaffirmed everyone’s belief that we can bring football success to Liverpool and we are all committed to working together to achieve that.
“Players and supporters have made it clear how important Brendan is to our success and so to have him commit to us for the long term is a great boost for everyone going forward.”
Rodgers said: “I am both humbled and privileged to be offered the chance to extend my stay at this great club. I am very happy to build on the foundations we have built over the last two years and now we move onto the next phase which I believe will be as exciting, challenging and rewarding.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the players and staff, who have been absolutely brilliant for me since the day I started at this great football club. I am grateful to our owners and senior management team who have supported me and who share my vision of how we can progress on the field.
“Finally, I must thank the supporters who are at the heart of everything we do here. I am honoured every day to lead this team and I thank the fans for their continued support as together we strive to bring success back to Liverpool Football Club.”
After having been promised £60 million for players this summer plus what he can get from players he sells Rodgers added: “We want to work it in a way that makes the club sustainable and I think we’ve clearly shown that it’s about the top quality but it’s also about being strategic in those signings as well, bringing in the right players.
“It’s key for me that I can speak to the owners like that.
“I think the big lure will be Champions League, that’s what I’ve found in my conversations with agents and people.
“The best players want to play in the big competition.
“That’s the fight and I certainly found that last summer but we’ve put Liverpool back on the map now.
“Everyone sees that we’re going to be a threat; that we’re going to go into Europe next year and we’ll have no fear.
“That’s what top players want – they want to play in teams where they can show their talents.”
