Roy Hodgson in the dark over Liverpool job speculation
23rd June 2010
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has remained tight-lipped over rumours linking him with the vacant Liverpool job. Rafael Benitez, who has since joined Inter Milan, left Anfield earlier this month and Hodgson has been widely touted as his potential successor.
"I'm Fulham manager. I'm perfectly happy at Fulham," the BBC World Cup pundit told presenter Gary Lineker in Cape Town.
"There's a lot of speculation but I can't enlighten you," he added.
After six years in charge, Benitez left Liverpool by mutual consent, with managing director Christian Purslow and former boss Kenny Dalglish given the task of finding his replacement.
Dalglish managed the side from 1985 to 1991, during which time they won the league three times.
He is now an ambassador for the club's academy and has been tipped for a possible return to the managerial hot-seat by the likes of former team-mates Mark Lawrenson and Bruce Grobelaar.
The hugely-experienced Hodgson has been in charge of Fulham since December 2007 and in December 2009 he signed a new 12-month rolling contract.
The 62-year-old's achievement in guiding Fulham to the final of the Europa League saw him named manager of the year by the League Manager's Association.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill's name has also been mentioned, although he has recently committed his future to the club after showdown talks with owner Randy Lerner.
Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, who is currently without a club, has also been mentioned as has ex-Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink and Croatia coach Slaven Bilic.
The agent of former Holland and Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has also moved to distance his client from the speculation.
"Rumours linking Frank to Liverpool are just that, rumours," Perry Overmeers told BBC Sport.
"Frank is the type of person who likes to fulfil his obligations and he has one year left on his contract with Galatasaray. There has been no contact from Liverpool. "
Source: BBC News & Sports - Milan
