Liverpool Coach Kenny Dalgish Fired

Kenny Dalglish rescued Liverpool from possible relegation in 2011, but he was unable to push the team to a top-four finish this season.

Kenny Dalgish second stint as Liverpool manager ended Wednesday when he was fired following the club's disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League.Dalglish was in charge for fewer than 500 days, as club owners decided to terminate his contract despite having ended the team's six-year trophy drought with the League Cup triumph in February."Results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change," Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said.That decision was taken after Dalglish flew to Boston this week for an end-of-season review with the Boston Red Sox ownership group, which owns Liverpool.After the 2011 baseball season, the Red Sox hired a new manager in Bobby Valentine, after Terry Francona parted ways with the team.A League Cup triumph in February secured Liverpool's return to European play through the Europa League. Dalglish also took the team to the FA Cup final, but he fell short of the owner's target of finishing in the top four in the league as Liverpool went 14-14-10 and wound up 17 points behind fourth-place Tottenham. The Reds finished behind crosstown rival Everton for the first time since 2005 and only the second time since 1987."Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honorable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved," Dalglish said."I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same," he added.Dalglish first left Liverpool in 1991 due to stress, less than a year after delivering the team's 18th -- and most recent -- top-flight title triumph in 1990.He was brought back to Anfield after a 20-year absence to replace Roy Hodgson in January 2011, when the club was in danger of being relegated from the top flight after being bought by the Fenway Sports Group.After lifting Liverpool from its perilous position to fifth place, Dalglish was given a three-year contract at the end of the season."Kenny came into the club as manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him," Werner said. "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."Owner John Henry also paid tribute to Dalglish."Kenny will always be more than a championship-winning manager, more than a championship-winning star player," Henry said. "He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the Club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield."Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months."

Rio Ferdinand out Terry in of England Euro 2012 squad

Rio Ferdinand Man utd defender was the highest profile casualty on Wednesday Roy Hodgson focused on footballing matters as he explained the selection of John Terry and the omission of Rio Ferdinand in his England squad for this summer’s European Championship.Terry was selected despite the July court case awaiting him regarding allegations that he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, which Terry denies.Ferdinand’s elder brother Rio being left out of the squad will help to avoid any tension that could have stemmed from the pair sharing a dressingroom in Poland and Ukraine.The impending court case also saw Terry stripped of the captaincy by the English Football Association, a decision which saw Fabio Capello resign his post and Hodgson eventually succeed him. Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will captain England this summer.Hodgson said: “If we take the court case first of all, that’s obviously very unfortunate for him but we must emphasise he is an innocent man until such time as he is proven guilty.“My decision with John Terry was based purely on footballing matters, I was given a free hand as to the squad I picked.“I realised that when I selected him there would be people who would raise eyebrows but that’s the decision that I’ve made, that’s the decision I shall live with.”“I admire Rio Ferdinand as a player. I think he’s a fine footballer and I respect him, but I had to pick a squad with defenders I wanted to take to the Euros.”Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy were the two uncapped players to get Hodgson’s vote.“My decision with John Terry was based purely on footballing matters, I was given a free hand as to the squad I picked.“I realised that when I selected him there would be people who would raise eyebrows but that’s the decision that I’ve made, that’s the decision I shall live with.”He continued: “I selected John Terry for footballing reasons and I left out Rio Ferdinand for footballing reasons. I’ve spoken to both of them of course. I had to do that.“In the last couple of days I’ve spoken to both of them and explained to them why I’ve come to the decision.”Terry led Chelsea to FA Cup success and helped them reach the Champions League final as they rebuilt their season under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo.

ENGLAND SQUAD 

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Robert Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich). 
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Man City), John Terry (Chelsea). 
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Man Utd). 
Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).