LONDON (Reuters) – As Liverpool begin their search for a successor to Kenny Dalglish, the burning question is how the once dominant force in English football can become top dogs again?

Dalglish, who had his contract terminated on Wednesday after the club’s worst Premier League finish for almost 20 years, was part of the great Liverpool sides of the 1970s and 80s.

He then turned his hand to taking charge with similar sprinklings of gold dust. Hailed as “King Kenny” on Merseyside, his achievements as goal scorer and manager will never be understated.

But in the 20 years since he left Anfield in 1991 and before returning for a second spell as manager last year, Liverpool have flattered to deceive.

Ironically, crowned Kings of Europe with a stunning Champions League victory in 2005, the red half of the port city have failed to keep up in the Premier League. They won the last of their 18 titles in 1990 and the best since then has been runners-up finishes in 2002 and 2009.

Dalglish, as part of the Liverpool fabric as the city’s iconic Royal Liver building or the murky Mersey river, paid the price for a season of under-achievement in the league, their eighth-place finish deemed a huge disappointment by the club’s American owners.

“We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs,” Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said in a statement.

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – As Liverpool begin their search for a successor to Kenny Dalglish, the burning question is how the once dominant force in English football can become top dogs again?

Dalglish, who had his contract terminated on Wednesday after the club’s worst Premier League finish for almost 20 years, was part of the great Liverpool sides of the 1970s and 80s.

He then turned his hand to taking charge with similar sprinklings of gold dust. Hailed as “King Kenny” on Merseyside, his achievements as goalscorer and manager will never be understated.

But in the 20 years since he left Anfield in 1991 and before returning for a second spell as manager last year, Liverpool have flattered to deceive.

Ironically, crowned Kings of Europe with a stunning Champions League victory in 2005, the red half of the port city have failed to keep up in the Premier League. They won the last of their 18 titles in 1990 and the best since then has been runners-up finishes in 2002 and 2009.

Dalglish, as part of the Liverpool fabric as the city’s iconic Royal Liver building or the murky Mersey river, paid the price for a season of under-achievement in the league, their eighth-place finish deemed a huge disappointment by the club’s American owners.

“We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs,” Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said in a statement.

By Justin Palmer

(Reuters) – Kenny Dalglish’s second stint in charge of Liverpool was ended by the club’s American owners on Wednesday as the Anfield great paid the price for his side’s worst Premier League finish for almost 20 years.

Once the dominant force in English football, Liverpool have not won the championship since 1990 and the club’s eighth-place finish this season, when they finished 37 points behind champions Manchester City, forced the Fenway Sports Group to act.

“Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated,” the club said in a statement on their website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

“After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily.”

Dalglish, who guided Liverpool to a League Cup triumph in February and also an FA Cup final appearance, is likely to remain a firm favourite at Anfield after a glorious career as player and then manager in his first spell which ended in 1991.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as manager,” said the Scot.

May 16 (Reuters) – Kenny Dalglish’s second stint in charge of Liverpool was ended by the club’s American owners on Wednesday as the Anfield great paid the price for his side’s worst Premier League finish for almost 20 years.

Once the dominant force in English football, Liverpool have not won the championship since 1990 and the club’s eighth-place finish this season, when they finished 37 points behind champions Manchester City, forced the Fenway Sports Group to act.

“Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated,” the club said in a statement on their website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

“After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily.”

Dalglish, who guided Liverpool to a League Cup triumph in February and also an FA Cup final appearance, is likely to remain a firm favourite at Anfield after a glorious career as player and then manager in his first spell which ended in 1991.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as manager,” said the Scot.

“Of course I am disappointed with results in the league but I would not have swapped the Carling (League) Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.”

LONDON (Reuters) – Roy Hodgson said he would need to grow a thicker skin to cope with a very demanding British media and the new England manager may want to do so in a hurry after naming his first squad on Wednesday.

Hodgson’s appointment at the start of the month raised eyebrows in many quarters, particularly in the notoriously vicious tabloid press who had championed Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp as Fabio Capello’s replacement.

The line was that the experienced Hodgson had a point to prove after a less than impressive stint in charge of Liverpool and England’s new man was left in no doubt on Wednesday at just how much scrutiny he will be under.

After selecting his 23-man squad for next month’s European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, Hodgson found himself answering a barrage of questions as to why he had left out Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

An exasperated Hodgson, who was succinct and thoughtful throughout his news conference, could barely hide his frustration.

“Are we ever going to get off Rio Ferdinand?” he asked.

“There are 23 men in the squad, we’re preparing for the future and we seem to be discussing one man until the cows come home.”

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – Roy Hodgson said he would need to grow a thicker skin to cope with a very demanding British media and the new England manager may want to do so in a hurry after naming his first squad on Wednesday.

Hodgson’s appointment at the start of the month raised eyebrows in many quarters, particularly in the notoriously vicious tabloid press who had championed Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp as Fabio Capello’s replacement.

The line was that the experienced Hodgson had a point to prove after a less than impressive stint in charge of Liverpool and England’s new man was left in no doubt on Wednesday at just how much scrutiny he will be under.

After selecting his 23-man squad for next month’s European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, Hodgson found himself answering a barrage of questions as to why he had left out Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

An exasperated Hodgson, who was succinct and thoughtful throughout his news conference, could barely hide his frustration.

“Are we ever going to get off Rio Ferdinand?” he asked.

“There are 23 men in the squad, we’re preparing for the future and we seem to be discussing one man until the cows come home.”

LONDON (Reuters) – England manager Roy Hodgson cast aside Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, probably signalling the end of his international career, but included former captain John Terry in his squad for next month’s European Championship.

Hodgson, appointed on May 1 to replace Fabio Capello who quit in February after guiding England to the finals in Poland and Ukraine, also named Liverpool striker Andy Carroll in a 23-man party along with uncapped Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy and Arsenal’s teenage winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Striker Wayne Rooney was included despite having to miss the first two matches of the tournament through suspension, while Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will captain the side who have been drawn in Group D with co-hosts Ukraine, France and Sweden.

Hodgson said Ferdinand’s omission and Terry’s inclusion were both “footballing decisions”, despite media reports that the pair have fallen out.

Defender Terry is in the squad despite losing the England captaincy in February after being sent to a trial on July 9 charged with racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender and Ferdinand’s brother Anton. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hodgson conceded his decision to take Terry would be questioned in some quarters.

“I realised when I selected him there would be people who would raise their eyebrows, that’s the decision I have made and the decision I will live with,” Hodgson told a news conference at Wembley stadium on Wednesday.

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – England manager Roy Hodgson cast aside Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, probably signalling the end of his international career, but included former captain John Terry in his squad for next month’s European Championship.

Hodgson, appointed on May 1 to replace Fabio Capello who quit in February after guiding England to the finals in Poland and Ukraine, also named Liverpool striker Andy Carroll in a 23-man party along with uncapped Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy and Arsenal’s teenage winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Striker Wayne Rooney was included despite having to miss the first two matches of the tournament through suspension, while Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will captain the side who have been drawn in Group D with co-hosts Ukraine, France and Sweden.

Hodgson said Ferdinand’s omission and Terry’s inclusion were both “footballing decisions”, despite media reports that the pair have fallen out.

Defender Terry is in the squad despite losing the England captaincy in February after being sent to a trial on July 9 charged with racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender and Ferdinand’s brother Anton. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hodgson conceded his decision to take Terry would be questioned in some quarters.

“I realised when I selected him there would be people who would raise their eyebrows, that’s the decision I have made and the decision I will live with,” Hodgson told a news conference at Wembley stadium on Wednesday.

BUCHAREST (Reuters) – There was “no ceiling” to striker Radamel Falcao’s ambition after the Colombian’s brilliant finishing brought Athletic Bilbao to their knees in a 3-0 triumph in Wednesday’s Europa League final, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said.

Falcao scored twice in the first half at the National stadium in Bucharest, a year on from his exploits in last season’s final when his goal was enough to secure Porto the Europa League title.

Atletico, desperate to build a side that can regularly compete in the Champions League alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, dug deep into their pockets to splash out 40 million euros (32 million pounds) and bring him from Portugal to the Spanish capital last summer. The 26-year-old has repaid their faith with 12 goals in the Europa League and 23 in La Liga.

Simeone, winning his first European trophy as a coach after securing domestic titles in his homeland Argentina with Estudiantes and River Plate, admitted Falcao’s talent and ambition could tempt bigger clubs.

“I’ll have to hold on to him won’t I,” a drained-looking Simeone told a news conference, offering the hint of a smile.

“I have known Radamel since he was very young, we were champions in Argentina (with River Plate) and we are champions again today.

“I’m very fond of him, he’s an admirable player, he always wants more and I believe there is no ceiling to his ambition.

BUCHAREST, May 9 (Reuters) – There was “no ceiling” to striker Radamel Falcao’s ambition after the Colombian’s brilliant finishing brought Athletic Bilbao to their knees in a 3-0 triumph in Wednesday’s Europa League final, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said.

Falcao scored twice in the first half at the National stadium in Bucharest, a year on from his exploits in last season’s final when his goal was enough to secure Porto the Europa League title.

Atletico, desperate to build a side that can regularly compete in the Champions League alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, dug deep into their pockets to splash out 40 million euros and bring him from Portugal to the Spanish capital last summer. The 26-year-old has repaid their faith with 12 goals in the Europa League and 23 in La Liga.

Simeone, winning his first European trophy as a coach after securing domestic titles in his homeland Argentina with Estudiantes and River Plate, admitted Falcao’s talent and ambition could tempt bigger clubs.

“I’ll have to hold on to him won’t I,” a drained-looking Simeone told a news conference, offering the hint of a smile.

“I have known Radamel since he was very young, we were champions in Argentina (with River Plate) and we are champions again today.

“I’m very fond of him, he’s an admirable player, he always wants more and I believe there is no ceiling to his ambition.