Brendan Rodgers
Encyclopedia
Brendan Rodgers is a Northern Irish
former footballer, who is currently the manager of Swansea City
.
After retiring as a footballer at the age of 20, Rodgers stayed at Reading and was appointed as youth team coach. He joined Chelsea
, under the leadership of José Mourinho
, as youth team
manager in 2004, before being promoted to reserve team
manager in 2006. In November 2008, he was appointed as Watford
manager. After the resignation of Steve Coppell
at Reading
, he was appointed his replacement in June 2009, before leaving the club by mutual consent in December 2009. Rodgers was announced as the new manager of Swansea City
in July 2010.
to Malachy and Christina. In June 2011, in honour of his mother, who died in 2010, and his father, who died of cancer on 10 September 2011, Rodgers joined a team representing the Football League to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care
. Among the team was the man Rodgers succeeded at Watford, Aidy Boothroyd.
Rodgers was educated
in Ballymena
. He speaks Spanish and is learning Italian.
He is married and has two children – one daughter and one son. His son Anton, who was born on his father's birthday in 1993, is also a professional footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion
. Anton played for Reading academy before moving in 2004 to the Chelsea academy
where he signed scholarship forms in summer 2009 but was released in 2011. He has also played for the Republic of Ireland under-17s
. Brendan also has a daughter Mischa .
His nickname is "Buck Rodgers" after the Buck Rogers
character with a similar name.
. He also played in England for Reading
, although he retired due to injury
at the age of 20, without making a league appearance.
of the Reading youth team
in 1995.
in September 2004 to become youth team
manager after being approached by José Mourinho
, and was appointed manager of the reserve team
in July 2006.
in the Championship
, his first top-level managerial position.
resigned as Reading manager, Rodgers became the favourite to take the vacancy. He later distanced himself from leaving Watford, stating his "concentration is fully on Watford". Rodgers chose to leave Watford and agreed to become manager of Reading
, and was appointed on 5 June 2009, after a compensation package of an initial £500,000 had been agreed, which could rise to £1 million. The Watford Supporters Trust has stated that Rodgers' reputation was "severely damaged" in the eyes of the supporters. However, the Trust did "thank Brendan for his efforts last season and wish him well for the future." On 11 August 2009, Rodgers got his first win as Reading manager after a 5–1 win over League Two
team Burton Albion
in the League Cup
first round. After a disappointing string of results, Rodgers left Reading by mutual consent on 16 December.
accolade, this was in recognition of winning five out of the six competitive league matches for that month, whilst keeping four clean sheets. On 25 April 2011 Brendan Rogers had secured Swansea City's place in the English Championship's
end of season play off for promotion into the English Premier League with a convincing 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Liberty Stadium. On 16 May 2011, Brendan Rodgers managed Swansea to his first playoff final
after overcoming Nottingham Forest. His Swansea side beat Reading 4-2 at Wembley on 30 May 2011, thanks to a hat-trick from Scott Sinclair
, to gain promotion to the Premier League for the 2011-12
season.
Rodgers' first win as a Premier League manager came on 17 September 2011, where Swansea beat West Bromwich Albion
3–0 at the Liberty Stadium
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former footballer, who is currently the manager of Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.
After retiring as a footballer at the age of 20, Rodgers stayed at Reading and was appointed as youth team coach. He joined Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, under the leadership of José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
, as youth team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Chelsea Football Club. They are members of the Premier Reserve League Southern Division and the reigning champions of the Southern Division winning the Championship in 2010 - 11...
manager in 2004, before being promoted to reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
manager in 2006. In November 2008, he was appointed as Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
manager. After the resignation of Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, he was appointed his replacement in June 2009, before leaving the club by mutual consent in December 2009. Rodgers was announced as the new manager of Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in July 2010.
Personal life
Rodgers was born in CarnloughCarnlough
Carnlough is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It has a picturesque harbour on the shores of Carnlough Bay. Carnlough is situated on the Coast Road beside the North Channel and at the foot of Glencloy, the second of the nine Glens of Antrim...
to Malachy and Christina. In June 2011, in honour of his mother, who died in 2010, and his father, who died of cancer on 10 September 2011, Rodgers joined a team representing the Football League to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which provides nursing care, free of charge, to terminally ill people, giving them the chance to choose to be cared for at home...
. Among the team was the man Rodgers succeeded at Watford, Aidy Boothroyd.
Rodgers was educated
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
. He speaks Spanish and is learning Italian.
He is married and has two children – one daughter and one son. His son Anton, who was born on his father's birthday in 1993, is also a professional footballer with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. Anton played for Reading academy before moving in 2004 to the Chelsea academy
Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Chelsea Football Club. They are members of the Premier Reserve League Southern Division and the reigning champions of the Southern Division winning the Championship in 2010 - 11...
where he signed scholarship forms in summer 2009 but was released in 2011. He has also played for the Republic of Ireland under-17s
Republic of Ireland national under-17 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-17 football team, is the national under-17 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship....
. Brendan also has a daughter Mischa .
His nickname is "Buck Rodgers" after the Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers
Anthony Rogers is a fictional character that first appeared in Armageddon 2419 A.D. by Philip Francis Nowlan in the August 1928 issue of the pulp magazine Amazing Stories. A sequel, The Airlords of Han, was published in the March 1929 issue....
character with a similar name.
Playing career
As a player, Rodgers played in Northern Ireland for Ballymena UnitedBallymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
. He also played in England for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, although he retired due to injury
Injury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
at the age of 20, without making a league appearance.
Reading Academy
After retiring as a player, Rodgers became Academy managerCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the Reading youth team
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
in 1995.
Chelsea
Rodgers moved to ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in September 2004 to become youth team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Chelsea F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Chelsea Football Club. They are members of the Premier Reserve League Southern Division and the reigning champions of the Southern Division winning the Championship in 2010 - 11...
manager after being approached by José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
, and was appointed manager of the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
in July 2006.
Watford
On 24 November 2008, Rodgers was appointed as manager of WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, his first top-level managerial position.
Reading
After Steve CoppellSteve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
resigned as Reading manager, Rodgers became the favourite to take the vacancy. He later distanced himself from leaving Watford, stating his "concentration is fully on Watford". Rodgers chose to leave Watford and agreed to become manager of Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, and was appointed on 5 June 2009, after a compensation package of an initial £500,000 had been agreed, which could rise to £1 million. The Watford Supporters Trust has stated that Rodgers' reputation was "severely damaged" in the eyes of the supporters. However, the Trust did "thank Brendan for his efforts last season and wish him well for the future." On 11 August 2009, Rodgers got his first win as Reading manager after a 5–1 win over League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
first round. After a disappointing string of results, Rodgers left Reading by mutual consent on 16 December.
Swansea City
Rodgers was appointed manager of Championship team Swansea City on 16 July 2010. By February in his first season in charge of the club he was awarded the Football League Championship Manager of the MonthFootball League Championship Manager of the Month
The Manager of the Month is an association football award that recognises the manager adjudged best for each month of the season in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
accolade, this was in recognition of winning five out of the six competitive league matches for that month, whilst keeping four clean sheets. On 25 April 2011 Brendan Rogers had secured Swansea City's place in the English Championship's
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
end of season play off for promotion into the English Premier League with a convincing 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Liberty Stadium. On 16 May 2011, Brendan Rodgers managed Swansea to his first playoff final
2011 Football League Championship play-off Final
The 2011 Football League Championship play-off final was a football match contested by Reading and Swansea City on 30 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium to decide the third team to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League for the 2011–12 season....
after overcoming Nottingham Forest. His Swansea side beat Reading 4-2 at Wembley on 30 May 2011, thanks to a hat-trick from Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair
Scott Andrew Sinclair is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Swansea City as a winger, having previously played for Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic...
, to gain promotion to the Premier League for the 2011-12
2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
season.
Rodgers' first win as a Premier League manager came on 17 September 2011, where Swansea beat West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
3–0 at the Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
.
Manager
| Team | Nation | From | Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... | 24 November 2008 | 5 June 2009 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
5 June 2009 | 16 December 2009 |
||||
| Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
16 July 2010 | Present |
Individual
- Football League Championship Manager Of The Month: February 2011
Club
- Football League Championship play-off Final Winner: 2010-112011 Football League Championship play-off FinalThe 2011 Football League Championship play-off final was a football match contested by Reading and Swansea City on 30 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium to decide the third team to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League for the 2011–12 season....