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So Brendan Rodgers has been chosen as the man to replace Kenny Dalglish at Anfield. Here's five things you might not know about the new man in charge of the Reds.

He’s bessie mates with Jose Mourinho

Okay, best mates may be pushing it, but there is a link with the Special One, a man beloved on Merseyside of course. Jose headhunted Rodgers from the Reading Academy to take over the Chelsea Under 18s in 2004 and by 2006 Rodgers was in charge of the Blues reserve side.

Rodgers outlasted Jose at Stamford Bridge and it is reported that the two are still close. Will Liverpool and Real Madrid be swapping loan players next season? Don’t rule it out.

He was manager of Reading for 195 days

Not exactly the longest reign in football but some greats like Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson were dismissed at other clubs before finding huge success elsewhere. After spending years at Reading, Rodgers was tempted away from Watford to take over the top job at Reading when Steve Coppell quit in 2009. It didn’t really work out but in the end it did for all concerned. Reading appointed Brian McDermott, who has just guided them back to the Premier League while Rodgers’ work at Swansea landed him the Liverpool job.

He never played in England

Rodgers playing career makes Jose and Arsene Wenger look like Ryan Giggs. Rodgers played a few times for Ballymena United, his hometown club, before moving to Reading. A serious knee injury shortly after he arrived meant he never played for the Royals before retiring aged just 20.

Anton Rodgers in action

His son plays for the Republic of Ireland

Brighton’s Anton Rodgers, though born in Reading while his dad was based there, is eligible to play for the Republic and he has appeared at underage level for the Boys in Green. He has yet to make much impact on Guy Poyet’s side, with just one subs appearance this season but he’s just 19 so there’s lots of time for him to make it. At least he knows one Premier League manager will be watching him anyway.

He shares a birthday with a managerial legend

Born 54 years to the day before Rodgers, Bill Nicholson is easily Spurs greatest ever manager. He managed them to the Double in 1961, he land three FA Cups in total and he won a European Cup Winners’ Cup and a Uefa Cup as well. If Rodgers can pull off even half of that at Anfield, he should be grand.