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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said that the past four years of his life has been the most traumatic on a personal front, according to The Independent. The 42-year-old, though, said that professionally, the same four years had been the best of his life.
Rodgers’ revelations came in Michael Calvin’s new book on management – Living on the Volcano. And the Northern Irishman talked about how he has been able to handle personal heartaches without affecting his professional career.
Rodgers lost both his parents in less than 12 months
His mother passed away in 2010 after a lengthy batter with cancer. Less than a year later, his father died, also after being diagnosed with cancer.
More heartache followed as Rodgers separated from his wife of 23 years, Susan, in the summer of 2014 and his son from the marriage, Anton, who plays for Swindon, was accused by a woman of sexually assaulting her.
The charges have since been cleared, but Rodgers revealed that all the personal issues in a short period of time have been hard to deal with.
“I’ve been through probably the most traumatic four years of my life,” he said. “I lost my mum. I lost my dad. I split up from the woman I loved for 23 years. I had a court case, two Old Bailey trials over six weeks with my son who was charged with sexual assault, which was an absolute disgrace.”
Rodgers emphasised though that he drew on his inner strength and never allowed his personal side to creep into the professional side.
“Something has to come from within. You have to put the professional and personal to each side. It’s about being happy of course, but the owners have paid me to do a job, so I will do the job,” he said.
Highs and lows with Swansea City and Liverpool
Rodgers has endured mixed fortunes in his managerial role at first Swansea and then Liverpool in the last four years. Swansea became the first Welsh team to gain promotion to the Premier League after overcoming Rodgers’ former side Reading in the Championship playoff final.
He not only managed to avoid relegation but his impressive management style drew attention from Liverpool who appointed Rodgers as the successor to Kenny Daglish. The three years at Anfield have been a mixed bag to say the least.
Liverpool finished seventh in their first season under Rodgers before coming agonisingly close to clinching the league title the following season. Last season proved a disappointment as they were never in the title race and finished a lowly sixth.
Rodgers though has no regrets about the supposed failure.
“Professionally, here and at Swansea, these have been the best four years of my life,” he said.
