Rodgers Would 'Love' To Return To Swansea

Former Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers said he would love to return following his decision this week to take over at Liverpool.

Whilst he said it was a difficult decision, he felt the opportunity to move to Anfield was too good to turn down. He told the Western Mail:

"I would love to return one day. Genuinely, I would love to,"

"I want to go down the Mumbles with a walking stick and for people to shake my hand.

"I didn`t quite complete the job I set out to do. Only a unique opportunity has taken me away from that.

"I love the people, I love the area. I wanted publicity for Wales as a nation, not knowing much about it before I arrived, but now it is always in my heart.

"There`s been lots of emotion, lots of tears, lots of thinking, but the professional challenge of managing Liverpool was too great to turn down and, hopefully, in time that will be recognised."

Rodgers hopes the Swans fans will remember him for what he achieved, and for making them a better side since he first arrived:

"I`m sure most people will look back on me as someone who tried to give their best to the club and did their best to represent the city and the nation,"

"I hope people will think I helped put Swansea City on the map. There will be a small group (of fans who think otherwise) but that will never taint everything we had.

"The legacy I wanted to leave however was that we were in a better place than when I arrived. I see that.

"Being at Swansea has given me the best professional memories of my life, and the best memories for my family.

"That`s why it was so difficult, so sad, to leave."

Rodgers always said he wanted to protect the club and ensure they would benefit in some financial way if he left for (only) a big club.

"The finance was a big part of the new contract, it could have been half of that.

"The lawyers at the LMA (League Managers` Association) who handled the deal said there was only one other compensation bid they'd seen higher than that.

"I signed an agreement in January, comfortable in the fact I would only be leaving for a big club and that could take a few years.

"But I also wanted to reward Swansea City with that sum because of what they`ve given me, to thank them for opportunity.

"Five million is a lot of money, it`s huge for a manager and if a big club was going to pay that I`d know they were serious.

"One or two million they could lose, but five million is a different ball game. That showed me intent."

Swansea City and Brendan Rodgers also have a deal in place whereby the new Liverpool manager cannot buy any of his former players in the next 12 months.

"It is part of the contract,"

"There`s no doubt a host of players there that can play for a big club.

"I don`t want to destroy a brilliant time and a brilliant rapport that I have with Huw.

"Naturally, though, if there are players who are going to go then I would want to be in the market for them."

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