Liverpool wanted to bring Frank de Boer to Anfield five years ago, but he ultimately decided to stay put.
Frank de Boer
Frank de Boer has explained to the Daily Mail why he decided to reject the chance to come and manage in the Premier League when Liverpool came calling five years ago.
At the end of the 2011/12 campaign, the Reds were looking for a new manager after parting company with legendary boss Kenny Dalglish, and the Mail suggests that de Boer was approached by the Merseyside outfit about taking over.
But he explained that having unfinished business in his first managerial job was the reason that, with a heavy heart, he decided not to take over at Anfield.
“I would love to manage here [Britain],” he says, as reported by the Mail, “but the project has to be right. I told Liverpool I was honoured but I was only one year in at Ajax, it was too soon. I needed to achieve more, and I did.”
Liverpool ultimately decided to appoint Brendan Rodgers that summer, and although the current Celtic boss’ time in charge ended in disappointing fashion, there was a period when Rodgers threatened to take the Reds to the Premier League’s summit.
However, while some may argue that de Boer would not have necessarily enjoyed the same success had he been given the role, it must not be forgotten that Liverpool’s success was largely down to the form of Luis Suarez, and the Dutchman was the manager who oversaw his departure to Anfield, so perhaps he would have had a similar impact on the Uruguayan as Rodgers did.
But with Jurgen Klopp now at the helm, while de Boer is currently out of work having struggled in his most recent job at Inter Milan, Reds fans will perhaps be thankful that events played out the way they did given the manager they have in charge now.
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