my liverpool fc

The highs and lows of Roy Hodgson's career to date, from his playing days at Crystal Palace through to his time at Fulham

1947: Born on 9 August, Croydon.

1965-75: Player with Crystal Palace, Gravesend and Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park.

1976: Starts managerial career with Halmstad in Sweden, winning two championships.

1980: Joins Bristol City as the assistant manager to Bobby Houghton.

1982: Appointed manager at Ashton Gate but dismissed within four months after poor run of results when club are taken over by new owners. Returns to Sweden, where he manages Orebro and then Malmo, who won five consecutive championships and two Swedish Cups under him.

1990: Leaves Sweden for Switzerland, taking over at Neuchâtel Xamax.

1992: Becomes manager of Switzerland, whom he takes to the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Was in charge when they qualified for Euro 96.

1995: Appointed manager of Internazionale.

1997: Agrees to become Blackburn Rovers manager in the summer. While still at Inter, his side lose to German club Schalke in the Uefa Cup final on penalties.

1998: May – Takes Blackburn into European competition for the first time since 1995 but Rovers win only two of their final 11 Premier League matches to fail in chase for title.

November – Sacked by Blackburn with the club bottom of the Premier League, having taken just nine points from 14 games.

1999: Shortlisted for Austria job. Returns to Inter on 27 April as technical director until the end of the season. Joins Grasshoppers.

2000: Appointed coach of Danish side FC Copenhagen. Linked with England job after the resignation of Kevin Keegan.

2001: May – Takes Copenhagen to the Superliga title.

May – Takes over as coach of Serie A club Udinese.

10 December – Udinese and Hodgson part company.

2002: April – Appointed manager of United Arab Emirates.

2004: January – Sacked after leading side to fifth place at the Gulf Cup.

May – Joins Norwegian side Viking FK.

2005: August – Agrees to take over as manager of Finland.

2007: 30 November – Quits after failing to secure qualification for Euro 2008, and is immediately linked with the Republic of Ireland vacancy.

30 December – Appointed Fulham manager.

2008: Fulham win four of their last five Premier League games of the season to avoid relegation.

2009: After overhauling the squad in pre-season, guides Fulham to their highest ever top-flight finish, seventh, and ensures Europa League qualification.

2010: 18 March – Oversees a stunning second-leg comeback against Juventus in the Europa League quarter-final as a 4-1 win takes Fulham into the quarter-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

April – Having seen off Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, leads the club into the final as they draw 0-0 in Hamburg despite a nightmare journey due to Icelandic volcanic ash, winning the second leg 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

12 May – Hodgson's side go down 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in extra time in the Europa League final in Hamburg.

1 July – Announced as new manager of Liverpool on a three-year contract.

The former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson believes the appointment of Roy Hodgson as manager can signal the beginning of a new era at Anfield.

Hodgson was confirmed as Rafael Benítez's replacement on a three-year contract this morning after the finer details of his severance from Craven Cottage were finalised. Thompson, a European Cup-winning captain with the Reds, now hopes new owners can also be found so the club can move forward after a period of stagnation under Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"We need the sale of the club sorted to enable us to really go forward," he said. "I just hope it won't be too long before that's done. With a new boss and new owners it really would be the dawn of a new era."

Thompson, who was assistant manager during Frenchman Gérard Houllier's reign, believes Hodgson will help bring stability to Liverpool.

"After having foreign managers in Gérard Houllier and Rafa Benítez, it seems there was a thought process of going back to British," he added. "The club needs a steadying influence and Roy will provide that.

"He's done a fantastic job at Fulham and has a wealth of experience having managed all over Europe. This is one of those jobs Roy had hoped and prayed for and it's a fantastic opportunity for him."

Thompson admits Hodgson's appointment will probably not be wholeheartedly welcomed by fans but he urged everyone at the club and supporters to get behind the new man.

"The big thing now is to get everyone on board comfortable with his ideas and visions for the football club. He has to unite everyone," he told the Liverpool Echo. "All summer there have been rumours about players going, but he's only just arrived and he won't want anyone leaving.

"He's a shrewd talker and I'm sure he will find the right words and the right manner to speak to players and convince them to stay. He will want to build for the future around Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.

"If – and it's a big if – players are sold then that cash has to be reinvested in the squad, and not go to the banks to pay off debt. No matter what you say about Rafa Benítez, he wasn't helped in that area. The board have to back Roy financially."