Former Manchester United star and manager Mark Hughes has recently disclosed that he underwent an interview for the role of Liverpool manager before club legend Kenny Dalglish returned to assume the position. This unexpected revelation provides insight into the selection process that ultimately led to Dalglish’s second stint at Anfield.
Dalglish’s reappointment to Liverpool in January 2011 followed Roy Hodgson’s departure, prompted by a string of unsatisfactory results. Initially serving on an interim basis, Dalglish secured the position permanently after guiding the team to a League Cup victory that season. He subsequently oversaw 74 games, securing another League Cup title in 2012.
In a recent appearance on Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Hughes divulged details of his interview for the Liverpool managerial role, remarking, “I once had an interview for the Liverpool job. I don’t think that’s well-documented, but I didn’t get it so that doesn’t really count does it. I think Kenny [Dalglish] decided he was going to be a manager again. Perhaps the choice of candidates wasn’t great and that’s why I didn’t get any closer.”
Despite not being granted the opportunity to lead Liverpool, Dalglish’s second term at the club was not as prosperous as his first. Nevertheless, the revered Scottish figure expressed his gratitude at being invited back, affirming that he harbored no regrets about the outcome of his tenure before being relieved of his duties in 2013.
Following his insistence on resuming a non-executive director role at Anfield, Dalglish opted to abstain from pursuing further managerial positions. Meanwhile, Hughes continued his managerial career with various clubs until 2023.
Although Hughes’ pursuit of the Liverpool position was thwarted, he went on to manage QPR, Stoke, Southampton, and Bradford, achieving varying levels of success. Despite facing termination in several of his roles, he left an indelible impression on the clubs he managed.
In conclusion, while Hughes missed out on the Liverpool opportunity, his disclosure injects a compelling dimension to the managerial appointments in football. It also underscores the capricious nature of the sport, where decisions made behind the scenes can have enduring impacts on the game.