Reading FC

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• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

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Rodgers: New dawn for Royals

05 Jun 2009 - 10:12:35

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Brendan Rodgers believes it is a new dawn for Reading following confirmation of his appointment to the Madejski Stadium hot-seat.

Rodgers, 36, was been unveiled as Steve Coppell's successor after ending his seven-month spell at Watford to return to a club where he worked with the youth academy before moving on to Chelsea in 2004.

The former reserve team manager at the Premier League club has signed a three-year contract with the Royals.

"I am absolutely overjoyed to be returning to Reading, a club that has always been close to my heart," he told the club's official website.

"This is a fantastic opportunity and I cannot wait to get started. This is a new cycle for Reading Football Club and I am delighted to be the man chosen to lead the club to more success.

"I am proud to be held in such high regard by the chairman, (director of football) Nick Hammond and the board of directors and I hope to repay the faith they have shown in me."

Chairman Sir John Madejski paid "substantial compensation" to get his man, but is delighted by the appointment, saying: "Brendan is the perfect fit for Reading Football Club.

"He was the outstanding candidate in a very strong field of applicants. He knows the club extremely well, he has worked at the highest level and has every attribute we were looking for in a new manager.

"He started his career here, we have always got on well and had a mutual respect for one another.

"He furthered his footballing education at Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the land, and now he brings that wealth of knowledge back to Reading.

"Brendan is a bright young man with exciting ideas. His managerial credentials, vision for the future and years of experience with our club put him above all others we considered for the job."