Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is being linked with Rafa Benitez’s job at Liverpool. Former Birmingham City chairman David Gold is backing Brum boss Alex McLeish to be a success at Liverpool.

The Sun says calls for Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish to step in as an emergency caretaker intensified yesterday.

Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett must re- finance the debt they accrued buying Liverpool so cannot promise a huge transfer kitty for any new boss.

They believe Birmingham manager McLeish would be the ideal manager to get the best out of the current squad and operate within a limited budget.

The Scot has 18 months left on his Brum deal, worth around £800,000 a year.

Liverpool believe they would have to pay around £1million compensation to get their man now but a lot less if they wait until the summer.

Big Eck has led the Blues on a record-breaking unbeaten 14-match run.

And McLeish, who will be 51 on Thursday, could be handed an early birthday present if Liverpool decide to replace Rafa Benitez.

Gold told The Sun: “If the moment came when Liverpool were to make a move for him, I know he would be a huge success.

“If he were to go to Liverpool, I know he would do a fantastic job – he has everything going for him. The man is pure quality and within 20 minutes of meeting him I knew he was the right guy to follow Steve Bruce.

“His results spoke entirely for themselves, so once that had been looked at there were two other essentials – TV appearances and how he interacted with the chairman.

“On both fronts he scored 10 out of 10. He’s calm and composed on the box and it became very clear from a 20-minute conversation that he would be an ideal person as far as a chairman/boss relationship was concerned.

“People underestimate the effect of TV but I consider it very important and Alex handles it very well. He is entirely at home with big-name players after managing Scotland and is a very resolute individual who has tremendous faith in his own ability.

“The big thing is he can handle failure and setbacks. Any fool can manage a football club when things are going well. It’s when the surprise defeats come along that you realise what they are made of and we had a few of those at Birmingham.

“But Alex doesn’t panic and start going off in different directions. He is totally single-minded and, as he has now shown, given the time he can produce the goods. You ask if he could manage Liverpool and the answer is of course ‘Yes’ but in fact I have no doubt he could manage Manchester United were Sir Alex Ferguson to make a sudden retirement.”

However, can Alex Mcleish manages big star names at Liverpool? Steve, Torres, Kuyt, and etc.

Source: Tribal football

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Liverpool have signed Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.  The 29-year-old winger has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with Rafael Benitez’s side after spending four years in the Spanish capital.

After passing a medical and agreeing terms Maxi put pen to paper on the deal, which is subject to international clearance.

Reds boss Benitez told his club’s website: “We were looking for players with character and a good mentality. He has played for Argentina and Atletico Madrid and is a player with personality.

“He can play in three positions – on the right, left or as a second striker – and is someone with a very positive mentality, which is what we are looking for.

“He is comfortable on the ball, can pass and keep possession. He is good at getting into the box and scoring goals and a good finisher. Every year he gets five to 15 goals from the right side of midfield.

“I know he was not doing as well as he did in the past at Atletico Madrid, but he is doing really well with Argentina and wants to impress for the World Cup.”

Benitez hopes Maxi will settle quickly with the help of compatriot Javier Mascherano and former Atletico team-mate Fernando Torres.

“He knows Mascherano and Torres and he can provide a lift for some players,” said the Liverpool boss. “I think he will adapt to English football because he is a clever player and takes up good positions on the pitch.

“It is a question of adjusting to the pace of the game and he will need some time, but with these players around it will be easier for him.

“Rodriguez will be a different kind of player for us and also competition for Dirk Kuyt on the right side, along with Nabil El Zhar and Yossi Benayoun.

“He will give us the opportunity to manage some of the other players and rest them if necessary to keep the level of the team.

“I have been talking with him and he is really pleased and ready to come here. I have told him what we are expecting from him and he is ready for the challenge.”

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