New manager Brendan Rodgers was introduced to the media at Madejski Stadium on Friday lunchtime, and we have a four-part complete transcript here at the official site. Below is part one, and a link to part two is at the bottom of the page.

Reading World has a full video interview with Brendan and complete press conference video live right now.


Chairman's introduction:
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending this afternoon. Obviously this is a very important occasion for Reading Football Club, but before I introduce you to our new manager, I would like to introduce you to the members on the top table. Ian Wood-Smith our Director, Chief Executive Nigel Howe, Nick Hammond our Director of Football, and of course our new manager Brendan Rodgers.

I have to say the process of choosing a new manager was very well orchestrated and I have to thank Nick Hammond for doing an incredible job in terms of putting the candidates together. We interviewed quite a few candidates, but by head and shoulders the best candidate we did interview was Brendan Rodgers.

I'm delighted that he's coming back to Reading, having moved away and gained invaluable experience both at Chelsea - where he worked for the 'Chosen One' and we think he's our Chosen One - and then at Watford where he honed his skills as a manager in the Championship. So we really do believe we've got the pick of the crop, and the best manager for Reading. He knows the 'Reading way' - he's familiar with everybody involved with Reading Football Club and I think this is an excellent time for him to come back.

It's a new era and we're all incredibly excited that you are now involed here with Reading Football Club. So welcome Brendan and we're delighted you've chose to take up this appointment. So now the floor is open for you to field you questions as usual.

Brendan, what does it mean to you coming back to this club - coming back home?
It is a very special football club. I've had an association with Reading Football Club since I was 13 years of age. They were the reason I then came to England at 16. It's a fantastic club. I've seen the growth of the club over the last 20 years with the guys here, who have done an outstanding job. They've made the job too hard to turn down, because it's a Premier League club now. I'm very proud to be sat here today as a manager of what is a Premier League club.

What have you learned since being away from Reading - both at Chelsea and at Watford in your managerial role there?
Chelsea was a great experience and I wouldn't be sat here today if I didn't have that. I had to earn the right to work with top players in a world class environment. That was a great experience for me. I moved to a very good club in Watford which I wasn't crying to leave because it is a terrific club. This was an opportunity for me to come back to my roots and become probably only the second manager in history to take them into the Premier League. That was too good to turn down.

I have learned many things, I haven't just arrived. At 36 years of age it's been 15 years that I've been educated and just learning my trade. I was very thankful for Watford and it always will be a part of my story even though it is a short period there. I would like to think I have left the club, obviously there is sadness as always when you leave a club, but this is a job everyone knows is a big job, a fantastic job. I am really looking forward to the challenge.

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Three year contract, are you expected to get the club back to the Premier League within those three years? How big a challenge is that and how big are the shoes to fill, following Steve Coppell?
I think first of all that Sir John has never given me that objective. My own personal ambition, you know I'm from the town and have lived in the town for over 20 years, so I feel it my duty to want to take the club there. The Chairman has asked me just to be Brendan Rodgers, which is to obviously want my passion, my commitment and me to work with the people, which is very important. My own ambition is to work at the highest level and there would be no prouder man and more excited man if I could bring the club back to that level. I am really up to the challenge and that's my ambition.

Jose Mourinho headhunted you from Reading here and brought you into the Chelsea setup. Someone in high places at Chelsea joked to me the other day you're seen there as the 'son of the special one'. What have you learned from the special one that will benefit you here at Reading?
Respect. He was a guy that I learned many things from but the main thing was respect. He respects people, he is a fantastic coach but he was a better man. A couple of weeks ago I spent a couple of days with him in Milan. One of the biggest things I learned from him was respect, to respect people. I respected people at Watford when I was there, a terrific club, but I have come to what is a big, big club and I will do my very best and give my life now to the club to bring it back success. I can't wait.

Read part two for much more.