Rodgers on backroom staff
Posted on: Tue 07 Jul 2009
New Royals manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to readingfc.co.uk about changes he has made to the backroom staff since becoming our new manager.
Dean Austin, Frank Lampard Sr and Karl Halabi join our staff, and will work closely with Brendan after also being part of his technical team at Watford.
39-year-old Austin becomes Assistant Manager and has played for many notable clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
Brendan told us, "Dean works really, really well and he understands how I work. We've been friends for the last six or seven years and it was a good chance for him when he came on board with myself at Watford."
Austin has done scouting work for Reading in the past, and Rodgers commented, "He'd obviously worked here before and he's been a top player, he's played at the highest level so he understands the feelings of the players.
"He's a workaholic, he wants to work and he wants to work at a certain level. He offers me great support."
Frank Lampard Snr, father of Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, will be joining the club as Football Consultant. The 61-year-old is a former England international and made 551 appearances for West Ham United, scoring 18 goals during his long spell at the club.
On Lampard, Rodgers said, "Frank's record speaks for itself., but what I love about him is his passion and commitment. He was with me for a short time at Watford and he's more than happy and really thrilled and looking forward to having the opportunity to come here and he'll be fantastic for the club in terms of a role model as well. And obviously he's great for me in terms of an advisory role to support me as a young manager."
Karl Halabi is the final addition to the backroom staff as Football Physiologist. He has worked alongside Brendan before at Chelsea and Watford and the new manager is delighted to have him on board.
He said, "When I was at Chelsea, Karl worked with the first team at Fulham. He's from Reading, so he has a big connection with the Club and he used to work there as a young football conditioner. He then moved to Fulham and worked with the Academy and then worked with the first team and then I took him to work with me at Chelsea in the reserves and he progressed through to work with the first team.
"So he's got experience of working with the biggest players. He came with me at Watford and understands how I work totally.
"We've lost some good people here in that department, but sometimes when you're a manager you don't have the time to train people up with how you work, so because I work slightly differently, it's a non-traditional way that I work, and I need that guy to understand the way I work, and Karl understands me totally in that aspect."
In addition, existing Chief Scout Brian McDermott becomes part of Brendan's technical team with the responsibility to focus on scouting our upcoming opposition, meaning Nigel Gibbs will manage our reserve team. Selby Armstrong has been promoted to Kit Manager.
Dean Austin, Frank Lampard Sr and Karl Halabi join our staff, and will work closely with Brendan after also being part of his technical team at Watford.
39-year-old Austin becomes Assistant Manager and has played for many notable clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
Brendan told us, "Dean works really, really well and he understands how I work. We've been friends for the last six or seven years and it was a good chance for him when he came on board with myself at Watford."
Austin has done scouting work for Reading in the past, and Rodgers commented, "He'd obviously worked here before and he's been a top player, he's played at the highest level so he understands the feelings of the players.
"He's a workaholic, he wants to work and he wants to work at a certain level. He offers me great support."
Frank Lampard Snr, father of Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, will be joining the club as Football Consultant. The 61-year-old is a former England international and made 551 appearances for West Ham United, scoring 18 goals during his long spell at the club.
On Lampard, Rodgers said, "Frank's record speaks for itself., but what I love about him is his passion and commitment. He was with me for a short time at Watford and he's more than happy and really thrilled and looking forward to having the opportunity to come here and he'll be fantastic for the club in terms of a role model as well. And obviously he's great for me in terms of an advisory role to support me as a young manager."
Karl Halabi is the final addition to the backroom staff as Football Physiologist. He has worked alongside Brendan before at Chelsea and Watford and the new manager is delighted to have him on board.
He said, "When I was at Chelsea, Karl worked with the first team at Fulham. He's from Reading, so he has a big connection with the Club and he used to work there as a young football conditioner. He then moved to Fulham and worked with the Academy and then worked with the first team and then I took him to work with me at Chelsea in the reserves and he progressed through to work with the first team.
"So he's got experience of working with the biggest players. He came with me at Watford and understands how I work totally.
"We've lost some good people here in that department, but sometimes when you're a manager you don't have the time to train people up with how you work, so because I work slightly differently, it's a non-traditional way that I work, and I need that guy to understand the way I work, and Karl understands me totally in that aspect."
In addition, existing Chief Scout Brian McDermott becomes part of Brendan's technical team with the responsibility to focus on scouting our upcoming opposition, meaning Nigel Gibbs will manage our reserve team. Selby Armstrong has been promoted to Kit Manager.
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