Hodgson signs 3-year deal as Liverpool manager

Liverpool: Liverpool signed Roy Hodgson on Thursday as its new manager on a three-year contract as the Premier League club attempts to return to the Champions League.

The 62-year-old Englishman, who led Fulham to the Europa League final last season, was named as manager to replace Rafael Benitez, confirming what many had already concluded several days ago.

Benitez left Liverpool to join Inter Milan after the 2009 Premier League runner-up slumped to seventh place last season.

"This is the biggest job in club football and I'm honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most successful football club," Hodgson told the Liverpool website. "I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood."

Hodgson saved Fulham from relegation in 2008 and guided the west London club to an all-time best seventh place a season later.

Fulham reached the second major final in the club's 131-year history, losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.

Fulham dipped to 12th this season but made it to only the second major final in the club's 131-year history before losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.

Benitez's six years in charge at Anfield ended on June 3, and the Spaniard has since been hired by Inter Milan, one of Hodgson's former clubs.

In a 34-year coaching career, Hodgson has had spells in England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Italy, where he was twice in charge of Inter.

Hodgson has also coached Finland, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, which he guided to the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He has also acted as a technical adviser to UEFA, European football's governing body.

But after spells with Fulham and Blackburn, Liverpool will be his first stint at a major topflight club in his own country and only his second in Europe after Inter.

Hodgson has also been linked with England following the team's dismal second-round exit from the World Cup.

Benitez took Liverpool to the Champions League title in his first season but failed to win the English league title the club last won in 1990. Manchester United has now equaled its record of 18 league titles.

Last season's seventh-place finish was Liverpool's worst for 11 years and a key factor in Benitez's departure.

On its web site, Liverpool said Hodgson would be unveiled to the media Thursday afternoon after overseeing the first day of pre-season training at Melwood.