Roy Hodgson arrived at Anfield as the League Managers' Association's reigning manager of the year. He leaves as the least successful occupant of the dugout since Don Welsh, who oversaw relegation in 1954. It is a startling fall from grace.
Swiftly and sadly, he became reviled by the Liverpool support. What he remains, the recent dent to his reputation notwithstanding, is a very good Fulham manager. And that was part of the problem: Fulham are not Liverpool.
Approaching away games with 0-0 draws the seeming intent may suffice for Fulham, but it does not for Liverpool. While Rafa Benitez was deemed defensive by some, his successor was a worse offender.
Paul Konchesky was solid for Fulham but, brought to Anfield by Hodgson, he is not a Liverpool player.
His unambitious rhetoric grated with the Liverpool support, his words failed to inspire the players. A polyglot had a strange inability to communicate.
A career that dates back three-and-a-half decades and includes jobs in eight countries is testament to his prowess. But he was miscast as a Liverpool manager.
He failed to understand the club's traditions, expectations and supporters. No wonder, then, that he has been replaced by a man with an intimate knowledge of Liverpool.
Yet, it was results that made Hodgson's position untenable. Depressing as Benitez's last campaign proved, this year has been still worse.
Appointed at 62, Hodgson was seen as a safe pair of hands to oversee a transitional era. Now that task falls to Kenny Dalglish.
