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Brendan Rodgers has opened up about his time as Liverpool manager – and how he managed to keep Luis Suarez at the club for longer than he ought to.

Rodgers spent just over three seasons at Anfield having moved from Swansea in 2012, and in 2013-14 came closer than anyone to ending the Reds' wait for a 19th league title.

His reign, though, was on a downward journey after that near miss, with Suarez's exit for Barcelona a turning point. Rodgers' side finished sixth the following season, and were 10th in the Premier League when he was sacked in October 2015.

Reflecting on his departure, Rodgers, now the Celtic manager, discussed the toll managing one of Europe's biggest clubs had taken on his health, and how it had sapped his “energy and happiness.”

Rodgers told The Coaches Voice: “I took the call on the Sunday evening, after the Merseyside derby. The owners felt they needed to make a change. I accepted the decision, and from that point I was no longer the Liverpool manager.

“On the Monday, I was offered another job. But I had always felt that I wanted to go in, where I could, at the beginning of a season.

“On top of that, I needed the recovery. Needed to get away. Liverpool had been an emotional rollercoaster. At such a huge club, one of the great clubs of the world, even the good days are difficult. I enjoyed every single minute of it, but it had taken a toll.

“I wanted to go away and reflect on my time at Liverpool, but also to regain two elements that I believe are absolutely vital to any manager: energy, and happiness.

“No matter what you do in life, I feel that you need both. But, in particular for a football manager, and for me at that time, they were crucial. If you are energised and happy, you can do your job much better.”

In an enlightening interview, Rodgers also discussed the tactics behind Liverpool's memorable thrashing of Arsenal in February 2014, and his struggles to keep Suarez at the club.

“I think at Liverpool, you always feel you can hang on to your best players, because you have such an iconic club, an institution worldwide,” he said.

“When I first went in there, Luis was destined for Juventus, and we were able to talk him round into staying, telling him that the team would be built around him and his qualities.

“Second season, we obviously had the Arsenal connection. Then he went on to have his best season and then that following season we couldn't keep him.

“You always felt at Liverpool that you could pay the wages and you could pay the money, but if it was through choice, if the player wanted to move on then that's what he would do. So there was real disappointment.”

You can read more from Rodgers, and other top coaches, at The Coaches Voice