Brendan Rodgers: 'I've been through probably the most traumatic 4 years of my life'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' tumultuous personal life has been illuminated by a new book as the manager embarks on his fourth season on the touchline at Anfield.

Rodgers discusses the challenges of balancing his job and his family life in "Living on the Volcano: The Secrets of Surviving as a Football Manager," author Michael Calvin's new book. The most eye-opening quotes from Rodgers uncover the off-the-pitch adversities he's faced since taking over at Liverpool.

The Liverpool Echo published an excerpt:

I've been through probably the most traumatic four years of my life. I lost my mum. I lost my dad. I split up from the woman I loved for 23 years. I had a court case, two Old Bailey trials over six weeks with my son who was charged with sexual assault, which was an absolute disgrace.

Yet professionally, here and at Swansea, these have been the best four years of my life. Something has to come from within. You have to put the professional and personal to each side. It's about being happy of course, but the owners have paid me to do a job, so I will do the job.

There's a story about Jimmy Sirrel at Notts County which has stuck with me since I was a young coach. His wife, Cathy, died late on the Friday night, but he came in on the Saturday.

Nothing was said. He got on with his job, he did his job. Team played the game, won the game. Normally after every game, him and his wife would sit at a little table and have a glass. Then they'd go.

This Saturday night he quickly popped into the bar. Someone asked about his wife, and he said, 'She died last night.' He'd lost the woman of his life, his right hand, but he still came in and did his job. Makes you think, doesn't it?

In a business where managers are usually mum on their private lives, Rodgers deserves credit for opening up. Until this point, the player-turned-manager has provided almost no indication of his personal issues during his time at Anfield, remaining focused even when the Merseyside club has underperformed.

Liverpool won its Premier League season opener Sunday, defeating Stoke City 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium courtesy of a screamer from Philippe Coutinho.