During his brief and often criticized stint as Liverpool manager in 2010, Roy Hodgson made a series of puzzling decisions — but perhaps none more bizarre than accidentally selling the wrong player in a transfer deal.
The player involved was **Alexander Kacaniklic**, a promising Swedish midfielder who joined Liverpool from Helsingborg in 2007. Kacaniklic had been widely praised within the club’s academy, especially by youth coach Hughie McAuley, who described him as a “naturally gifted footballer.” There were even discussions that he might soon feature for the senior team, possibly in a Europa League match in 2010.
However, that opportunity never came. Instead, Kacaniklic found himself unexpectedly included in a transfer deal that sent him to **Fulham**, as Liverpool brought in defender **Paul Konchesky**, a player Hodgson had previously managed at Fulham and trusted.
What makes this story remarkable isn’t just the decision itself — but the fact that **Hodgson apparently didn’t intend to sell Kacaniklic at all**.
According to Kacaniklic, who spoke about the incident years later on the *Fotbollskanalen* podcast, the Liverpool manager had **confused him with another player named Alex**. Hodgson believed he was including a different “Alex” in the deal, and by the time the mistake was realized, it was too late to reverse the transaction.
> “It was a bit difficult for Liverpool to replace me,” Kacaniklic said. “In his head, he thought he had changed another Alex for Konchesky. But then it was too late. It’s a little funny.”
Once the confusion came to light, Hodgson reportedly told Kacaniklic he was still welcome back at Liverpool “with open arms,” but by then, the young midfielder had already mentally and emotionally moved on. The prospect of regular football at Fulham was too tempting to ignore.
Despite the inauspicious beginning, Kacaniklic made the most of his new chapter. He went on to play over **100 matches** for Fulham in both the Premier League and the Championship, netting **11 goals**. His time in England also included loan spells at **Watford** and **Burnley**. In 2016, he made a move to **Nantes** in France but struggled to make a similar impact, going goalless in three seasons.
Kacaniklic later played for clubs in Sweden and Cyprus, before retiring in early 2024 at the age of 33.
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### **Deeper Insights and Takeaways:**
* **Administrative errors at top clubs:** The Kacaniklic case highlights that even elite clubs can make startling administrative or communication errors, especially during complex transfer windows.
* **Roy Hodgson’s troubled Liverpool reign:** This mix-up became emblematic of a broader issue during Hodgson’s short-lived tenure at Liverpool — questionable transfer strategy, poor results, and an overall lack of vision that eventually led to his dismissal after just six months.
* **Lost potential or a different path?** While Kacaniklic may have missed out on a Liverpool breakthrough, the unexpected Fulham switch gave him consistent game time — something he might not have enjoyed had he stayed. It underscores how football careers often hinge on unpredictable moments.
* **Transfer cautionary tale:** For clubs and managers, this story serves as a reminder of the importance of due diligence, especially when dealing with players with similar names or profiles.
