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Born:
Glenbuck, Ayrshire 2.9. 1913
Died: 29.9. 1981
Manager: 1959-74
Other clubs: Preston North End, Carlisle United (as player)
Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Workington, Huddersfield Town
(as manager)
Honours: Division 2 champions 61-62
Division 1 champions 63-64, 65-66, 72-73
FA Cup winners 64-65, 73-74
UEFA Cup winners 72-73
Charity Shield winners 64 (shared), 65 (shared), 66
Division 1 runners up 68-69, 73-74
FA Cup runners up 70-71
European Cup Winners Cup runners up 65-66
Charity Shield runners up 71
International caps: 7 (Scotland) |
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A man from the 'school of hard knocks', Shankly was one of ten children
and his humbe beginnings in a small coal-mining community
in Ayrshire, Scotland, made him the man he was.
An uncompromising wing-half as a player with Preston North End
and Carlisle United, Shankly joined The Reds after spells in charge at Grimsby,
Workington and Huddersfield, and went on to make
Liverpool the greatest club in the world.
Shankly rebuilt the club around two key players he brought in, both Scotsmen.
After dispensing with the services of 24 members of the playing
staff (he kept the backroom staff though), shankly brought in Ron Yeats
and Ian St John, and The Reds romped away with the Second Division title
in 1961-62, finishing 8 points clear of their nearest rivals and amassing a
stunning - in days of two points for a win - 62 points and scoring 99 goals in the process.
Shankly was a simple man, with simple footballing principles. His sides
played creative, attacking football, passing their opponents off the park.
His attacking force of Peter Thompson and Ian Callaghan on the wings,
with Ian St John and Roger Hunt there to put the ball in the back of the net,
would be just as lethal today as it was then.
His teams always played football the right way, and he
brought unprecendented success
to the club, including their first forte into Europe.
Shankly also created the 'bootroom' philosophy of promotion from within.
In his backroom staff were three future managers - Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan;
and Roy Evans of course.
He died following a heart attack on September 29, 1981,
and the footballing world mourned.
His spirit lives on at Anfield to this day, where the gates at the ground
bear his name and the immortal words "You'll never walk alone".
Certainly Shankly never walked alone and he is revered
by all Liverpool supporters to this day.
By Derek Dohren
The Stone
Monument
Some famous Shankly Quotes
1959-2009 (49): SHANKLY WEEK
Download two great songs in honour of Shankly
Bill Shankly - an everyday inspiration
Gerry Mardsen: Why Shankly is the greatest ever
Ron Yeats on Shankly
Hunt on Shanks and the glory of '65
Ray Clemence on Shankly
Benitez admires the Shankly way
Moran: How Bill Shankly changed my life
Carra: Shanks is Liverpool's number one
Thommo salutes impact of 'Mr Liverpool'
Toshack: I owe it all to Shankly
Thor Zakariassen ©
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