Bill Shankly
Nothing was more important to him than football - not even life or death
| Full name: | William Shankly |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | September 2, 1913 |
| Date of death: | September 29, 1981 |
| Clubs played for: | Carlisle, Preston |
| Clubs managed: | Carlisle, Grimsby, Workington, Huddersfield, Liverpool |
Club Career
A hard running, gritty right-half, Bill Shankly signed for Preston for a fee of £500 in 1933 after a brief spell at Carlisle. He helped North End to promotion in his first season and also to two FA Cup finals – losing the first to Sunderland in 1937 and then beating Huddersfield a year later.
He lost seven years of his career to the war, but during the hostilities he starred for Norwich, Luton, Arsenal and Partick Thistle, as well as helping Preston to victory in the 1941 war time Cup final at Wembley. He also played a single game for Liverpool on May 30, 1942 in a 4-1 win over Everton at Anfield. When the 1946-47 season started, he was at the veteran stage and he retired from playing in March 1949.
International Career
Again, World War II robbed Shankly of much of his Scotland career and he earned only five caps for his country, with the first coming in a memorable 1-0 win over England in April 1938.
International Career Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938-44 | Scotland | 5 | 0 |
Managerial Career
Credited as the man who made Liverpool the worldwide phenomenon it is today, Shankly joined a club languishing in the Second Division with dilapidated facilities and a mediocre playing staff. By transforming training, introducing a strong work ethic and bringing in quality players who he could mould into playing 'the Liverpool way', he created one of the most dominant teams of the modern era.
Behind the scenes he assembled the 'Boot Room', manned by Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Reuben Bennett. The first target of promotion to the First Division was reached in the 1961-62 season. After a campaign of consolidation the First Division title came in 1964 and then again in 1966. Plenty more trophies followed and the Shankly legend on Merseyside was guaranteed, so much so that when he announced his resignation in July 1974, the red half of the city entered a period of mourning.
Key Games
Liverpool 5-0 Arsenal (First Division, April 18, 1964)
A statement that the Reds would be the dominant force in Liverpool, let alone England, came in this 1964 encounter. Shankly's men knew they needed maximum points to take the title from holders Everton, and secure their first championship for 17 years – and they didn't disappoint. A 5-0 victory, with all the goals scored in the first hour, brought the trophy back to Anfield.
Liverpool 2-0 Leeds (First Division, April 23, 1973)
After seven years without a title, Liverpool won the Championship by beating Leeds 2-0 at Anfield. Goals from Peter Cormack and Kevin Keegan proved enough to see off the challenge of Arsenal, even though theoretically they could still have caught the Reds on goal difference. Shankly said: "I think we can call ourselves champions now. I'm delighted for the players, for the club, and especially for the fans, who have again proved themselves the greatest in the world."
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle (FA Cup final, May 4, 1974)
Despite the pre-match declarations from Newcastle striker Malcolm Macdonald that the FA Cup would be heading to Tyneside, Liverpool destroyed their opponents 3-0, without giving Super Mac a kick. Two goals from Kevin Keegan and one from Steve Heighway proved more than enough. This would be Shankly's final trophy as that summer he announced he was retiring to spend more time with his family.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | FA Cup | 1938 |
| Liverpool (as manager) | League Championship | 1963-64, 1965-66, 1972-73 |
| FA Cup | 1965, 1974 | |
| UEFA Cup | 1973 | |
| Second Division Championship | 1961-62 |
Did You Know...?
Bill Shankly came from a footballing family. His three brothers all played professionally - Alec for Ayr and Clyde; Jimmy with Sheffield United and Southend; and John, who was on the books of Luton and Blackpool. His uncle, Bob Blyth, was manager of Portsmouth.
As Huddersfield boss, he signed a 15-year-old Denis Law for the club.
After missing out to Manchester United on the signing of Lou Macari, Shankly sent a note round to his players saying he had only wanted him for the reserve team anyway.
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