It is easy for Liverpudlians who didn’t live through the Bill Shankly era at Anfield to assume it was a constant stream of trophies and glory.
The iconic Scottish manager is rightly regarded as the pioneer and founding father of the dynasty which close to half a century after his shock retirement still sees Liverpool as the country’s most successful outfit. After taking over in December 1959, he revitalised what had become a sleeping giant by rapidly dragging the Reds out of the doldrums of the Second Division and establishing them as serial contenders for top honours, three times making them champions of England while also ending the long 73-year ‘curse’ for a first FA Cup and coming desperately close to being the first British manager to win the European Cup before lifting the club’s first continental honour, the UEFA Fairs Cup.
Some would argue his true greatness should be measured by what his reign in charge led to, an even more dominant period of success under Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and those whose Boot Room culture of simplicity, togetherness and excellence still resonates for Jurgen Klopp and his backroom staff to this very day.
