Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish is certain about who the greatest British manager in the history of football is, but the former boss was never given the award he deserved.
Kenny Dalglish was privileged to play under some great managers during his career. Jock Stein, the first British manager to lift the European Cup, was his boss at Celtic and later Scotland. Sir Alex Fergurson once claimed Stein was without question, one of the greatest managers of all time.
However, Dalglish believes his former Liverpool head coach was the best in Britain. He said: “Bob Paisley is the greatest manager in the history of British football – I have no hesitation in saying that.
“His relentless amassing of silverware justifies that statement. In nine years, Bob won six titles, three League Cups, the Uefa Cup and three European Cups. Three! Some record – and, remember, that was in the days when if you lost in Europe, you were out. There were no second chances, no group stages providing a nice safety net.”
Liverpool named the gates outside the Kop in Paisley’s honour and later built him a statue outside Anfield. Paisley also received an OBE to recognise his achievements in football, but he was never given a knighthood, much to Dalglish’s disappointment.
He continued: “Yet Bob never got any recognition from the country. Three European Cups and he can’t get a knighthood.
“Matt Busby was knighted. Alex Ferguson was knighted. Bobby Robson, God bless him, was knighted. So why was Bob missed out?”
Paisley was originally from County Durham and began his career at Bishop Auckland. However, he spent 15 years playing for Liverpool and returned to the club as an assistant manager.
When Bill Shankly retired in 1974, it was Paisley who stepped up to the task and his record speaks for itself. Liverpool not only dominated England during his reign, but the European football scene too. Even after stepping down as manager, Paisley continued as the club’s director until 1992.
Sadly, Paisley passed away four years later after suffering with Alzheimer’s. However, he established a legacy at Liverpool which will live on forever.
