Bill Shankly facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Shankly | ||
| Date of birth | 2 September 1913 | ||
| Place of birth | Glenbuck, Ayrshire, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 29 September 1981 (aged 68) | ||
| Place of death | Liverpool, England | ||
| Playing position | Right-half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1931–1932 | Cronberry Eglinton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1932–1933 | Carlisle United | 16 | (0) |
| 1933–1949 | Preston North End | 297 | (13) |
| Total | 313 | (13) | |
| National team | |||
| 1938–1939 | Scotland | 5 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1949–1951 | Carlisle United | ||
| 1951–1954 | Grimsby Town | ||
| 1954–1955 | Workington | ||
| 1956–1959 | Huddersfield Town | ||
| 1959–1974 | Liverpool | ||
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William Shankly (2 September 1913 – 29 September 1981) was a famous Scottish football player and manager. He is best known for his time as manager of Liverpool. Shankly made Liverpool a top team again. He helped them get promoted to the First Division. He also led them to win three League Championships and the UEFA Cup.
Shankly built a strong foundation for Liverpool's future success. After he retired in 1974, his helpers Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan continued his work. They won seven league titles and four European Cups in the next ten years. Shankly was a very inspiring person at the club. He was known for his powerful speeches that got the fans excited. Many people say he created the "idea" of Liverpool Football Club. He made supporters feel like they were a big part of the team.
Shankly grew up in a small Scottish mining village. He was one of five brothers who all became professional footballers. He played as a right-half and played for Scotland five times in official matches. He played one season for Carlisle United. Then he spent the rest of his playing career at Preston North End. With Preston, he won the FA Cup in 1938. His playing career was stopped for a while because he served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. After he stopped playing in 1949, he became a manager. He managed Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Workington, and Huddersfield Town. He became Liverpool's manager in December 1959.
When Shankly took over, Liverpool was in the Second Division. He rebuilt the team into a major power in English and European football. In 1962, he led Liverpool to win the Second Division Championship. This got them promoted to the top-flight First Division. After that, they won three First Division Championships, two FA Cups, four Charity Shields, and one UEFA Cup. During his time, the club also changed to an all-red home kit. The song "You'll Never Walk Alone" became the club's famous anthem. Shankly surprised everyone by retiring a few weeks after Liverpool won the 1974 FA Cup Final. He had managed the club for 15 years. His assistant, Bob Paisley, took over from him. Shankly led the Liverpool team out for the last time at Wembley for the 1974 FA Charity Shield. He passed away seven years later, at 68 years old. Many people think he was one of the greatest football managers ever. He was added to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Contents
Shankly's Early Life
Bill Shankly was born in Glenbuck, a small coal mining village in Ayrshire, Scotland. In 1913, when he was born, about 700 people lived there. Many people from Glenbuck moved away to find work in bigger coal mines. Because of this, the village became mostly empty over time.
Shankly's parents, John and Barbara, lived in a small cottage with their ten children. Bill was the ninth child and the youngest boy. Even though he was known as Bill in football, his family called him Willie. His father was a postman who also made suits. He didn't play football himself, but the family was full of football talent.
All five Shankly brothers became professional footballers. Bill often said they could have beaten any five brothers in the world at their best. His brothers were Alec, Jimmy, John, and Bob. Bob became a very successful manager too. He led Dundee to win the Scottish championship in 1962. Their uncles, Robert and William Blyth, were also professional players.
Shankly wrote in his book that growing up was tough, and they often felt hungry, especially in winter. He said he and his friends sometimes took vegetables from farms or coal from the pits. He admitted it was wrong but said it was because they were always hungry. He believed they learned from these experiences and became better people. He went to school from age five to fourteen. Discipline was strict at home and school, which he felt helped build his character. He loved geography and played football as much as he could.
After leaving school in 1928, Shankly worked in a local mine with his brother Bob. He did this for two years until the mine closed, and he became unemployed. He described mining as very hard work, with rats and constant dirt. He always felt like he was just "killing time" in the mine. He knew he was meant to be a professional footballer. He believed in his destiny and always had great excitement for the sport.
Shankly's village team was called the Glenbuck Cherrypickers. He never actually played for them because the club was almost gone. At 18, Shankly played for Cronberry Eglinton. He would cycle about 12 miles to and from the games. He learned a lot there by listening to older players and his brothers.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting at Carlisle United
Shankly played for Carlisle United for one season, 1932–33. The team was new to the Football League and played in the Third Division North. A scout saw him play for Cronberry and recommended him. Shankly was invited for a one-month trial. It was his first time leaving Scotland. He was signed after just one trial match for Carlisle's reserve team.
Shankly played his first senior game on 31 December 1932. Carlisle drew 2–2 against Rochdale. He played 16 games for the first team that season. At the end of the season, the reserve team won a cup. Shankly said he still had the medal in 1976.
At this time, Shankly was seen as a strong and determined player. People thought he was a promising young talent who could help Carlisle succeed. He earned four pounds ten shillings a week, which was good money back then. He was happy at Carlisle because it was close to his home. He also had a good chance to play regularly. When he got an offer to move, he wasn't sure he wanted to leave.
Time at Preston North End
After the 1932–33 season, Preston North End wanted to sign Shankly. They offered £500 for him. Shankly would get £50, plus £10 for signing, and five pounds a week. He thought it wasn't enough at first. His brother Alec told him that Preston was a bigger club in the Second Division. He said it was a great chance to play in the First Division later. Shankly took his brother's advice and signed with Preston.
Shankly started in Preston's reserve team. He played his first team game on 9 December 1933 against Hull City. He helped Preston win 5–0 by setting up an early goal. He quickly became a regular player and a fan favorite. Preston got promoted to the First Division that season. Shankly stayed with Preston until he retired in 1949. His pay went up to eight pounds a week.
Shankly became a very tough and skilled player. He was considered one of the best in the Football League. In 1936–37, Preston reached the FA Cup Final but lost 3–1 to Sunderland. The next year, they reached the 1938 FA Cup Final again. They beat Huddersfield Town 1–0 in extra time. This was a highlight of Shankly's playing career.
World War II started when Shankly was 26. This meant he missed some of his best playing years. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He still played many wartime games for different clubs. He even played one game for Liverpool in 1942. Shankly also enjoyed boxing in the RAF. He met his wife, Nessie, in the RAF, and they married in 1944.
When full League football started again in 1946, Shankly returned to Preston. He was 33 and nearing the end of his playing days. By 1949, he was Preston's captain but wasn't playing as much. He wanted to become a coach. When Carlisle United offered him their manager job in March 1949, he retired as a player and took the job. Shankly was sad that Preston didn't give him a special match to celebrate his career. He called it the biggest disappointment of his football life.
Playing for Scotland
Shankly played for Scotland 12 times between 1938 and 1943. He felt "unbelievable pride" playing for Scotland against England. He said Scottish players would fight like heroes for 90 minutes. Alex James, a famous player, said Shankly was a "real Scotland player who will fight until he drops."
Shankly's first international game was on 9 April 1938 against England at Wembley. Scotland won 1–0. Nine of his Scotland games were against England. He was Scotland's captain in a wartime match against England in 1941. Scotland lost that game 3–1. His most memorable international game was on 18 April 1942 at Wembley. Scotland won 5–4, and Shankly scored his only goal for Scotland. He took a long shot from 50 yards, and the ball bounced over the England goalkeeper's head into the net.
Shankly's Playing Style
Shankly said he was an expert in "the art of tackling." He stressed that it was an art. He was never sent off or booked by a referee. For him, tackling was about timing and winning the ball cleanly. He believed in playing hard but fairly, without cheating. He also said he never argued with referees because it was a waste of time.
Shankly was always very dedicated to football. He would train on his own during the summer. In 1933, he worked on his throw-in skills. He became known for his long throw-ins. He practiced by throwing balls over houses, and village boys would help him get them back.
Becoming a Manager
Shankly had prepared for a career as a football manager for a long time. He learned all about coaching and felt confident in his ability to lead. He believed he could talk sense about the game and spot good players. When looking for a player, he always looked for ability and courage first. Other important qualities were being fit and willing to work hard, especially when things were difficult.
Carlisle United Manager
Shankly started his managing career at Carlisle United. This was the same club where he began his professional playing career. Carlisle was struggling in the Third Division North in 1948–49. Shankly's hard work changed the team. They finished 15th in his first partial season. They improved to ninth in 1949–50 and then third in 1950–51, almost getting promoted.
One of Shankly's players at Carlisle was Geoff Twentyman. He later became the chief scout at Liverpool, working with Shankly. Twentyman found many talented players for Liverpool.
Shankly used clever ways to motivate his players. He would tell them the other team was tired and not ready to play. He also encouraged local people to support the team. He even used the public address system at games to talk about his team changes. Shankly remembered that the stadium, Brunton Park, was old and falling apart. He even burned all the old team kits. Once, he stopped the team bus to buy new kits from a shop for a game.
Ticket sales went up in 1950–51, and Carlisle almost got promoted. However, Shankly left because he said the club's board didn't keep a promise about bonuses for the players. He resigned and went to manage Grimsby Town. At Carlisle, Shankly won 42 games and lost 22 out of 95 matches.
Grimsby Town Manager
After not getting a job at Liverpool, Shankly moved to manage Grimsby Town in June 1951. He felt Grimsby had more potential than Carlisle. The main problems were that Grimsby had been relegated twice recently. Also, some good players had left before he arrived. Still, Shankly believed he had good players and could buy more for low prices.
Grimsby played well in 1951–52 and almost got promoted, finishing second. Shankly used five-a-side football games a lot in training. He made these games feel like real matches. He also worked on special plays like throw-ins and how to counter-attack from corners.
In 1952–53, Grimsby started strong but finished fifth. By 1953–54, Shankly was unhappy because the board wouldn't give him money to buy new players. He resigned in January 1954, saying the board lacked ambition. He also said he and his wife missed home. He was interested in managing Workington because it was closer to Scotland. At Grimsby, Shankly won 62 games and lost 35 out of 118 matches.
Workington Manager
Workington was near the bottom of the Third Division North, but Shankly saw it as a challenge. He put all his energy into the job. Workington moved up to 18th place by the end of the 1953–54 season. In 1954–55, the team finished eighth, and more fans came to games.
Workington had very little money. Shankly had to do a lot of the office work himself, like answering the phone and typing letters. He even had to go to the bank every week to pick up the players' wages. One big problem was sharing the stadium with the local rugby team. Shankly was worried about the damage to the field. This led to many arguments with the club's board, who cared more about rugby.
Shankly resigned on 15 November 1955 to become assistant manager at Huddersfield Town. He worked with his old friend Andy Beattie there. At Workington, Shankly won 35 games and lost 27 out of 85 matches.
Huddersfield Town Manager
At Huddersfield, Shankly first coached the reserve team. He worked with many promising young players who soon joined the first team. Huddersfield was relegated to the Second Division in 1956. On 5 November 1956, Shankly became the manager. On Christmas Eve, he gave a 16-year-old player named Denis Law his first team game. Another young talent was Ray Wilson, who later became a famous player. Shankly didn't get Huddersfield promoted. They finished 12th, ninth, and 14th in his three seasons.
Shankly was unhappy because the board wanted to sell his best players without giving him money to buy new ones. He felt stuck because Huddersfield lacked ambition. In November 1959, Liverpool contacted him, and he was very happy. He remembered Liverpool chairman Tom Williams asking if he wanted to manage the best club in the country. Shankly joked, "Why, is Matt Busby packing up?" He thought about the offer because Liverpool, like Huddersfield, was in the Second Division but had great potential. Shankly accepted Liverpool's offer and resigned from Huddersfield on 1 December 1959. At Huddersfield, he won 49 games and lost 47 out of 129 matches.
Leading Liverpool to Glory
Building a New Team (1959–1964)
When Shankly arrived at Anfield on 14 December 1959, Liverpool had been in the Second Division for five years. They had even lost to a non-league team in the FA Cup. Anfield itself was in bad shape. Shankly insisted the club spend money to fix the pitch. He also called the training ground, Melwood, "a mess." The Liverpool team he took over had mostly average players.
Despite the problems, Shankly quickly felt at home. He felt a strong connection with the supporters. He also built good relationships with his coaching staff: Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, and Reuben Bennett. They all believed in loyalty to each other and the club. Paisley was especially important for tactics. The coaches turned an old storage room into the famous "Boot Room." They used it to discuss game plans while cleaning boots.
Shankly wanted to improve the team. He put 24 players on a transfer list, and they all left within a year. He knew exactly which three key players he needed to build a strong team.
Melwood was overgrown and had poor facilities. Shankly started a plan to improve the training ground. He made sure players trained on grass with a ball, not just by running on roads. Everything was planned carefully. Players did different exercises in groups to reach specific goals. Five-a-side games were a big part of training. Shankly insisted they were as competitive as real matches.
One special training exercise was the "sweat box." Shankly described it as playing the ball off walls, controlling it, turning, and playing it again. He got the idea from watching Tom Finney, a great player. This system helped players develop stamina, quick reactions, and ball skills. It was all part of Shankly's simple idea: "pass and move." This became Liverpool's main strategy. He also made sure players cooled down after training and had good meals.
Liverpool needed new players to get better. Shankly had to convince the club's board to spend money. He found a helpful friend in Eric Sawyer, who joined the board. Sawyer shared Shankly's dream of Liverpool becoming the best club in England. In 1961, Shankly wanted to buy two players from Scotland. The board said they couldn't afford them. But Sawyer said, "We can't afford not to buy them."
The two Scottish players were Ron Yeats, a strong defender, and Ian St John, a forward. With Sawyer's help, Shankly signed them both in 1961. At a press conference, Shankly famously told reporters to "go and walk round him; he's a colossus!" about Yeats. Goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence also came from the club's youth teams. Shankly now had his strong central players. Other players like Gordon Milne, Jimmy Melia, Ronnie Moran, Alan A'Court, Gerry Byrne, and Roger Hunt also joined or developed. Shankly said of Hunt, "Christ, this one can play!" Liverpool had finished third in 1959–60 and 1960–61. But with the new team, they won the Second Division championship in 1961–62. Hunt scored 41 goals that season.
Liverpool settled into the top league in 1962–63, finishing eighth. Important new players were Willie Stevenson in 1962 and Peter Thompson in 1963. Shankly called the Thompson deal "daylight robbery." More future England players came from Liverpool's youth system, like Ian Callaghan, Tommy Smith, and Chris Lawler. All the hard work paid off in 1963–64. Liverpool won their sixth League Championship title, beating Arsenal 5–0 in the final game. Roger Hunt said Liverpool's success was because they were the fittest team in the country under Shankly.
FA Cup and European Adventures (1964–1970)
One of Shankly's biggest goals was to win the FA Cup. After signing Yeats and St John, he told the club they would win it with those two. In May 1965, Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time ever. St John scored the winning goal in a 2–1 extra time victory over Leeds United at Wembley. Shankly said winning the 1965 FA Cup final was his greatest day in football. Before the final, The Beatles sent Shankly a good luck telegram.
Liverpool played in Europe for the first time in 1964–65. They reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. Before a match against Anderlecht, Shankly decided to try something new with the kit. Liverpool usually wore red shirts with white shorts and socks. Shankly and Ian St John thought an all-red kit would make the players look taller. Liverpool started wearing all-red for European games and then made it their permanent home kit.
Three days after winning the FA Cup, Liverpool beat European champions Inter Milan 3–1 at Anfield in the first semi-final game. The second game in Milan was very controversial. Liverpool lost 3–0 and were knocked out. Shankly believed two of Inter's goals were unfair. Even today, some people say Liverpool was cheated by the referee.
In 1965–66, Liverpool won the League Championship again. They also reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup. They lost 2–1 in extra time to Borussia Dortmund. Shankly learned a lot about European football from these games. He and Paisley developed a strategy: play defensively away from home and attack strongly at home.
Liverpool started the 1966–67 season by beating Everton in the FA Charity Shield. But they didn't win any major trophies that season, finishing fifth in the league. Shankly signed Emlyn Hughes, who later became a famous England captain, in 1967. Liverpool's European Cup performance was poor that season. They lost badly to Ajax Amsterdam, led by 19-year-old Johan Cruyff. Ajax won 7–3 on total goals. Shankly later complained that the first game in Amsterdam should not have been played because of fog.
Liverpool improved in the league over the next two years, finishing third and then second. But Shankly felt it was a "mediocre time." He made some signings that didn't work out as he hoped. He signed striker Tony Hateley for a club record fee in 1967 but sold him a year later. He also signed Alun Evans, who became "football's first £100,000 teenager." Evans started well but later had problems.
The only long-term success Shankly had in the transfer market during this time was signing Emlyn Hughes. Otherwise, he didn't change the team much until the 1969–70 season. Liverpool finished fifth in the league that year, far behind their rivals Everton. Shankly always joked about Everton, even though he respected them. He would say Liverpool had two great teams: Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.
In the 1969–70 FA Cup, Liverpool lost 1–0 to a struggling team, Watford. This loss showed that the team needed big changes. Players like St John, Hunt, Byrne, Yeats, and Lawrence left. New players came in, including Ray Clemence, Alec Lindsay, Larry Lloyd, John Toshack, Brian Hall, and Steve Heighway. Most of these players came from lower divisions or even non-league football. With these new players, plus Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan, Chris Lawler, and Emlyn Hughes, Shankly built a second great team. This team would go on to dominate English and European football in the 1970s.
Many of the new players came to Liverpool because of a new scouting system. Shankly created it in 1967 and put his former player Geoff Twentyman in charge. Twentyman was a brilliant scout. He found players like Phil Neal, Alan Hansen, and Ian Rush for Liverpool even after Shankly retired. Shankly told Twentyman to look for players who could pass the ball and move into position. He also wanted players with the right attitude and "the heart to play for Liverpool." Shankly preferred to find young players and train them himself.
Dominating the 1970s (1970–1974)
The new team started well in 1970–71. They stayed in fifth place in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The highlight of their European journey was beating Bayern Munich 4–1. For the first time since 1965, Liverpool reached the FA Cup Final. But Shankly's young team lost 2–1 to Arsenal, even though they scored first in extra time. A new player, Kevin Keegan, who Shankly called "the inspiration of the new team," watched from the sidelines.
In Keegan's first season, 1971–72, Liverpool almost won the League Championship. They lost by just one point to Brian Clough's Derby County. Shankly felt Liverpool were unlucky with referee decisions in key games. But he was encouraged by the team's strong finish and felt confident for the next season.
Shankly was known for using psychology to motivate his players and make opponents nervous. One of his famous ideas is the "THIS IS ANFIELD" sign above the players' tunnel. He said it was "to remind our lads who they’re playing for, and to remind the opposition who they’re playing against." In the first game after it was put up, Liverpool beat Newcastle United 5–0. Shankly would also boost his players' confidence by telling them a key opponent was unfit. Once, before Keegan played against Bobby Moore, Shankly told him Moore was tired. After Keegan played brilliantly, Shankly told him Moore had been amazing and Keegan would never play against anyone better.
In 1972–73, Liverpool won their eighth league title, and Shankly's third. They also won the 1973 UEFA Cup, their first European trophy. In the final, they played Borussia Mönchengladbach. The first game at Anfield had to be played twice because of heavy rain. Shankly changed his team for the replay, bringing in John Toshack. Toshack used his height to help create two goals for Keegan, and Liverpool won 3–0. The second game in Germany was tough, with Borussia scoring two early goals. But Liverpool held on to win the final 3–2 on total goals. It was the first time an English club won both the league title and a European trophy in the same season.
Liverpool didn't do as well in 1973–74. They lost in the European Cup and finished second in the league. But they reached the FA Cup final again. In what was Shankly's last official game as manager, Liverpool played brilliantly to beat Newcastle 3–0 at Wembley.
Shankly's Bond with Fans
Shankly always believed that fans were the most important people in football. He said you have to know how to treat them and get them on your side. This was especially true at Liverpool. He felt a strong connection with the Liverpool supporters. He said their support for the team was incredible.
In April 1973, when Shankly and the team showed off the League Championship trophy to the fans, a policeman threw away a Liverpool scarf. Shankly picked it up and wore it. He told the policeman, "Don't you do that. That's precious." He saw the scarf as a sign of respect from the fans.
Shankly believed in talking to the supporters. At Carlisle, he used the public address system to explain his team changes. At Workington, he would answer fans' letters himself. He also helped fans get match tickets if they needed them. He said he would give people anything reasonable.
Shankly had a special bond with Liverpool fans. After winning the Second Division championship in 1962, he told a newspaper, "they are the greatest crowd of supporters in the game." Tommy Smith said Shankly understood the city of Liverpool perfectly. He loved the supporters, and they loved him.
Shankly was a great speaker. After Liverpool lost the 1971 FA Cup Final, he and the players toured the city. Over 100,000 fans came out to greet them. Standing on the steps of St George's Hall, Shankly gave a famous speech. He told the crowd, "Since I've come here to Liverpool, to Anfield, I've drummed it into our players, time and again, that they are privileged to play for you. And if they didn't believe me, they believe me now."
Retirement and Later Years
Shankly was 60 when Liverpool won the 1974 FA Cup final. He felt tired from all the years of managing. He decided to retire. His wife, Nessie, had asked him to retire a year earlier. He felt he could leave Liverpool with pride, having done a good job. His only regret was not winning the European Cup.
Shankly's retirement was a big surprise. It was announced at a press conference on 12 July 1974.
Shankly soon regretted his decision. He tried to stay involved with the club, often coming to training at Melwood. He said the club had become his life. But he soon stopped going because he felt people wondered why he was there. He still went to matches but sat away from the directors. He was upset that Liverpool didn't invite him to away games as a guest. He felt insulted when he was put in a separate hotel during a trip to Bruges. Shankly said other clubs, like Everton and Manchester United, treated him more warmly than Liverpool did.
From Liverpool's point of view, Shankly had retired, and the club needed to move forward. Shankly didn't realize that by coming to training, he was making it harder for Bob Paisley, the new manager. One player told Shankly that Paisley was doing well. Shankly joked, "I could have left a monkey in charge!" Eventually, Paisley had to tell Shankly that he didn't work there anymore and it was his team now.
Many believed Shankly wanted a seat on the Liverpool board, like Matt Busby had at Manchester United. But the Liverpool board worried he would try to control things from the sidelines. They also saw that Busby's presence had caused problems at Manchester United. So, Liverpool decided it was best for the club and the new manager to move on. This decision was proven right by the many trophies Liverpool won under Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan in the next decade.
After Shankly retired, Brian Clough, another famous manager, was asked who he respected in football. Clough said, "The guy who had my total respect finished a few months ago at Liverpool. He's a one off, there'll never be another one like Shanks. Never at all. He absolutely lives the game... he was totally honest."
Life After Liverpool
Shankly received an OBE award in November 1974. He and Nessie went to Buckingham Palace. They continued to live in the same house in West Derby, Liverpool, that they bought in 1959. Nessie lived there until she passed away in 2002.
Shankly tried to stay busy in retirement. He worked for a Liverpool radio station, Radio City 96.7, where he had his own chat show. He also gave advice to clubs like Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers. John Toshack said Shankly helped him a lot when he became a manager. Even in his sixties, Shankly stayed fit and often played five-a-side football.
Death and Lasting Legacy
On 26 September 1981, Bill Shankly was taken to the hospital after a heart attack. His condition seemed stable at first. But on 29 September, his condition suddenly got worse. He passed away at 68 years old. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered on the Anfield pitch.
On the day Shankly died, training was cancelled at Liverpool. Tributes came in from all over the football world. Liverpool chairman John Smith said, "In my opinion, he was the most outstanding and dynamic manager of the century." On 3 October, Liverpool's first home game after his death, fans celebrated his life. One fan held a banner that said "Shankly Lives Forever."
Liverpool built the 15-foot high Shankly Gates outside Anfield in 1982. They have "You'll Never Walk Alone" written on them. In 1997, a seven-foot tall bronze statue of Shankly was put up outside the stadium. It says, "He made the people happy." In 2016, a special plaque for Shankly was installed outside Anfield.
When Preston North End rebuilt their stadium in the 1990s, they named a new stand the Bill Shankly Kop. The seats in the stand form an image of Shankly's head and shoulders.
Shankly was one of the first people added to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also one of the first added to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004. A book about his time as Liverpool manager, Red or Dead, was published in 2013. A hotel and museum dedicated to his life opened in Liverpool in 2015. Shankly is also remembered in the popular Liverpool chant "Allez, Allez, Allez." His voice can be heard on the 1988 song "Anfield Rap."
Personal Life
Bill Shankly was married to Agnes Wren-Fisher, known as Nessie, from 1944 until his death. They met during World War II when they were both serving in the Royal Air Force. They had two daughters, Barbara and Jeanette. They also had six grandchildren. Nessie lived for more than 20 years after Bill passed away. When Shankly became Liverpool manager in 1959, he and his family moved to a house in West Derby, Liverpool. Nessie lived in that house for over 40 years.
Shankly's Personality
Stephen Kelly, who wrote a book about Shankly, called him "the ultimate obsessive." Shankly was incredibly passionate about Liverpool and football. He always wanted to talk about football, whether coaching players or chatting with fans in pubs. He had few interests outside of the game, apart from his family. His wife, Nessie, said he enjoyed mowing the lawn and weeding in the garden. She also said he would clean the cooker when Liverpool lost a game. Family holidays were usually just a week in Blackpool. Shankly also loved playing cards, especially on long bus trips to away matches.
Shankly was known for his inspiring personality and his humor. Many of his quotes are still famous today.
Shankly understood how important football was to its biggest fans, including himself. He believed it was the most important thing. Ian St John, a player, said much of Shankly's behavior seemed "bizarre," but it always had a purpose. Shankly always knew what he was doing and saying.
Shankly believed enthusiasm was the greatest thing in the world. He said, "You’re nothing without it." He also talked about how his tough upbringing kept him grounded. He said, "Pressure is working down the pit. Pressure is having no work at all. Pressure is trying to escape relegation on 50 shillings a week. Pressure is not the European Cup or the Championship or the Cup Final. That’s the reward.” He believed in hard work. He said, "If I had a job to do, even if it was scrubbing the floor, I wanted my floor to be cleaner than yours." He wanted everyone to do their best in small jobs, which he called honesty. He believed this would make the world and football better.
In his book, Shankly shared his view as a socialist. He explained that his socialism wasn't about politics. It was about everyone working together and sharing the rewards. This was how he approached football, which is a team game where everyone works together and shares success.
Even though he lived most of his life in England, Shankly always identified as a Scot. He said, "If Scotland went to war tomorrow, I’ll be the first one there." He admired the poet Robert Burns and was inspired by his ideas about equality. Shankly disliked prejudice or bigotry, especially based on religion. He said that in Liverpool, unlike Glasgow, there wasn't a religious divide between football fans. He said the supporters of Liverpool and Everton were a mix of people whose religion was football.
Shankly often seemed like a "tough guy" in public. But privately, he was very different. Joe Mercer, another manager, said Shankly had a "heart of gold." Some people thought Liverpool's struggles in the late 1960s were because Shankly didn't want to drop his older players, even if they weren't playing their best. Bob Paisley said this was Shankly's only weakness because he was "a softie at heart."
Honours
As a player
Preston North End
- FA Cup: 1937–38, runner-up: 1936–37
- Football League War Cup: 1940–41
- Football League Second Division: promotion 1933–34
Scotland
- British Home Championship: 1938–39
As a manager
Liverpool
- Football League First Division: 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73
- Football League Second Division: 1961–62
- FA Cup: 1964–65, 1973–74
- FA Charity Shield: 1964, 1965, 1966
- UEFA Cup: 1972–73
Individual
- Manager of the Year Award: 1972–73
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire: 1974
- PFA Merit Award: 1978
- ESPN 10th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013
- France Football 10th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019
- World Soccer 20th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013
- Inaugural Inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
- Inaugural Inductee to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame: 2004
In April 2013, Shankly was honored by Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. He was one of ten people chosen for a special "Great Britons" commemorative postage stamp issue.
Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||||
| Carlisle United | 1949 | 1951 | 108 | 48 | 33 | 27 | 44.44 | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 1951 | 1953 | 80 | 47 | 16 | 17 | 58.75 | ||||
| Workington | 1954 | 1955 | 85 | 35 | 23 | 27 | 41.18 | ||||
| Huddersfield Town | 1956 | 1959 | 134 | 49 | 35 | 50 | 36.57 | ||||
| Liverpool | 1959 | 1974 | 783 | 407 | 198 | 178 | 51.98 | ||||
| Total | 1,190 | 586 | 305 | 299 | 49.24 | ||||||
|
See also
- List of English football championship winning managers
- List of longest managerial reigns in association football
