Graeme Souness facts for kids
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Souness in 2001
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graeme James Souness | ||
| Date of birth | 6 May 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Tynecastle Boys Club & North Merchiston BC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | (0) |
| 1972 | → Montreal Olympique (loan) | 10 | (2) |
| 1972–1978 | Middlesbrough | 176 | (22) |
| 1977 | → West Adelaide (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 1978–1984 | Liverpool | 247 | (38) |
| 1984–1986 | Sampdoria | 56 | (8) |
| 1986–1991 | Rangers | 50 | (3) |
| Total | 545 | (74) | |
| International career | |||
| 1974–1986 | Scotland | 54 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1986–1991 | Rangers (player-manager) | ||
| 1991–1994 | Liverpool | ||
| 1995–1996 | Galatasaray | ||
| 1996–1997 | Southampton | ||
| 1997 | Torino | ||
| 1997–1999 | Benfica | ||
| 2000–2004 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| 2004–2006 | Newcastle United | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Graeme James Souness (born 6 May 1953) is a Scottish former professional football player, manager, and television expert. He was recently honored as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024 for his contributions to football and charity.
Many people consider Souness to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He had his most successful playing years with Liverpool in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During this time, he helped the team win five First Division titles and three European Cup trophies. He was the captain of Liverpool for three seasons before moving to Sampdoria in 1984.
Later, Souness became a player-manager for Rangers. He led the club to three Scottish titles and four League Cups. His last game as a player was in the final minutes of Rangers' last match of the 1989–90 season. This was his only appearance that season.
After his time as a player-manager, Souness continued as Rangers' coach for another year. He then joined Liverpool as manager for the 1991–92 English First Division season. He also managed other clubs like Galatasaray, Southampton, Torino, Benfica, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United.
For his country, Souness played 54 games for the Scotland national team. He was the team captain 27 times.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
Graeme Souness grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. He supported local teams like Hearts and Rangers. As a teenager, he played for a local boys' club called North Merchiston.
Souness began his professional journey as a young player at Tottenham Hotspur in 1968. He was eager to play for the first team. He made one appearance for Spurs as a substitute in a UEFA Cup game.
In the summer of 1972, Souness played in the North American Soccer League for the Montreal Olympique. He played in 10 matches and was named to the league's All-Star team that season.
Time at Middlesbrough
In 1972, Tottenham sold Souness to Middlesbrough for £30,000. He played his first game for Middlesbrough on 6 January 1973. His first goal came on 11 December 1973.
Souness became known for his strong playing style at Middlesbrough. In his first full season, Middlesbrough finished fourth. Jack Charlton became the manager in May 1973. He signed Bobby Murdoch, an experienced Scottish midfielder, who helped Souness develop his game. Middlesbrough won the Second Division championship in 1973–74. Souness showed his skill by scoring three goals in the final game of the season, an 8–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Success with Liverpool
Graeme Souness is most famous for his seven seasons playing for Liverpool. There, he won five League Championships, three European Cups, and four League Cups.
Souness joined Liverpool in January 1978. Liverpool manager Bob Paisley signed three Scottish players to strengthen the team. These players were Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, and Souness. Souness joined from Middlesbrough for a club-record fee of £350,000 on 10 January 1978.
Souness's first game for Liverpool was a 1–0 win against West Bromwich Albion on 14 January 1978. He scored his first goal, a volley, in a 3–1 win over Manchester United. Fans voted it the goal of the season.
Souness played a key role in Liverpool winning the European Cup again in 1978. He provided the pass for Kenny Dalglish to score the only goal in the final against FC Bruges at Wembley Stadium.
Liverpool continued to win many trophies. Souness won his first League title medals in 1978–79 and 1979–80. He earned a second European Cup medal in 1981 when Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1–0. In that competition, Souness scored three goals in the quarter-final against CSKA Sofia.
Manager Bob Paisley made Souness the club captain for the 1981–82 season. Under Souness's leadership, Liverpool won the League championship and the League Cup. They successfully defended these trophies in the 1982–83 season. After winning the League Cup final in 1983, Souness let manager Paisley lift the trophy, as it was Paisley's last season before retiring.
In 1983–84, Souness lifted three trophies. He scored the winning goal in the 1984 League Cup final replay against rivals Everton. Liverpool also won the league title for the third season in a row. They reached the 1984 European Cup final and won it after a penalty shootout against Roma. Souness scored one of the penalties in the shootout.
Souness's playing career at Liverpool ended in 1984. He played 358 games and scored 56 goals for the club.
Moving to Sampdoria
In 1984, Souness joined Sampdoria in Italy for £650,000. He was one of the few Scottish players to play in Italy's top league, Serie A. Souness and England international Trevor Francis brought experience to the team. They played alongside future Italian stars like Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli.
In his first season, Souness helped Sampdoria win the Coppa Italia for the first time in the club's history. Sampdoria won the 1985 Coppa Italia Final 3–1 against Milan. Souness scored the only goal in the first leg of the final.
Playing for Rangers
Souness's time in Italy ended in 1986 when he became a player-manager at Rangers. His playing start at Ibrox was not easy. In his first game, he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the first 34 minutes.
Souness faced some disciplinary issues and injuries during his time as a player at Rangers. He played 73 games in total for Rangers, scoring three goals. His last game as a player was at Ibrox in a 2–0 win over Dunfermline Athletic in Rangers' final home match of the 1989–90 season. He came on as a substitute for the last 20 minutes.
International Career with Scotland
While playing for Middlesbrough, Souness earned his first international cap for Scotland on 30 October 1974. This was in a friendly match against East Germany. By the time he was chosen for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, he had only played six times for Scotland.
Souness missed Scotland's first two World Cup matches in 1978 due to injury. He played in the final group match against the Netherlands. Scotland won 3–2, but they were still eliminated from the tournament.
Souness played in two more World Cups. In 1982 in Spain, he played all three group stage matches. He scored his first international goal in the final game before Scotland's elimination, a 2–2 draw with the Soviet Union.
His final World Cup appearance was in 1986 in Mexico. At this time, Souness was already the player-manager for Rangers. He played in defeats to Denmark and West Germany. He later said he struggled in those matches due to the high altitude. Souness was not selected for Scotland's final match against Uruguay. His international career ended after the 1986 World Cup. He played 54 games for Scotland over almost 12 years, scoring four goals.
Coaching and Managerial Career
Leading Rangers to Success
Graeme Souness became Rangers' first player-manager in April 1986. He joined from Sampdoria for £300,000. Rangers had not won the league title since 1978. Souness aimed to bring the club back to the top of Scottish football.
Souness started signing many top players from English clubs. This was unusual because Scottish clubs usually sold their best players to English teams. Rangers could offer European club competition, which English clubs were banned from at the time due to the Heysel Stadium disaster. This allowed Rangers to attract talented players.
This period was called the "Souness Revolution." He signed players like Terry Butcher and Chris Woods, who were England internationals. Other English international players like Trevor Steven and Ray Wilkins also joined.
Souness quickly made Rangers a dominant force in Scottish football. In his first season, 1986–87, they won the Championship and the League Cup. They won the League Cup again in 1987–88. Rangers also won two more Championships in 1988–89 and 1989–90. They added two more League Cup victories in 1988–89 and 1990–91.
In April 1991, Souness left Rangers to become manager of Liverpool. Rangers were on their way to winning a fourth league title in five seasons. His assistant, Walter Smith, took over and continued the club's success.
Souness's time at Rangers was very successful. He managed 261 matches for Rangers, winning 125 of 193 league games.
Managing Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish, who had played with Souness at Liverpool, resigned as manager in February 1991. Souness was appointed Liverpool manager on 16 April 1991. He signed a five-year contract.
Souness made big changes to the squad in his first six months. He brought in new players like Dean Saunders, Mark Wright, and Rob Jones. He also gave young players like Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, and Robbie Fowler a chance to play regularly.
In the 1991–92 season, Liverpool finished sixth in the league. They returned to European competition after six years. They reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool won the 1992 FA Cup Final 2–0 against Sunderland.
The 1992–93 season was difficult for Souness. Liverpool struggled in the league, finishing sixth. They did not qualify for European competition for the first time since 1963 (excluding the ban years).
The pressure on Souness grew in 1993. He tried to improve the team by signing Julian Dicks and Nigel Clough. However, the team's results did not improve. Souness resigned as Liverpool manager at the end of January 1994 after a surprising FA Cup loss to Bristol City. Roy Evans took over as manager.
Souness's time as Liverpool manager is remembered for winning the FA Cup in 1992. He also helped young players like Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, and Jamie Redknapp become key players for the club.
Managing Galatasaray
After leaving Liverpool, Souness managed Galatasaray in Turkey starting in June 1995. He caused a stir when he planted a large Galatasaray flag in the center of their rivals' pitch after winning the Turkish Cup final in 1996. This act earned him the nickname "Ulubatlı Souness," comparing him to a Turkish hero.
Short Stints in England and Italy
Souness returned to England to manage Southampton. He resigned after one season due to disagreements with the chairman. A notable moment was signing Ali Dia, who turned out to be a hoax player. Southampton avoided relegation that season.
After Southampton, Souness went back to Italy to coach Torino. He left after just four months because he had no say in player transfers.
Leading Benfica
In November 1997, Souness was appointed manager of Benfica in Portugal. He brought several British players to the club. Souness left Benfica after 18 months.
Blackburn Rovers' Success
Souness returned to the English league in March 2000 to manage Blackburn Rovers. He helped them get promoted back to the Premier League in his first full season. During his four years at Blackburn, he developed young talents like Damien Duff and David Dunn. He also signed experienced players like Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.
Blackburn won the League Cup in February 2002, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 in the final. They finished 10th in the league that season. Souness then guided Blackburn to a sixth-place finish in 2003, which qualified them for the UEFA Cup again.
Time at Newcastle United
Souness left Blackburn in September 2004 to become manager of Newcastle United. He replaced Sir Bobby Robson.
Despite a good start, Souness had disagreements with some players. The club finished 14th in the league in his first season. They reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup and the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Newcastle had a slow start to the 2005–06 season. Souness hoped that signing Michael Owen for a club-record fee of £17 million would improve the team. Newcastle won their next three matches after a derby win against Sunderland. However, Owen got injured, adding to the team's problems.
Souness was criticized for not planning well for the long term and for having a small squad. Expensive signings like Jean-Alain Boumsong and Albert Luque did not perform as expected. By February 2006, Newcastle was 15th in the Premier League. On 2 February 2006, Souness was sacked as manager. He was replaced by Glenn Roeder.
Graeme Souness did not return to football management after leaving Newcastle.
Life After Management
Working in Media
Since his managerial career ended, Souness has worked as a television analyst in the UK and Ireland. He was a main analyst for Sky Sports' coverage of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League until 2015. He left Sky Sports on 30 April 2023.
Souness also appeared on RTÉ's football coverage in Ireland. He contributed to RTÉ Sport's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
As a football expert, Souness is known for his frequent comments on players like Paul Pogba.
Other Interests
In January 2007, Souness was reported to be leading a group to buy Football League Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made a formal offer, but it was rejected.
Souness has written two autobiographies: No Half Measures (1985) and Souness: The Management Years (1999).
In 2023, Souness launched a fundraising campaign for DEBRA, a charity that helps people with a skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa. As part of this effort, he swam the English Channel on 18 June 2023, as part of a six-person relay team. He helped raise £1 million for the charity.
Awards and Recognition
Souness was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024 for his services to football and charity.
Player Honours
- Tottenham Hotspur Youth
- FA Youth Cup: 1969–70
- Middlesbrough
- Football League Second Division: 1973–74
- Liverpool
- Football League First Division: 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84
- Football League Cup: 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84
- FA Charity Shield: 1979, 1980, 1982
- European Cup: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1983–84
- Sampdoria
- Coppa Italia: 1984–85
- Rangers
- Scottish Premier Division: 1986–87, 1988–89
- Scottish League Cup: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
- Scotland
- Rous Cup: 1985
Individual Player Awards
- Middlesbrough Player of the Year: 1973–74
- European Cup Golden Boot: 1980–81
- PFA First Division Team of the Year: 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84
- PFA Team of the Century (1977–96): 2007
Manager Honours
- Rangers
- Scottish Premier Division: 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90
- Scottish League Cup: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91
- Liverpool
- FA Cup: 1991–92
- Galatasaray
- Turkish Cup: 1995–96
- Turkish Super Cup: 1996
- Blackburn Rovers
- Football League Cup: 2001–02
Individual Manager Awards
- Premier League Manager of the Month: October 1996, April 1997
Hall of Fame Inductions
Graeme Souness has been recognized in several football halls of fame:
- Inducted into the Scotland national football team roll of honour in 1985.
- Included in the Football League 100 Legends list in 1998.
- Voted the ninth most popular player in Liverpool's history by fans.
- Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame (2007).
- Inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame (2004).
- Inducted into the Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Souness in 2001
See also
In Spanish: Graeme Souness para niños
