The Best Liverpool FC Managers in the History of the Club

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Liverpool FC has a long history, stretching back to the Victorian era. During that lengthy time it’s had its fair share of ups and downs, with some difficult nadirs and some stunning zeniths.

 

Here’s a summary of some of the best times or, to be more exact, the best managers the club’s ever had. During these times those who love a good punt have had a good run for their money with some amazing bets that have come home. We’ll also provide a thought for the future. Steven Gerrard was a legend as a player for Liverpool, and now some, including Jürgen Klopp, are tipping him as the next manager when Klopp calls it a day.

Bill Shankly

Manager for a decade and a half, when Shankly started his tenure Liverpool weren’t even in the First Division. By the time he’d left, they’d won the First Division three times. Perhaps even more importantly, the foundations had been laid for even greater success under his assistant, Bob Paisley.

 

 

Anfield itself was in disrepair when he started in the late 1950s, but Shankly did have one big asset: a cadre of capable assistants in Paisley, Joe Fagan, and Reuben Bennett. Transfers were needed as were improvements to the training facilities, but perhaps the biggest hurdle was wrestling with the board. But tenacity paid off and Liverpool got promoted.

 

A few years later Liverpool won the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Shankly was also the man who, experimenting with colour schemes, adopted the all red kit that has become firmly rooted in the team’s DNA. Shankly was the Moses who led Liverpool from the doldrums to success, and those who followed him continued that upward trend.

 

In the latter years of Shankly’s tenure and those of his successors, money on Liverpool for titles was a pretty good bet. Right now at the time of writing they’re favourites for the title, shorter than evens, but closely followed by Manchester City. Betting can add to the thrill of watching football, but if you prefer casino to sports betting then there are some great UK online casinos to visit in 2019. Here you can learn about which sites have the best bonuses and other exciting incentives for you to enjoy.

Bob Paisley

No discussion of great managers would be complete without Bob Paisley, who was assistant and then full manager at the club from 1959 to 1983. Manager during a heyday for the team, Paisley is one of only three managers to have won the European Cup three times (Zidane and Ancelotti being the other two).

 

Whilst assistant to Bill Shankly the team returned to the First Division, and he eventually succeeded Shankly in 1974. Although manager for just under a decade, during that time Liverpool were dominant both at home and abroad. Half a dozen League Championships were won, and three European Cups, with a plethora of other trophies filling the cabinet. When he retired, he’d been named Manager of the Year six times, (coincidentally, the same as the number of league titles he won).

Kenny Dalglish

As a player Kenny Dalglish (aka King Kenny) won the Ballon d’Or during his hundreds of appearances and more than a decade at the team. He won League Championships, FA Cups, and more besides. But it was in 1985 that he became manager, when Joe Fagan resigned.

 

Dalglish was manager for two periods, from 1985 to 1991 and 2011 to 2012 (when he replaced Roy Hodgson). In between these periods he focused on charitable causes, working with his wife to help fund cancer care.

 

It was during his first stint that Dalglish achieved glory for the club, topping the First Division on three occasions and claiming the FA Cup into the bargain. It was 1986 when the double was won, Dalglish being player-manager (a dual role he retained until 1990).

 

 

Dalglish was manager during one of the darkest days in English football: the Hillsborough disaster. Although never in a position to prevent the tragedy unfolding, it’s right to acknowledge the example he provided in being dignified in the face of adversity, attending numerous funerals of those who died. Some things are bigger than football, and Dalglish showed that, more than just being a good manager, he’s a great man.

Rafael Benítez

Benítez was manager for several years at Liverpool, but for many people the single memory they have of his time there is the sensational 2005 Champions League final. Picture the scene. It’s half-time. Liverpool are 3-0 down to Milan in Istanbul’s Atatürk Stadium. Some fans have already left the stadium to get an early start on the long, weary journey home. And boy, did they live to regret that decision.

 

There was a goal for Liverpool. And within a few minutes there was another, and then Liverpool scored again to level at 3-3. Extra time beckoned, and then penalties. Jerzy Dudek imitated Bruce Grobbelaar’s wobbly legs to try and distract Milan’s players and saved two penalties to win the Champions League for Liverpool. It was their fifth success, and they got to keep the trophy permanently.

 

Besides that epic victory, Benítez also led Liverpool to win the FA Cup, although the Premier League title eluded him. This season might be another story, as Liverpool have a clear lead and have enjoyed an unbroken string of wins.

Jürgen Klopp

Some might argue it’s wrong to include a still serving manager on the all-time greats list, but Jürgen Klopp has already earned the affection of the fans (and whoever said Germans don’t have a sense of humour evidently forgot to tell him). In his few years to date at the club he’s led Liverpool to successive Champions League finals, winning the 2019 final against Spurs.

 

On the domestic front he came close to leading Liverpool to the Premier League title, and so far, touch wood, he’s had a perfect start to the current season with eight matches played and eight matches won. Likeable and successful, he brought Mo Salah to the squad and the Champions League trophy to the cabinet. Many fans will be hoping he’s there for the long haul, although there have been recent suggestions he might stay for just a few more years.

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