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16 years ago the great man left us. RIP Bob

Not by us reds but in general still the only man to win three European cups and was there for there for the fourth. Alan Hansen: don't forget Liverpool's Bob Paisley in the rush to crown Sir Alex Ferguson as the greatest manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement in surpassing Sir Matt Busby as Manchester United’s longest-serving manager has rightly prompted reflection on his success and longevity at Old Trafford and re-opened the debate as to English football’s greatest-ever manager. Ferguson, without question, has earned the right to lay claim to that distinction, but in an era when everything that happens now is automatically viewed as bigger and better than what has gone before, I cannot help but recall Bob Paisley and feel that his achievements at Liverpool are too often overlooked. It would be churlish to attempt to place one above the other. As a Liverpool man and somebody who played a part in Paisley’s success at Anfield, I would always go with Bob. Equally, Ferguson would get the 100 per cent support of everyone connected with United. Ferguson has brought phenomenal success to United during his 24 years at the club. He has broken the team up and rebuilt on at least three or four occasions and Paisley himself would always argue that enjoying sustained success, as Ferguson has done, is the hardest thing of all. United have emerged from the wilderness under Sir Alex. They were never going to win the league before he arrived, but he changed that and his success at Old Trafford – the doubles, the trebles, league titles and European Cups – can never be under-estimated. But Paisley’s record at Liverpool is just as remarkable, and all the more so given that his nine-year reign as manager was almost one-third of the time Ferguson has spent at United. In nine years, Paisley won three European Cups, a Uefa Cup, six League titles and three League Cups. He won three European Cups in nine years, while Sir Alex has managed two in 24. Paisley built arguably the best side in Liverpool’s history and it won everything in sight. His achievements now appear even more incredible with Liverpool having failed to win the title for coming up to 21 years. It is true that, while Ferguson rebuilt a United that had fallen into decline since the days of Busby, Paisley inherited a dynasty which had been put in place by Bill Shankly and Liverpool were a genuine force when he became manager in 1974. But Paisley took Liverpool to another level and, having played for him, I would say that I have never come across a football man, before or since, who had his special eye for detail. Nobody could spot players’ strengths or weaknesses better than Paisley and he had a simple philosophy which, 25 years on, still resonates today. And he was ruthless. He might have portrayed an ‘Uncle Bob’ image, but he was as ruthless as Sir Alex and, at the very highest level, that is a prerequisite because compassion is a lonely word on a football pitch. Here is an example. Back in the 1981-82 season, I had been out with a knee injury and, during my absence, Liverpool won nine and drew one of their ten games, including a 3-1 win at Old Trafford, so I was worried about getting back into the team. I played a reserve game on the Wednesday and then dropped a glass on my other knee in the kitchen which meant I had to have six stitches, but Joe Fagan, Paisley’s assistant, pulled me aside on the Friday and asked if I would be OK to play against Manchester City at Maine Road on the Saturday. I had six stitches in my knee and the team was flying, but Paisley dropped Terry McDermott and put me straight back in because he wanted to play his strongest side. Terry Mac was not over the moon, to put it mildly, but Paisley had made up his mind and that was that. Just like Sir Alex dropping Jim Leighton for the FA Cup Final replay in 1990, Paisley did what was best for the team, no matter if it was a tough call or not. Paisley was 64 when he retired, but he called it perfectly. Liverpool had just won the league again, so he went out on a high and I hope Sir Alex does that because you always want the greats to go when they are on top, but Fergie is 69 later this month and you can see that the hunger and desire is still there. Brian Clough’s achievements at Derby and Nottingham Forest were incredible because he won titles at both clubs and also managed back-to-back European Cups at the City Ground. But in terms of prolonged, top-level success, Ferguson and Paisley are probably the two at the very top for me. People often ask whether Paisley would have been as successful in the modern day, but there is no doubt in my mind about that because he was always insistent that we had to adapt to sustain our success at Liverpool. He would have adapted and been ahead of the game. Absolutely. Paisley wasn’t knighted for his achievements and I know that continues to be an issue among Liverpool supporters. It has also not gone unnoticed on Merseyside that, of the four Lifetime Achievement awards handed out to football people at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, three have gone to United figures (George Best, Bobby Charlton and David Beckham) and none to Liverpool. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to place one above the other, but I will always lean towards Bob Paisley. He won three European Cups within the space of five seasons and that is something that will stand the test of time. Alan Hansen: don't forget Liverpool's Bob Paisley in the rush to crown Sir Alex Ferguson as the greatest manager - Telegraph