Bob Paisley

Bob Paisley followed the great man, Bill Shankly, as Liverpool manager in 1974. To everyone in football, Shankly's resignation came as a huge surprise. To none more so than Bob Paisley. He was to begin with a very reluctant successor to Shankly. But, like Shankly, he went on to become a Liverpool great, successfully building on the footballing dynasty that Shankly had started. But else do we know about Bob Paisley. Find out more here.....

Robert Paisley OBE (23 January 1919 – 14 February 1996) was an English footballer and manager who spent almost fifty years with Liverpool as a player, a physiotherapist, a coach, and finally as manager in the summer of 1974. His time as manager and the huge success he achieved as Liverpool manager has led to Paisley to be regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time. To this day he remains the only manager in football history to have won three European Cups or Champions Leagues as it is more commonly known as today.

A very humble and respectful man, Paisley was born in County Durham. Paisley spent his youth playing for one of the best amateur sides in the country, Bishop Auckland before he signed for Liverpool in 1939. Even though the Second World War prevented him from playing until 1946. In 1947, he broke into the first-team as Liverpool won the First Division title for the first time in 24 years. In 1951, he was made club captain, and he remained with Liverpool until he retired from playing in 1954.

He stayed with Liverpool after retiring as a player, becoming the reserve team coach, as well as serving as the club's physiotherapist. By this time, Liverpool had been relegated to the Second Division and their facilities were in decline. In December 1959, Bill Shankly was appointed Liverpool manager, and he persuaded Paisley to work alongside him as his Assistant Manager. Other able and trusted coaching assistants working alongside Shankly at the time were Joe Fagan and Reuben Bennett. This quartet went on to become members of Anfield's inner sanctum - the Boot Room. Under their leadership, the fortunes of Liverpool turned around dramatically as they were promoted back to the First Division and the successes just kept on rolling to towards the Fields Of Anfield Road.

In 1974, Shankly retired as manager, and Paisley was quickly appointed as his successor. Paisley went on to lead Liverpool to a period of unprecedented domestic and European dominance, winning 20 honours in 9 years – six League Championships, three League Cups, six Charity Shields, three European Cups, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Super Cup. He also won the Manager of the Year Award a record six times, before retiring in 1983, when he was awarded an OBE, although to many he should have been knighted. He is still referred to by Liverpool fans as "Sir Bob."