February 22 – King Kenny Throws in the Towel
FOR the benefit of our younger readers, believe it or not, but Liverpool used to be a very well run club, with the ‘Liverpool Way’ acting as a shining example of how to run a football club. There was none of this going-behind-their-back-and-talking-to-Germans lark, as they just let the gaffer get on with it. Despite this relative harmony, Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish decided enough was enough today in 1991, as he announced his unexpected retirement following the 4-4 FA Cup draw with Merseyside rivals Everton.
Dalglish is a bone fide Liverpool legend. Bob Paisley signed the Scotsman in 1977 for a record £440,000 to replace another of our OTFD faves Kevin Keegan. After scoring 167 goals in 269 games for the Bhoys Kenny was hot property and didn’t take long to settle in at Anfield. By the end of the first season he had netted 31 times, including the winner in the 1978 European Cup final, so he was soon hero-worshipped on the Kop.
All manner of medals and individual awards followed as King Kenny established himself as the fulcrum of one of the greatest club sides ever seen. Then came the Heysel disaster in 1985, prompting the resignation of manager Joe Fagan. Dalglish stepped up to become player-manager and after a trophy-less season in 1985/86 he set about building a new squad, signing the likes of Peter Beardsley, John Barnes, Alan Hansen and John Aldridge. Under Dalglish’s stewardship Liverpool romped to the 1987/89 title, going 37 matches unbeaten at the start of the season. A double was denied by Lawrie Sanchez and the Crazy Gang as Wimbledon pulled off on of the biggest FA Cup upsets of all-time.
Although Kenny lead the ‘Pool to their last league title in 1990, the strains were beginning to show. He hung up his boots at the end of this season but the stress of being in charge of the club following the Hillsborough disaster was evident and a nerve-wracking 4-4 draw with Everton proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. His departure rocked Liverpool, much like when Shankly called it a day in 1974. It was with a heavy heart that he threw in the towel, but he left as League Champions and among his finals acts was signing Jamie Redknapp and promoting the likes of Steve McManaman and Mike Marsh from the youth club’s youth side.
Despite going into ‘retirement’ Kenny soon got back into the management game, as Blackburn owner Jack Walker waved some of his hard-earned under the Scotsman’s nose and within four years he had taken Rovers from the Second Division to winners of the Premier League, albeit with the help of the chequebook. This was Dalglish’s ninth title as either player or manager, not too shabby.
In 1997, like a moth to a flame, Dalglish was drawn to the Newcastle job, the poor fool. Obviously, with St. James’ being the graveyard of many a-competent manager this didn’t turn out well and he was sacked after only twenty months. His last job was to pick up the pieces from the mess that John Barnes had made of Celtic in 2000, where he filled a gap for half a season before Martin O’Neil came in and started leaping around the touchline.
Despite getting linked with the occasional job every so often, Dalglish has resisted the call to tarnish his record further. See King Kenny in his pomp being fawned over below and don’t go changing as we’ll be right back here tomorrow.
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January 15 - Dalglish in at the Toon | On This Football Day on January 15th, 2009
[...] much for him, despite a 7-1 win over Spurs on Boxing Day 1996. The club looked to another former Liverpool legend to take over as he plumped for Kenny Dalglish, whom he hoped would complete a hat-trick of [...]