The Bob Paisley appreciation thread

Forgive me if something similar exists. And secondly Id love to see other posters start similar appreciation threads for other past greats of the club. Stick in some pics some info on the career such as achievements etc.

The reason Im starting with this great man is not down to his incredible achievements trophy wise but for his length of time with the club in so many roles. He was Liverpool to the bone, yet not even born there! And has there been a more humble man in the game? A lot of people have shouted louder about themselves and received plaudits from the media and public yet this man achieved so much more then most, if not all, and yet he was so humble. One comment summed it up for me, having won the league (possibly a league and European cup double) he was asked what were his hopes for the following season "win it again" was the answer. Simple answer to a simple question from a simple man

Ill leave it for others to join in the thread with stats etc rather then me clog it up and if I had the time Id spend hours writing about the man

Love the pic of him carrying Emlyn off in his role as physio, shows the nature of the man really

The other pic for me shows the adoration of him the players had

Nice idea Bri.

I've nicked this from lfchistory.net

The genius in a flat cap, the sporting icon in a pair of carpet slippers, the world renowned physiotherapist in a woolly cardigan.

If they handed out prizes for image and appearance then Bob Paisley was never going to be deluged with awards. Come to think of it, in a shallow world that does exactly that, maybe we touch on a reason why Bob was never knighted or elevated to the national treasure status he so richly deserved? He never dazzled or sparkled like a Venables, never dressed like an Atkinson, didn't pour forth his politics a la Clough, nor did he covet column inches on the front pages of the tabloids in preference to the back. The charisma of a Shankly or a Busby was not Bob's to command. He could no more make deep and impassioned speeches to rally his troops than he could speak Swahili yet still he stands apart from his peers as the greatest of them all.
How can this be? How did Bob Paisley achieve so much without the obvious outward signs of greatness? Well of course, there have been many great people who were shy and retiring, who never courted publicity or fame, who never 'looked the part'. But in the world of sport, and in football in particular, it is a rare person indeed who achieves immortality without some obvious penchant for bluster or self promotion.

The footballing talents that Paisley had, and had in abundance, can only go part of the way to explaining his position of pre-eminence in English football. For the gaps in the story can only be found in his childhood and his background. How did Bob Paisley the boy turn into Bob Paisley the man?

Like Shankly, the man who so heavily influenced the second half of Bob Paisley's footballing career, Paisley was born into an obscure village community deep in his country's industrial heartland. Hetton-le-Hole may not be the most famous part of England, but the creative energies and honest workmanship that characterised Hetton, and a thousand other places like it, provided the lifeblood of Britain's industrial revolution.

And like Ayrshire's Glenbuck, County Durham's Hetton-le-Hole was a mining community. Significantly, on the day Bob was born, the 23rd January 1919, 150,000 miners nationwide went on strike for a shorter working week. For men with no spare cash of any kind, going on strike was a desperate last resort not to be taken lightly and revealed just how tough working conditions must have been.

Bob was the second eldest of four brothers, Willie and Hugh being the oldest, and Alan the youngest. Bob's father Sam worked in the local mine, and his mother Emily was the homemaker who kept the family's body and soul together through the days of depression and hardship.

In 1926 during the general strike the seven year old Bob was forced to scramble over slag heaps collecting coal dust that could be mixed with water to make a crude fuel and along with his childhood friends at school, he depended on the soup kitchens to supplement a meagre diet.

"Hetton le hole is a typical Durham mining village, a close-knit community seven miles from Sunderland where koal was king and football was religion. My father was a miner, and although he never wanted any of his four sons to down the pit, there didn't seem to be many alternatives. We lived in a small terraced house, and although we never went short of life's essentials, there was never much money left over by the end of the week."

At the age of 14 Bob took a surface job at the pit and was there to witness the horrific moment when his father was brought to the surface after a nasty underground accident. Samuel Paisley was so badly injured that he was unable to work for five years and shortly afterwards, following belated attempts to make the pits safer places to work, the mine was closed down.

Bob quickly became apprenticed to a bricklayer but by this time his footballing prowess was getting him noticed by local scouts. His talent as a footballer was to be his passport to a new world. In an incredible period between the ages of eleven and fourteen, he was to help his school Eppleton to an astonishing seventeen trophies. The success continued as he went on to play for Hetton, often against youths who were a few years older than him.

Bob's sporting talent had revealed itself in other ways too. He earned useful money as a handicap foot racer, something which drew big money bets in the north-east at that time. In the summer months the young Paisley also turned his hand to cricket. He was a more than useful fast bowler who could bat a bit and was approached by several local clubs who wanted his services. Always though, it was his love of football that won the day, and it wasn't long before representatives from Bishop Auckland were knocking on the Paisley door.

Of course, the outbreak of World War Two quickly put paid to any fledgling sporting aspirations and Bob Paisley joined the 73rd Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He served with Montgomery's Eighth Army, the so called Desert Rats at the relief of Tobruk and the watershed victory at El Aleamein, as an anti tank gunner.

But there was still time for sport even then and Bob once captained the regimental hockey team in a match and then played football and cricket all in the same day! It was during this time he also began to cultivate an interest in race horses, an interest that was to endure for the rest of his life. A jockey called Reg Stretton was in Bob's regiment and the two became great friends. In later years Bob was to strike close friendships with British horse racing figures Frank Carr and Frankie Durr.

Whilst Bob was on active service in Italy he was given the news that his younger brother Alan had died back home at the age of fifteen from scarlet fever and diptheria. On hearing this news, Bob wandered aimlessley away from where he had been positioned, understandably dazed and upset by what he had heard, and moments later a shell dropped and exploded right where he had been. The tragic news had ironically saved his own life.

In June 1944 he proudly rode aboard a tank as the Allies liberated Rome. It was a proud moment as the relieving forces were welcomed as heroes by the Italians. For Bob and his fighting comrades it was the beginning of the end of the war, a war that had given him an early insight into the Scouse character, for many of the men in his regiment were Merseysiders.

As he was to explain, "I love the city and the people here. I've been with them for many years and I fought alongside them. Ninety per cent of the regiment were from the Merseyside area. So I got to know the Liverpool character. From a psychological point of view, that was a big asset. I've had a fair time to judge the Liverpool people and I think they're tremendous." For a man not renown for his way with words that's a pretty clear and direct statement.

In 1945, shortly before he was demobbed, Bob met Jessie on a train outside Maghull and in July the following year the two were married. In the years that followed, Bob and Jessie were to celebrate the birth of two sons, Robert and Graham, and a daughter Christine.

Bob Paisley may not have been made for the media age, and maybe at times it seemed he could barely string together a coherent sentence in a television interview, but at heart he was a Scouser, albeit an adopted one and he identified easily with the mass of support that huddled together on the Kop at Anfield. He knew as we all did, that his football teams did all the talking that was necessary.

"This club has been my life. I'd go out and sweep the street and be proud to do it for Liverpool FC if they asked me to." - Bob Paisley

Along with Joe Fagan they built the dugouts at Anfield which was a sh*t tip when Shanks took over. Also picked up a new player from town still wearing his slippers. What a man and what a nice man, he would have been far too nice a guy to flourish today he simply wouldn't have hung around to take all this sh*t that gets plastered in every paper.He was like your favourite Uncle.

When I was a kid growing up in 'kenny' , he was the manager. First league game I saw at Anfield, on my dads ticket was his last as manager

Legend doesnt even come close. 3 European Cups in 5 years - plus the UEFA cup the year before the 1st European Cup

Humble man and without doubt the greatest english born football manager of all time

Such a nice man. He always had time for the fans, just like Shanks. He was head and shoulders above some of the 'special/chosen ones'.
He would have been appalled at the way some things are done now.
He will however be cheering the lads on, with our other greats, Shanks and Joe.
Sir Bob, he will always be, a humble and kind man, who would have appreciated the honour from the fans far more than a political knighthood.
He's our 'Sir', and that's what would mean the most to him.

There's a shop at Hellon le hole where Paisley's house used to stand and it has a plaque on it, also next to the shop is a memorial in a little park, I used to live in a pub just across the road from called The Colliery Inn when I was around 11/12 year old.

The Memorial at Hetton Le Hole.



I'll see if I can find the plaque on the shop.

The plaque if you look closely enough, is on the side of that little extension on the building, its small and black and a few feet up the wall, can't find any close ups of it, the park where the memorial is, is to the the left of the little extension looking at it.

I am the lucky one who saw Bob in all his roles at Liverpool Football Club, first as a player and he was a  good left half (in old money) then I recall Bob as our trainer. Memories of him running on to the pitch with his bucket and sponge to treat an injured player
the players were hard then no fancy medicines. And then I remember Bob as our manager and what a manager he was, he brought so much glory to this club.
I also recall Bob scoring the winning goal against Everton in the F.A.Cup  semi final against Everton in 1950 only to get dropped for the final against Arsenal. That was a big  big  mistake by our manager at the time George Kay and we did not have subs in those days.
One other thing Bob was a gentleman through and through but I can assure you when he wore the Liverpool shirthe was the sort of player who was not afraid to get stuck into the opposition.
We have had been so lucky over the years and have had so many LOYAL players like Bob.

I dont know or remember how i really got into lfc it was very early seventie,s the only media was sportsnight on a wednesday and match of the day , i can just recall my dad letting me stay up one wednesday , and there was the kop in full bloom ,then there was Bob the scruffy cap and slippers ,the rest is vague but i was hooked , then seeing Bob lead us too our first european cup and just take it all in his stride ,a gentleman of the highest order and a man that we all can be proud of .

A wrong needs to be corrected & by that I mean a statue of our most successful manager alongside our founding father.

Any reasons why one has not been commissioned by the club?.

The difference between Sir Bob and the mourinhos and alex slurs is he went round the country and bought rough diamonds and won trophies with them instead of being a manufactured club.

Bob evolved Shankly's blueprint and took us up to another level.

A wonderful man .

SIR Bob.

A few gems from the man :-
Bob's first season ended in failure; Liverpool only finished second!
"I'll admit, right away, that I am disappointed that we did not have a major trophy to show for our efforts. We were in four and we had a good side, but when you count second place as failure, then standards are becoming fantastically high. We never celebrate second place here."

*
 
Celebrating Liverpool's first European Cup win in 1977
"This is the second time I've beaten the Germans here... the first time was in 1944. I drove into Rome on a tank when the city was liberated. If anyone had told me I'd be back here to see us win the European Cup 33 years later I'd have told them they were mad! But I want to savour every minute of it... which is why I'm not having a drink tonight. I'm just drinking in the occasion."
 
*
 
Paisley addressing the crowd from St George's hall after the European win in 1977.
"In the 38 years I've been here, this excels everything. And of course it's the biggest day in Liverpool Football Club's life."
 
*
 
Bob Paisley showed on more than one occasion that he was a very funny man. Bill Shankly spent his first Saturday afternoon in retirement watching his local home match, Everton - Derby County. Meanwhile Liverpool were playing at Luton and when the press asked Bob what Shankly was doing this particular afternoon, he replied:
"He's trying to get right away from football. I believe he went to Everton."

Just wow...

In Liverpool Daily Post 21st of April 1983 at the end of his career as Liverpool manager
"I have always preferred to liken the championship to a marathon. You have to know how to start the race, how to take the strain when problems come along and to make sure you don't give any potentially dangerous rivals an advantage. My policy is to ideally have five or six men around the age of 26, a couple of youngsters, a couple round the 28 mark and one or two in their 30s. But the nucleus of the team should be experienced and not too old.

You don't just look at the calendar. The medical side is an important yardstick. Our two over 30s are Phil Neal and Kenny Dalglish. Phil is the type of player who doesn't often get injured. Kenny takes more knocks than the others, but he is very strong. They have been outstanding from a stamina point of view as well as in skill. They have kept going as well as anyone. But they still need that help from the younger players."

*

"Some of the jargon is frightening. They talk of "gettin' round the back" and sound like burglars. They say "You've got to make more positive runs" or "You're too negative". That sounds as though you're filling the team with electricians. But people talk like this without real depth or knowledge of what they're really talking about."
 
*
 
"There are five things generally accepted to be necessary to make a footballer: skill, strength, stamina, speed and flexibility. You have to bear these factors in mind when you are putting together your training programme. The whole scene is a stamina test, a marathon race. Strength has to be developed from the start. You build that up, giving the player a higher resistance to things. Skill comes next, developed with a constant repetition of pattern. Speed comes after you've run them in. Then you start to get them stretching out. Flexibility is important, and we probably suffer in this country because of our climate. It's a well-known fact that players performing in warmer climates have a wider range of movements."
 
 *

"People who sit in the stands perhaps don't realise the extra pressure exerted by the emotional side of the game. It's not easy to cope with and it's quite possible to become drunk on four ounces of wine gum!"

*

"I just hoped that after the trials and tribulations of my early years in management, someone up high would smile on me and guide my hand. My plea was answered when we got Kenny Dalglish. What a player, what a great professional!"

*

"The secret is that our Liverpool team never know when to stop running and working. At Anfield we have always believed in players supporting each other and concentrating on not giving the ball away. You can't go charging forward all the time, willy-nilly. You must have patience, and this is where we can play the Continentals at their own game."


Look at Liverpools main 15-16 players this year, and see how that stacks up to what Bob was saying 30 years.... back to the future anyone ?

This might sound corny but following Liverpool F.C. has given me some valuable lessons in life. One thing, in particular, I picked up from observing Bob Paisley was the way he was magnanimous in victory; gracious in defeat. A true gent; humble but oozing class from every pore.

Anther foundation stone at the very core of what we are.

Rest easy tonight Sir Bob knowing that the tw*t will not equal you

Bob said he always wanted to sign Kenny, and then Keegan wanted to leave.

Exact quote was something along the lines of "...imagine we'd 'ave 'ad 'em both..mighta won something..."

Bob was humble...but he knew what he'd done and that makes me smile.

Well Sir Bob, finally someone has equalled your record.

It was always going to happen. Let us be thankful that a decent man done it. A man who was a fine player and has been a fine manager. Theres a lot worse could have equalled it, a lot worse

Let us never forget you done 3 in 5 seasons. This man done it in 11

Always the greatest!

I don't have any significant opinions on Ancelotti either way so would prefer it to have been someone like him than a Mourinho/Ferguson.

Fantastic achievement for both men - Paisley in terms of dominance and Ancelotti doing it at different sides.

I don't have any significant opinions on Ancelotti either way so would prefer it to have been someone like him than a Mourinho/Ferguson.

Fantastic achievement for both men - Paisley in terms of dominance and Ancelotti doing it at different sides.

I was hoping Bob's record didn't go tonight but if it had to go then Ancelotti was one I least minded it going to.

Well Sir Bob, finally someone has equalled your record.

It was always going to happen. Let us be thankful that a decent man done it. A man who was a fine player and has been a fine manager. Theres a lot worse could have equalled it, a lot worse

Let us never forget you done 3 in 5 seasons. This man done it in 11

Always the greatest!

 

Was always going to happen considering you no longer have to be champions to enter. Puts into perspective his achievement though, that it's only been equalled after 30odd years. Arise Sir Bob!

I haven't checked, but I would say in terms of quality signings, Bob would probably have the higesr legend signing ratio of any of our managers! Kenny, Rush, Whelan..... quality msnager, quslity signings.

Sir Bob has risen.

I haven't checked, but I would say in terms of quality signings, Bob would probably have the higesr legend signing ratio of any of our managers! Kenny, Rush, Whelan..... quality msnager, quslity signings.

I think Ray Kennedy was the last signing Bill Shankly made for us prior to retiring but Bob Paisley should be given all the credit for converting Ray from a striker to a ,midfielder. I must say thank you to Bill and Bob  for  giving us the opportunity to watch such a fantastic footballer as Ray Kennedy.

Sir Bob has always been the forgotten man when it comes to dishing out sycophantic plaudits regarding 'successful managers'. The ONLY reason for these omissions is because he was such a genuine, humble and quiet bloke who never ever went looking for fame and self gratification.

To laud Fergie as the best British manager ever is quite simply a disgrace. To have only have ever won the CL twice during his tenure is failure personified. It's been said that this lack of success and ultimately failure to overtake LFC as Britain's best European side is something that will 'eat away' at him until the day he drops. Something I'll take great pleasure in knowing.

I too was a 70's child. I remember quite vividly being taken to my 1st match as an 8 year old in 1978 at home v Man Shitty. Sat just to the right of the players tunnel watching these what seemed to me like giant fellas running out onto the pitch. And then the great man himself walks out. Even then, I myself could tell that there was an aura and reverence to him.

The way he could pick a player he knew would slot right into our system of play was uncanny. It mattered not as to which division they came from either a la Joey Jones. Or the way he could identify an injury just by looking at how the player is running. He was also a modern day Dr. Peters too, although not in the sense where he'd molly-cuddle the player, he'd just tell him the facts. The goods were always produced after a la Rushie.

Personally, he will always be my favourite LFC manager.

Sir Bob was also my first Liverpool Manager that I properly recall.
As others have stated, he was such a fantastic man first and foremost and then an incredible manager.
Imagine how hard it must have been to some in and replace Sir Bill?!
I loved how he helped Sir Kenny in his first term at the helm.
What a proper Liverpool man he was.
Great to read the quotes that have been posted.
It's as if Brendan has had a read of those and carries them with him in the way he structures our club.
We are amazingly blessed to have had him, Sir Bill, Sir Kenny, Roy Evans and Ronnie Moran at our club.

I am proud to have known Sir Bob. He used to visit my mate's garage in East Prescot Road,  every morning, to pick his horses before going to Melwood. He never had a bad word to say about anybody and had a very dry wit. He told me that he never thought a lad who played for Bishop Auckland would end up managing the greatest football club in the world.

A brilliant manager  and a great physio, who could tell from the way a player walked if anything was wrong with him. A legend.

Let's get a statue of him to accompany Mr Shankly.

Bob Paisley: How Liverpool's reluctant hero began a revolution

Liverpool began their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory against Southampton on Sunday and manager Brendan Rodgers will be attempting to build on last season's second-placed finish.

But whatever Rodgers achieves at Anfield during his tenure, he is unlikely to surpass the feats of Bob Paisley, who took charge of Liverpool in the league for the first time exactly 40 years ago, with a 2-1 win at Luton on 17 August, 1974.

In his nine seasons in charge, Paisley won six league titles, three European Cups, three League Cups, a Uefa Cup, Super Cup and three Charity Shields. He was also manager of the year on six occasions - an honour won by Rodgers for the first time last season.

Paisley's 45 years as a player, physiotherapist, coach, assistant manager, manager and director is a unique example of loyalty to one club. Here, we look back at the career of one of the great managers.

Paisley spent his entire professional playing career at Liverpool

The reluctant genius
There is no knighthood on the family mantelpiece or statue outside Anfield to commemorate one of Liverpool's true legends, but Paisley was never one for personal plaudits or making a fuss.

Long-time Liverpool secretary Peter Robinson described having a "frightful time" trying to persuade Paisley to take over the managerial reins following the departure of predecessor Bill Shankly, who had claimed three league titles, two FA Cups and two Uefa Cups over 15 seasons after taking over in 1959.

When Paisley took his first training session after his appointment, he told a shocked dressing room that he was "only looking after the shop until a proper manager arrives".

Record appearance holder Ian Callaghan, who played in midfield for the club between 1960 and 1978, said: "Bob was very reluctant to become manager because he didn't think he was cut out for it. He was an introvert and preferred being in the background.

"I think we all had to adjust. He'd always been known as simply 'Bob'. It was Shanks who was 'boss', and it took time to change.
"Shanks was a one-off, but Bob was a one-off too and he found ways of making a great club even greater."

Paisley guided Liverpool to their first European Cup win, beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in 1977

Shankly v Paisley
These two greats were entirely different characters with different strengths, but they complemented each other.

Paisley biographer John Keith, who has written and produced a 40th anniversary tribute show that will be staged at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion on 12 September, said: "Bob once remarked that while Shanks wore steel tips on his shoes so people knew he was coming, he preferred to wear carpet slippers.

"When Bob took over he called some of the press into his office and explained he was not very good at saying what he meant, and gave permission for us to finish off his sentences for him."

Left-back Alan Kennedy, who scored winning goals in two European Cup finals under Paisley, said that he had a ruthless streak that Shankly never had.

He said: "Bob learned a lot from Shanks' reluctance to change an ageing Liverpool side in the late 1960s. Just after we won the European Cup against Real Madrid in 1981 he said the team needed freshening up and he went out and did it."

Among the players who were phased out within a year were goalkeeper Ray Clemence, midfielder Terry McDermott and striker David Johnson.
Right-back Phil Neal, who won nine league championships and four European Cups with the club, said that Paisley's ability to pick players from obscurity was a major strength.

Neal added: "He signed defender Ronnie Whelan from Irish League side Home Farm, striker Ian Rush from Chester City and goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar from Vancouver Whitecaps.

"When Kevin Keegan moved to German side Hamburg in 1977 for £500,000, Bob brought in Kenny Dalglish from Celtic and made a £60,000 profit on the deal."

Paisley took over from the great Bill Shankly in 1974

Soaked with success
Paisley had a tough act to follow in succeeding Shankly, but Liverpool did not just dominate English football during Paisley's tenure, they dominated Europe, too.

In his second season as boss, Liverpool won the Uefa Cup, but Paisley had his eyes on the biggest prize of all.

The following season, he took Liverpool to their first European Cup success when they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in the final in Rome.

Bob Paisley's career timeline
May 1939
Signs professional contract with Liverpool.
October 1939
Joins 73rd Regiment of Royal Artillery as anti-tank gunner.
March 1954
Plays final game for Liverpool in 1-0 loss at Sheffield United.
April 1954
Becomes Liverpool's reserve coach.
April 1956
Guides reserves to first Central League title.
July 1974
Succeeds Bill Shankly as Liverpool manager.
May 1976
Wins League and UEFA Cup double.
May 1977
Guides Liverpool to first European Cup and retains League.
May 1978
Paisley is first English boss to retain European Cup.
May 1979
Wins League for third time.
May 1980
Wins fourth League title.
May 1981
Leads Liverpool to third European Cup as they beat Real Madrid 1-0.
May 1982
Wins fifth League title with final-day win over Tottenham.
August 1982
Announces he will retire at end of 1982-83 season.
March 1983
Wins League Cup at Wembley with 2-1 win over Manchester United.
May 1983
Wins sixth League title and takes charge of Liverpool for final time.

On his one and only previous visit to Rome in 1944, Paisley had been a gunner in the Eighth Army and rode on the back of a tank during the liberation of the Eternal City.

Although not one for team talks, his words to the players before going out for that famous win in 1977 were as humorous as they were inspiring.

Keith explained: "He roused the players by saying that the first time he was in Rome he beat the Germans, and they were to go out there and do it again."

Paisley followed it up by taking Liverpool to two further European Cup crowns in 1978 and 1981.

Until Carlo Ancelotti led Real Madrid to Champions League glory in May, Paisley was the only manager to win three European Cup/Champions Leagues. He is still the only manager to do so with the same club.

Neal, who was Paisley's first signing from Northampton in 1974, added: "Bob's wife Jessie once said to me that what made his achievement even greater was that in those days you had to win the league to get into the European Cup. Nowadays you can finish fourth and still qualify."

Paisley won three European Cups with Liverpool, the only manager to do so with the same club

The father figure
Alan Kennedy's family came from the same area of Tyne & Wear as Paisley and the former left-back says that he introduced the same sense of community at Liverpool as was found in the close-knit community he left behind at Hetton-le-Hole.

Kennedy said: "He didn't just chat to the tea ladies and the kit washing women, he knew their first names and, more to the point, wanted to know them.

"He always treated us the same as he would treat his sons.

"When Bob signed me as a 24-year-old from Newcastle United, he said it wasn't a gamble because he knew I was the right type of personality to make it at Liverpool because he was familiar with my background.

"He went to school with my mum, Sarah Anne, and they knew each other as they grew up. She used to serve him a lot when she worked in a fish and chip shop.

"When I joined Liverpool he would drive me to and from my hotel and tell me all the virtues of playing for the club."

Neal added: "Bob didn't focus on individuals, he treated everyone the same. He knew the importance of the team and so no-one was left out in the cold. If you had a problem on or off the pitch his door was always open."

Paisley sold star player Kevin Keegan and replaced him with Kenny Dalglish, making a £60,000 profit

Paisley's quirks
After his playing days ended in 1954, Paisley had taken a correspondence course in physiotherapy and from it honed new skills that became beneficial later in his career.

Paisley did not like medical equipment and often struggled even to plug things in, but he had a sixth sense and trusted unorthodox methods, as striker David Fairclough was to find out.

Keith added: "David ran over to take a corner at the Kop end and as he cocked his leg to strike the ball, Bob turned to coach Joe Fagan and said 'get him off, he needs a cartilage operation'. Next week he was under the surgeon's knife."

Years earlier, Liverpool had hosted Bertie Mee's Arsenal and in the warm-up Paisley noticed Gunners striker Charlie George running with a slight ankle injury and persuaded Mee to pull George from the starting line-up.

Kennedy said that players were amazed by his ability to pick up on the slightest knocks. He added: "He had an uncanny knack. He would come up to you and ask 'are you alright?' Even if you felt fit that would put a doubt in your mind."

Shankly is often regarded as the brainchild behind the famous Anfield boot room, where tactics were discussed and important decisions made, but it was actually Paisley's idea.

Shankly had an office, but Paisley and the other coaches wanted their own place to go to chat, so chose the boot room.

Paul Orr, a friend and local brewery manager, ran his own team and would send players over to Anfield for extra coaching.

As a thank you, Orr, who later became Liverpool's lord mayor, sent a lorry to Anfield with crates of Guinness for the boot room.

Callaghan added: "You had to be invited into the boot room and when I was coming to the end of my career, Bob would invite me in with the other coaches and we'd have chats over a glass or two of Guinness."

Liverpool's Emlyn Hughes captained Paisley's side to a 3-0 win over Everton in the 1977 FA Cup semis

Anfield sunset
Paisley had taken over the Anfield reins when he was 55 years old and by the age of 64 he had had enough.

When Shankly quit as manager, he could not let go and was often a distraction at the club's Melwood training ground.

Paisley did not want that for his successor Joe Fagan and kept a respectful distance.

Keith said: "Bob was intense when he was involved in football, but he knew when to back off. He loved nothing better than going home to Jessie and having a cup of tea and putting his feet up.

"He did become a director at the club, but he didn't interfere with the playing side, although he did become an advisor to Kenny Dalglish when he was player-manager. Kenny later said that 'the biggest debt I owe in football is to Bob Paisley' because of the vast knowledge he shared with him."

Paisley is regarded by many as the most successful manager in English football because he accrued his 20 trophies in a third of the time it took Sir Alex Ferguson to win his 38 trophies with Manchester United.



erguson recently admitted that his only regret was not matching Paisley's three European Cups at Manchester United.

While Ferguson won 1.46 trophies per season in 26 seasons at United, Paisley achieved 2.22 per season.

Callaghan said: "It is always difficult to compare, but Paisley's record speaks for itself. When you factor in his other achievements at the club both on and off the pitch, I think he has to be the best."

Paisley died in 1996, aged 77, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

By Russell Stoddart
BBC Sport
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28772320

RIP Boss.

Would be great to see a Statue of Sir Bob outside Anfield alongside Shankly.

Legend.

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1222893256435879938?s=19

Legend.

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1222893256435879938?s=19

Loving this and seeing Bob carrying Emlyn is iconic, looking forward to seeing this at Anfield.

Remember when Shanks resigned people said we were finished and up popped Sir Bob slippers and flat Cap at the ready.
Our history is blessed with really good decent men and now we have Jürgen who some how is the embodiment of all that is great about this club

So sorry I didn't know this was happening. Would have loved to have been there to pay my respects to, as I said nearly five years ago above a  truly great, humble man.

The 'Humble one',  Thank you Sir Bob, you gave me so many good memories
God Bless

Greatest manager in all of British Football History, plz, don’t listen to the pro Manc media Lording it over Fergie, that man was a genius albeit very difficult for me to say so, this argument will go on forever, but just for the record Bob won 20 trophies in his 9 years as manager, including 3, yes Three, European / CL Cups Fergie  won a similar amount but took him 26 years, including 2 CLs, go figure?

also Slur Alex got ‘Sir’ on the back of it but, poor Bob got totally ignored, despite the fact that Bob, fought for his country, gave most of his life to football and in particular Liverpool FC, That’s the British establishment for you, they prefer to award bullies & gobshites rather than those who are far more deserving, now having said that, I doubt good old Bob would be to fussed about receiving any sort of ‘hood’ Knight or otherwise  he’d be to busy reading the racing post in his flat cap, cardigan & slippers, and that was Bob down to a tee, humble & modest,

I got to honest though, a statue for Bob is brilliant, but for a club to honour him like this should have been done decades ago, I know the “Paisley “ gates carry his name, but for his longevity and the success he brought to the club I can’t help but say.... It’s About Bloody Time ! !


Sir Robert Paisley,

got a great ring to it has it not ?





YNWA

he was such a gentleman this is worth watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2M5VYPQsO4

So proud that I  was around to witness the unrivalled success this legend brought LFC and the treasured memories he gave,the  statue is long long overdue.

we will always be in debt to Shanks for taking our club out of the doldrums and Building it into his
‘Bastion of invincibilty’
But Sir Bob, in a meagre 9 seasons surpassed anything achieved in English or European club football ever.

His achievements are still unsurpassed or even close to being equalled.
Not just a true servant and legend of Liverpool, but to football everywhere.

A true footballing genius.
The statue, commendable yes, but 30 years late. Can’t wait for my selfie with it. My favourite manager ever.

What a fantastic permanent reminder of what the late great Bob Paisley did for this club.I count myself lucky that I saw Bob play for L.F.C. many times and still recall him running onto the pitch with a bucket,water and sponge to treat an injured player when he was our trainer..It is also fitting that the MIGHTY EMLYN HUGHES is depicted on the bronze sculpture,another player who gave his all to the Liverpool cause.

Have to say hats off to the sculptor also. Seen some dodgy statues unveiled over the last few years but this is fantastic & very life-like.

Superb work of art

Good timing for me as I'm up for the match tomorrow, so will get to see Bob's statue in all it's glory