Bill Shankly, one of football’s greatest managers, would have been 101 years ago today.
“When people ask me my credentials for being a manager or a coach I have one answer… Bill Shankly. They’re my qualifications, the way I was born. And that’s all the qualifications anyone needs in the game I’m in. I didn’t think it was necessary to take an FA coaching course. I didn’t think it was going to make me any better. If I take a course am I going to be a better man six days later because I’ve got a piece of paper? That’s nonsense. Chamberlain came back from Germany with a piece of paper.. . the worst fucking piece of paper we’ve ever had!!
As manager of Liverpool I got two FA Cup winner’s medals, three championships and a Second Division championship, one UEFA Cup, three Charity Shields and six Central League winner’s medals… that’s 16 in 15 seasons. So I’d like them [FA coaches] to come to my coaching school! I’d have probably failed some of them.”
Bill Shankly, Preston North End in 1937.
Bill Shankly playing for Preston North End after the war, 1946.
Bill Shankly has just signed the first ever contract of a managerial career taking in Carlisle, Workington, Grimsby, Huddersfield, and Merseyside. It is to be a three-year contract for Liverpool.
The Liverpool players and manager Bill Shankly (centre with suit) celebrating with champagne in the dressing room at Anfield, after the 5-0 victory over Arsenal which gave them the League Championship. 18/4/1964
Bill Shankly, Liverpool manager, 1964.
Liverpool Exchange MP Bessie Braddock (c) presents the two winning managers, Liverpool’s Bill Shankly (l) and Celtic’s Jock Stein (r), with their cheques for £500 and £1000 respectively as Stein holds onto his Manager of the Year trophy. 16/6/1966.
Even Bill Shankly felt the stress of a new season sometimes as the players and coaches gathered for a team group picture. 18/8/1967.
Bill Shankly at Anfield, 1969.
Liverpool Manager, Bill Shankly, with new signing Kevin Keegan, 1971.
Arsenal’s Charlie George (l) and Liverpool manager Bill Shankly (r) laugh their heads off as commentator Jimmy Hill (c) emerges in a sky blue tracksuit to take over from the linesman, who had limped off injured. A message was broadcast over the PA system asking for a qualified referee to take over from the linesman, and Hill was the only person to come forward. 16/9/1972
Bill Shankly at Anfield, 1969.
Liverpool’s legendary Bill Shankly. Turning towards the Kop end of Anfield, Shankly gets an ovation from the fans who idolised him when Liverpool became League champions.
Bill Shankly launches his first record with the help of Denis Law and Emlyn Hughes at the Press Club in London, 1981. He died five months later aged 68.
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