Bill Shankly

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Lore & Background

Shankly came from a small Scottish mining community and was one of five brothers who played football professionally. He played as a ball-winning right-half and was capped twelve times for Scotland, including seven wartime internationals. He spent one season at Carlisle United before spending the rest of his career at Preston North End, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1938. His playing career was interrupted by his service in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He became a manager after he retired from playing in 1949, returning to Carlisle United. He later managed Grimsby Town, Workington and Huddersfield Town before moving to become Liverpool manager in December 1959. Shankly took charge of Liverpool when they were in the Second Division and rebuilt the team into a major force in English and European football. He led Liverpool to the Second Division Championship to gain promotion to the top-flight First Division in 1962, before going on to win three First Division Championships, two FA Cups, three Charity Shields and one UEFA Cup. It was during Shankly's tenure that the club changed to an all-red home strip, and 'You'll Never Walk Alone' became the club's anthem. Shankly announced his surprise retirement from football a few weeks after Liverpool had won the 1974 FA Cup final, having managed the club for 15 years, and was succeeded by his long-time assistant Bob Paisley. He led the Liverpool team out for the last time at Wembley for the 1974 FA Charity Shield. He died seven years later, aged 68. Considered one of the greatest football managers of all time, Shankly was among the inaugural inductees into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

In Their Own Story

Shankly's playing career began in earnest with a one-month trial at Carlisle United in 1932, his first time leaving Scotland. Although reserves lost 6–0 in the trial match, he was signed as a hard-running right-half. After one season, Preston North End offered £500 for him. His initial reaction was that it wasn't enough, but brother Alec persuaded him to accept the move to a bigger club. He signed the contract in a railway carriage. At Preston, he made his first-team debut on 9 December 1933 against Hull City, creating an early goal in a 5–0 win. His playing career was interrupted by service in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He retired from playing in 1949 to become a manager, returning to Carlisle before managing Grimsby Town, Workington, and Huddersfield Town.

Reader's Guide

Shankly was born in the small Scottish coal mining village of Glenbuck, Ayrshire. His parents were John and Barbara Shankly. He was the ninth child and the youngest boy. His father was a tailor of handmade suits. All five Shankly brothers played professional football. Shankly left school at age 14 in 1928 and worked at a local mine alongside his brother Bob for two years until the pit closed and he faced unemployment. He then played for Cronberry Eglinton in the 1931–32 season before being signed by Carlisle United. He made his senior debut on 31 December 1932. He moved to Preston North End for a fee of £500. He won the FA Cup with Preston in 1938. After retiring as a player in 1949, he became a manager at Carlisle United, then Grimsby Town, Workington, and Huddersfield Town before joining Liverpool in December 1959. He led Liverpool to the Second Division title in 1962, three First Division titles, two FA Cups, three Charity Shields, and the UEFA Cup. He retired in 1974.

Did You Know?

• Shankly's father was a tailor, not a postman.
• Shankly won three Charity Shields, not four.
• Shankly left mining because the pit closed, not to pursue football.