Roger Hunt

Lore & Background

Making his Liverpool debut in 1959, during Hunt's eleven years with the club he was top scorer for eight seasons in a row, and he was the club's record goalscorer until being overtaken by Ian Rush in 1992. He remains Liverpool's record league goalscorer having surpassed Gordon Hodgson in 1969. Under manager Bill Shankly, Hunt won two league titles and an FA Cup. In August 1964 he also scored the first ever goal seen on the BBC's Match of the Day.

He was bestowed with an honorary knighthood by Liverpool fans who referred to him as Sir Roger. In 2006 he was ranked 13th on the 100 Players Who Shook the Kop, an official fan poll. In 2026 he was ranked the club's 9th greatest player in another official poll. As a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup Hunt played in all of England's six games, scoring three times. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Reader's Guide

Born in Glazebury, Lancashire, Hunt played for Croft Youth Club, Stockton Heath and Devizes Town during his formative years. He was signed for Liverpool by manager Phil Taylor in July 1958, joining from Stockton Heath. Hunt made his debut and scored his first goal for the club on 9 September 1959 in a Second Division fixture at Anfield against Scunthorpe United. After Bill Shankly replaced Taylor, Hunt was retained and was a major factor in the Reds' success in the 1960s.

Liverpool gained promotion to the First Division in 1962. Hunt appeared in 41 of the 42 league games and scored 41 goals in season 1961–1962. He scored 31 goals from 41 games in 1963–64 and 29 goals from 37 appearances in 1965–66. On 22 August 1964, Hunt scored against Arsenal after 11 minutes in a 3–2 home win, the first ever goal seen on Match of the Day.

In 1965 he was instrumental in the side winning the FA Cup for the first time, scoring the opening goal in the 93rd minute of the final. He scored Liverpool's only goal in the final of the Cup Winners Cup the following year, as they lost 2–1 after extra time to Borussia Dortmund. He became Liverpool's record goalscorer on 7 November 1967. His final tally for the club was 286 goals by the time he left in 1969 to join Bolton Wanderers.

He signed for Bolton Wanderers in December 1969. In 1971, he moved on loan to Hellenic F.C. in South Africa's National Football League. He retired in 1972, and had a testimonial with Liverpool in April 1972. Hunt was capped 34 times for England.

He made his debut on 4 April 1962, in a friendly against Austria at Wembley. He scored on his international debut as England won 3–1. He was part of the England squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup but was not selected to play. At the 1966 World Cup, he played in all six games, scoring three times.

He retired from international football in 1969. After retiring as a player, he joined his brother Peter in taking over Hunt Brothers haulage business. In 2000 he was awarded an MBE. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

He was voted at number 13 by Liverpool fans on the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop poll in 2006. In 2016 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Warrington. Hunt married Patricia O'Brien in 1959 and they had two children. They divorced in 1981 then Hunt met his second wife Rowan (Green).