Graeme Souness

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Lore & Background

As a player, Souness established himself at Middlesbrough, where he played for six years, before moving to Liverpool in 1978. During his six years at Liverpool he won five First Division titles and three European Cups. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year every season between 1981 and 1984. Described by The Guardian as 'the driving force of an all conquering side', Souness was captain for three seasons at Liverpool between 1981 and 1984. In 2026 he was ranked the club's sixth greatest ever player in an official Liverpool F.C. poll. His Liverpool teammate Mark Lawrenson, who in 2015 ranked Souness fourth in his top 10 Anfield greats, called him 'a great leader of men'. He moved to Sampdoria in 1984 and won the Coppa Italia the following season, and then became player-manager for Rangers, leading the club to three Scottish titles and four league cups. His final game as a player came in the closing minutes of Rangers' final match of the 1989–90 season, which was his only appearance of the season. Souness continued as Rangers coach for a further year before joining Liverpool as manager for the 1991–92 English First Division season. Winning the FA Cup in 1992, his time as manager of Liverpool did not come close to matching his success as a player at the club, and after two substandard seasons he resigned in 1994 before he went on to have spells at Galatasaray, Southampton, Torino, Benfica, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. At international level, Souness gained 54 caps for Scotland, captaining the team on 27 occasions.

In Their Own Story

Souness's transition from player to manager at Rangers was immediate and historic. Appointed in April 1986, he succeeded Jock Wallace as the club's first-ever player-manager. His playing days were marked by a lack of longevity due to injuries and disciplinary incidents, notably his red card just 34 minutes into his debut against Hibernian. By the time his final season arrived, Souness had reduced his on-field role significantly. In the closing stages of the 1989–90 campaign, he made a symbolic return to the pitch for the club's final home game against Dunfermline Athletic. He entered the fray in the last 20 minutes of a match that ended in a 2–0 win, marking his sole appearance of that season and the end of his playing career at Ibrox. Following this victory, he remained with the club as coach for another year before moving to Liverpool.

Reader's Guide

Graeme James Souness was born on 6 May 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was brought up in the Saughton Mains area of the city. He supported local side Heart of Midlothian and Glasgow-based Rangers. As a teenager, Souness played for local boys' club North Merchiston. Souness' career began as an apprentice at Tottenham Hotspur under Bill Nicholson. He signed professional forms as a 15-year-old in 1968. Frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities, the teenage Souness told Nicholson he should be selected for the first team. Souness made one first-team appearance for Spurs, in a UEFA Cup tie as a substitute. During the summer of 1972, Souness played in the North American Soccer League for the Montreal Olympique. He appeared in 10 of his team's 14 matches and was named in the league's All-Star team for that season. Spurs sold Souness to Middlesbrough for £30,000 in 1972. He made his first appearance for Middlesbrough on 6 January 1973 in a 2–1 league defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. His first goal came on 11 December 1973 in a 3–0 league victory over Preston North End at Ayresome Park. Souness' tenacious style began to garner acclaim during his time at Middlesbrough. His first season saw Middlesbrough finish fourth, two places and 14 points short of promotion. Jack Charlton was appointed Middlesbrough manager, his first managerial post, in May 1973. One of Charlton's first signings was experienced former Celtic midfielder Bobby Murdoch, a fellow Scot whom Souness later cited as an important influence in the development of his playing style. Promotion as champions of the Second Division followed in 1973–74. Souness' influence was demonstrated when he scored a hat-trick in the season's final fixture, an 8–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Souness' playing career is best remembered for his seven seasons at Liverpool, where he won five League Championships, three European Cups and four League Cups, and spent the last three seasons as captain. His time at Anfield began in January 1978 as a replacement for veteran Ian Callaghan. After winning his first European Cup in 1977, Liverpool manager Bob Paisley sought reinforcements by signing three Scottish players, all of whom were to contribute substantially to further success. Central defender Alan Hansen arrived from Partick Thistle for £110,000. Kenny Dalglish – an established Scottish international – signed fro

Did You Know?

• Souness won five First Division titles as a player with Liverpool.
• He captained Rangers to three Scottish titles and four league cups.