BOB PAISLEY O.B.E 1919 - 1996

Bob Paisley was born 23rd January 1919, Hetton-Le-Hole, County Durham, North-East England.
Like Bill Shankly, Paisley was brought up in a small mining town, were football was used as an outlet for communities to gather and socialise at weekends. Promising young footballers were greatly encouraged to go 'professional' and escape a life coal-dust. Paisley signed for Liverpool in 1939, but got drafted into the Royal Artillery shortly after. He spent four years from 1941-45 with Montgomery's 'Desert Rats' fighting in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1946 he returned to Liverpool F.C, and went on to become captain, coach, physiotherapist, assistant manager, manager and football director - in many respects Bob Paisley was Liverpool Football Club. As Shankly's right-hand man in the 'boot-room' of Anfield Road for 15 years, a truly formidable partnership was formed; something that would have been unattainable if friendship, respect and trust were not evident. Bob Paisley 'reluctantly' took the reins from Shankly in 1974 and with all eyes (and sceptics) on him, nobody would have been surprised had he failed to deliver. But deliver he did (with cherries on top): 19 trophies in 9 years. Steering Liverpool to true greatness made him the most successful English manager of all-time.

The following honours list would not be believed if it were not true:

• 6 League Championships
• 3 League Cups
• 6 F.A Charity Shields (1 shared)
• 3 European Cups
• 1 UEFA Cup
• 1 European Super Cup

Bob died at the age of 77 in 1996.    


Shankly's Quotes