Legends of club football – Kenny Dalglish

Liverpool regrouped to win the league in 1989-90, which would ultimately turn to be their last league triumph till date. After starting the 1990-91 season strongly, they lead the league at the turn of the year. On February 20, 1991, in the FA Cup game against Everton, Liverpool took the lead four times, only for the rivals to equalize each time. The game ended 4-4. The next day Dalglish informed the Liverpool board that he was quitting.

His famous words while announcing his resignation were: “This is the first time since I came to the club that I take the interest of Kenny Dalglish over Liverpool Football Club. This is not a sudden decision. The worst I could have done was not to decide. One could argue that this decision hadn’t come at a good time but there is no good time in cases like this. The main problem is the pressure I put on myself because of my strong desire to succeed.”

“The stress that comes right before and after games has got the better of me. Some might have difficulty understanding my decision but this decision stands. I would be betraying everyone if I wouldn’t let them know there is something wrong. I have been involved with football since I was 17. Twenty years with the two most successful teams in Britain, Celtic and Liverpool. I’ve been at the front all these years and it is time to end it.”

Dalglish wasn’t away from the game for long, and returned to manage Blackburn Rovers. He signed Alan Shearer for a British transfer record fee and guided the team to Premier League glory in the 1994-95 season. He went on to have managerial stints at Newcastle United and later at Celtic, both none as successful as his days at Liverpool.

In 2004, Kenny and his wife Marina founded “The Marina Dalglish Appeal” for raising money for cancer care. The initiative, along with Dalglish’s work for the Hillsborough justice campaign has got him a lot of appreciation.

In 2009, Rafael Benitez invited Dalglish to accept a role at Liverpool’s academy, and Dalglish was also announced as the club’s ambassador. Following the dismissal of Roy Hodgson as Liverpool manager, Dalglish stepped in to take the role of caretaking manager of the team.

On May 12, 2011, Dalglish was appointed the Liverpool manager on a 3-year contract. He spent heavily to develop a new-look team, however most of his big-money signings like Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing failed to impress, which lead to Dalglish getting a lot of flak for his purchases.

Liverpool won the League Cup that season, and also finished as runners-up in FA Cup. But the club owners felt that after the disappointing expensive signings and a disappointing league campaign, along with poor handling of the Luis Suarez racism saga, Dalglish’s position as Liverpool manager had become untenable and he was sacked on May 16, 2012.

The club supporters were disappointed to see their idol leave, but understood the need for change at the helm. Dalglish still actively follows the progress of Liverpool and can be often seen attending the games at Anfield.

Loved by the club fans and the players, Dalglish is also respected by his opponents. His arch-rival Sir Alex Ferguson has said of him: “Kenny had unbelievable vision and strength as a player. He was really aware of people around him. He had great balance and was a good finisher, courageous too. People often forget that the one quality great players need is courage. Kenny is as brave as a lion. He would take a kick from anyone and come back for more. Kenny is a man I shall always respect.”

Kenny’s tryst with the Kop could have begun as early as in 1966, but for every at Anfield, the 11 years gap, until 1977 when he finally joined the club and began his lifelong association, were well worth the wait.