Top 5 player-coaches of all time in football

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1. Kenny Dalglish

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Sport. Football. pic: 25th February 1987. Littlewoods Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg. Liverpool 3. v Southampton 0. Liverpool win 3-0 on agg. Liverpool's Player/Manager Kenny Dalglish races away to celebrate after scoring the 2nd goal. Kenny Dalglish had a long c

Kenny Dalglish

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Who else but King Kenny could occupy the top of this list of top player-coaches of all time. Dalglish’s name is spoken in almost reverential tones at Anfield due to his exploits as both player and manager of the club.

Though his second stint in charge of the club was a largely forgettable one, it his first stint that cemented his place in Liverpool folklore.

Dalglish had joined the club in 1977 from Celtic and took over the dual role of a player-coach in 1985 following Joe Fagan’s resignation.

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In his first season in charge, Liverpool went on to do the double. In 1988, he led Liverpool to another league title. In 1989, he missed out on a second double, having beaten Everton in the FA Cup final, thanks to Arsenal’s famous last minute result at Anfield that secured the league title for the Gunners.

The following season he again led Liverpool to yet another league title win, their third under his reign. In 1990, he hung up his playing boots for Liverpool and would subsequently leave as manager too in 1991 citing health reasons.

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During his time at the club, the Scot made some astute buys in the form of John Barnes, John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley. His handling of the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath came in for much praise from one and all.

Liverpool’s quintessential number 7 and he man who shook the Kop, Kenny Dalglish rounds off this list of top player-coaches of all time.

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