Kenny Dalglish may have conquered Europe as a Liverpool player, but admits he is honoured to now be able to lead them in continental competition as manager.
The 59-year-old won the European Cup three times in seven years during his playing days.
But the ban imposed on English clubs in 1985 – after the role played by Reds fans in the Heysel Stadium disaster – robbed him of the chance to extend that tally as a manager, having taken over from Joe Fagan after that fateful night.
He has since managed Blackburn and Newcastle in Europe but on Thursday - 9,393 days after his first spell in the Anfield dugout began - Dalglish will take charge of Liverpool on the continent for the first time when they face Sparta Prague in the last 32 of the Europa League.
‘It is a great honour for me to be involved with Liverpool, irrespective of the competition, but to be involved in Europe gives that extra little plus,’ said the Scot.
Dalglish’s men head into the first leg with an unbeaten record in Europe behind them this season under former boss Roy Hodgson.
‘It is up to us to carry on the good work which was done by Roy and the players to get us this far,’ added Dalglish.
‘The competition we’re involved in only seems to be unimportant to people who are not involved.
‘How do you define important? It is important because it is the next game. We will be doing our best to get the result everyone wants.’
Sparta hasn’t played competitively since the Czech League closed down for winter in November and Dalglish added: ‘They haven’t played many games.
'Sparta is a good side but we aren’t here to be pessimistic.’
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