There was only one Bill Shankly, a man of the people, a man who made them happy.
Watch old black and white footage now of Shankly in front of the Kop, a teeming, tumbling mass of human adulation, and you know that Liverpool FC’s greatest manager was special.
He may not have won the trophies that Anfield managers who followed him amassed, but he was responsible for putting in place the foundation of a dynasty that created one of the world’s greatest football institutions.
Shankly arrived at Liverpool 50 years ago. His appointment as manager was officially on December 1, 1959. His first day at the office was the 14th and his first game - a 4-0 home drubbing by Cardiff - came on the 19th in the old Second Division.
It is hard to imagine that from those humble beginnings at a rundown northern club, Shankly created a giant of footballing achievement.
Shankly was different because he left a permanent mark on a city, a generation and a now great football club.
More than just a football manager, Shankly showed a social responsibility to the people he represented through their club.
His contribution to football was to produce a simple style of ’pass and move’ that underpinned the club’s emergence and future success.
His contribution to the city of Liverpool is immense. He gave them belief and faith when confronted with poverty.
Back in the 50s and 60s, Liverpool was still suffering the after-effects of the Second World War. The city still carried the scars and devastation of German bombing.
Shankly came from Scottish mining stock, an idealistic socialist who understood the working class, the people who flooded through Anfield’s gates to adore him and the teams he produced.
He gave them pride at a time they needed it most. It is not stretching the point to say that Shankly and the Beatles put Liverpool on the world map.
The docks, and the Lancashire coalfield that used to stretch from Salford to the sea, were in decline. Unemployment was rife.
Liverpool was a poor, forgotten city, certainly by the south at least. And here was a man "who made the people happy" - the famous epitaph on his statue in the shadows of the Kop.
His legend, the man management and clever one-liners, will come flooding back as Liverpool marks the 50th anniversary of his arrival at the club.
He became the first of the real football managers. People like Brian Clough, Don Revie and Alf Ramsey followed. They picked the team, coached it, and handled transfers.
Before that, chairman, directors and boards were in charge of all but the fitness work.
Shankly has been somewhat cruelly described as a relatively unsuccessful Liverpool manager. True there was no European Cup, but those who followed - Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and even Rafael Benitez now - have reaped the benefits of Shankly’s foundations.
But it was his leadership and devotion to the club’s fans that set him apart.
He worked in the mines for a couple of years as a boy, and he hated the poverty his family lived in. He blamed Labour politicians as much as the establishment for that depravation.
Football gave him the escape, and he signed for Carlisle, then Preston where he won seven Scottish caps.
But the war finished his career. When it was over he was 33 and his playing days were numbered. He managed Carlisle, Grimsby, Workington and Huddersfield - where he gave Denis Law his debut at 16 - before he joined Liverpool.
He had been interviewed for the job back in 1951, but rejected because he was not a big enough name. But in 1959 Liverpool’s then chairman T.V. Williams knew instinctively that this was the right man for the times.
Liverpool was a down-at-heel club then, their training ground at Melwood a shambles, and they were languishing in the old Second Division.
Promotion came in 1964 and the rest is history. The Kop rocked to Beatles songs and Shankly’s side won three titles, were twice runners-up and claimed two FA Cups as well as the UEFA Cup (1973).
Shankly insisted on teamwork, brotherly help and spirit. The man from working class roots wanted his team to play with a socialist ethos.
They played for the people, and the people understood that simple philosophy.
Great players owe their careers to him. Ian St John, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Ray Clemence, Tommy Smith, John Toshack, Kevin Keegan, Steve Heighway...the list is endless.
Men who are legends now themselves, icons still. Some quite rightly using their names to forge media careers, where the true legend of Shankly still inspires them. Players never to be forgotten by the Anfield public.
Shankly quit in the summer of 1974 at 60. He wanted to spend time with wife Nessie and his family, and he continued to live in Bellefield Avenue, his house overlooking Everton’s now former training ground where he was always welcome for a cup of tea.
Liverpool’s truly great years were still to come. Five European Cup and a total of 18 titles. At one stage the best team in the world.
The foundations were Shankly’s. He gave pride back to a shattered, grim city. He gave British, even world, football the means to become more professional and forward thinking.
From Clough to Jose Mourinho, there are managers who could be described as clones of Shankly. And what is wrong with that.
On his retirement, Shankly was asked how he would like to be remembered. He said: "That I’ve been basically honest in a game in which it is sometimes difficult to be honest.
"Sometimes you’ve got to tell a little white lie to get over a little troublesome period of time. I’d like to think that I have put more into the game than I have taken out.
"And that I haven’t cheated anybody, I’ve been working for people honestly all along the line, for the people of Liverpool who go to Anfield. I’d like to be recognised for trying to give them entertainment.
"I’d played at Anfield and I knew the crowd was fantastic. I knew there was a public just waiting. So I fought the battles inside and outside.
"I was interested in only one thing, success for the club. And that meant success for the people. I wanted results for the club, for the love of the game, to make the people happy."
If anything, those are words that the modern game would do well to take note of. Shankly would want that.
Watch old black and white footage now of Shankly in front of the Kop, a teeming, tumbling mass of human adulation, and you know that Liverpool FC’s greatest manager was special.
He may not have won the trophies that Anfield managers who followed him amassed, but he was responsible for putting in place the foundation of a dynasty that created one of the world’s greatest football institutions.
Shankly arrived at Liverpool 50 years ago. His appointment as manager was officially on December 1, 1959. His first day at the office was the 14th and his first game - a 4-0 home drubbing by Cardiff - came on the 19th in the old Second Division.
It is hard to imagine that from those humble beginnings at a rundown northern club, Shankly created a giant of footballing achievement.
Shankly was different because he left a permanent mark on a city, a generation and a now great football club.
More than just a football manager, Shankly showed a social responsibility to the people he represented through their club.
His contribution to football was to produce a simple style of ’pass and move’ that underpinned the club’s emergence and future success.
His contribution to the city of Liverpool is immense. He gave them belief and faith when confronted with poverty.
Back in the 50s and 60s, Liverpool was still suffering the after-effects of the Second World War. The city still carried the scars and devastation of German bombing.
Shankly came from Scottish mining stock, an idealistic socialist who understood the working class, the people who flooded through Anfield’s gates to adore him and the teams he produced.
He gave them pride at a time they needed it most. It is not stretching the point to say that Shankly and the Beatles put Liverpool on the world map.
The docks, and the Lancashire coalfield that used to stretch from Salford to the sea, were in decline. Unemployment was rife.
Liverpool was a poor, forgotten city, certainly by the south at least. And here was a man "who made the people happy" - the famous epitaph on his statue in the shadows of the Kop.
His legend, the man management and clever one-liners, will come flooding back as Liverpool marks the 50th anniversary of his arrival at the club.
He became the first of the real football managers. People like Brian Clough, Don Revie and Alf Ramsey followed. They picked the team, coached it, and handled transfers.
Before that, chairman, directors and boards were in charge of all but the fitness work.
Shankly has been somewhat cruelly described as a relatively unsuccessful Liverpool manager. True there was no European Cup, but those who followed - Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and even Rafael Benitez now - have reaped the benefits of Shankly’s foundations.
But it was his leadership and devotion to the club’s fans that set him apart.
He worked in the mines for a couple of years as a boy, and he hated the poverty his family lived in. He blamed Labour politicians as much as the establishment for that depravation.
Football gave him the escape, and he signed for Carlisle, then Preston where he won seven Scottish caps.
But the war finished his career. When it was over he was 33 and his playing days were numbered. He managed Carlisle, Grimsby, Workington and Huddersfield - where he gave Denis Law his debut at 16 - before he joined Liverpool.
He had been interviewed for the job back in 1951, but rejected because he was not a big enough name. But in 1959 Liverpool’s then chairman T.V. Williams knew instinctively that this was the right man for the times.
Liverpool was a down-at-heel club then, their training ground at Melwood a shambles, and they were languishing in the old Second Division.
Promotion came in 1964 and the rest is history. The Kop rocked to Beatles songs and Shankly’s side won three titles, were twice runners-up and claimed two FA Cups as well as the UEFA Cup (1973).
Shankly insisted on teamwork, brotherly help and spirit. The man from working class roots wanted his team to play with a socialist ethos.
They played for the people, and the people understood that simple philosophy.
Great players owe their careers to him. Ian St John, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Ray Clemence, Tommy Smith, John Toshack, Kevin Keegan, Steve Heighway...the list is endless.
Men who are legends now themselves, icons still. Some quite rightly using their names to forge media careers, where the true legend of Shankly still inspires them. Players never to be forgotten by the Anfield public.
Shankly quit in the summer of 1974 at 60. He wanted to spend time with wife Nessie and his family, and he continued to live in Bellefield Avenue, his house overlooking Everton’s now former training ground where he was always welcome for a cup of tea.
Liverpool’s truly great years were still to come. Five European Cup and a total of 18 titles. At one stage the best team in the world.
The foundations were Shankly’s. He gave pride back to a shattered, grim city. He gave British, even world, football the means to become more professional and forward thinking.
From Clough to Jose Mourinho, there are managers who could be described as clones of Shankly. And what is wrong with that.
On his retirement, Shankly was asked how he would like to be remembered. He said: "That I’ve been basically honest in a game in which it is sometimes difficult to be honest.
"Sometimes you’ve got to tell a little white lie to get over a little troublesome period of time. I’d like to think that I have put more into the game than I have taken out.
"And that I haven’t cheated anybody, I’ve been working for people honestly all along the line, for the people of Liverpool who go to Anfield. I’d like to be recognised for trying to give them entertainment.
"I’d played at Anfield and I knew the crowd was fantastic. I knew there was a public just waiting. So I fought the battles inside and outside.
"I was interested in only one thing, success for the club. And that meant success for the people. I wanted results for the club, for the love of the game, to make the people happy."
If anything, those are words that the modern game would do well to take note of. Shankly would want that.
