Today marks the 28th Anniversary of the death of Bill Shankly.
Shanks was undoubtedly the single most influential manager in the history of football.
Many could argue that there have been other men who’s contribution was as great if not greater to their clubs. I wouldn’t argue with the facts that there were other great managers who’s name is indelibly woven into the history of many clubs.
Great managers like Stein, Busby, Chapman, Nicholson and our own Bob Paisley , all deserve their place amongst the games elite.
However I say without fear of contradiction that none of these great managers ever had anything like the same effect.
None had and more importantly, still have an influence on a club and it’s supporters.
None are woven into the psyche and the fabric of a club and it’s supporters like Bill Shankly.
Shankly was the man who brought together so many elements that I doubt we will ever witness the likes of his achievements again.
The belief he gave his players and the Liverpool supporters is woven into our psyche with good reason.
It is a benchmark that even now 35 years after he retired from Liverpool Football Club we still judge our team, our players and ourselves against.
Bill Shankly was more than a man who could be relied on for a witty quote or two. He was more than a man who had some success in his chosen field. There have been many men like that.
Shankly was an alchemist. A man who came to a place where he finally found a place where his formulae could work.
I use the term Alchemist simply because by definition it means ‘the art of transformation‘.
As anyone who was a Liverpool supporter when Shankly walked into Anfield for the first time as manager would testify. We were certainly in need of ‘transformation’. In fact even a mild improvement would have been more than expected.
What Shankly ultimately achieved was simply beyond the dreams of even the most expectant, most demanding and most hopeful of supporters.
Not only did this Scottish alchemist turn the common metal that was Liverpool Football Club into a glittering golden icon, but he garnished it with the jewels of pride, passion, humility, honesty and an ethos that would stand the test of time.
Whatever has been achieved by the club owes itself in some part to the efforts and influence of Bill Shankly.
Our most recent taste of that was Istanbul. Without the feeling and passion of the players and supporters who were immersed in the culture of our club; a culture that was begun over 50 years ago. I doubt if we would have overcome not only the immense obstacles that not only faced us on the way to that glorious night, but that were placed in front of us, seemingly every step of the way.
So whenever you were fortunate to become a Liverpool supporter. I would ask that today for a brief moment you say a small thank you to the man who gave you everything you hold dear about the greatest Football Club on Earth.
It is said that alchemy is both a philosophy and a practice with the aim of achieving ultimate wisdom as well as immortality, involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several substances described as possessing unusual properties.
I think it’s fair to say that Bill Shankly achieved all of that and more.
Thanks Boss.
