Born in County Durham on 23 January 1919, due to footballs wartime suspension he was 28 by the time he enjoyed a full début season as a half-back with the Reds, winning the country's first post-WW2 top-flight championship that same 1946/47 season. Upon hanging up his playing boots in 1954 he joined the backroom staff and masterminded a first Central League title two years later for the 'second-string' or reserves team. It was a taste of things to corne. Following a lengthy stint as Bill Shankly 's right-hand man (1956-74) he was a reluctant successor to the top job but would enjoy even greater success. Nine years, 19 major trophies. Bob was a man of few words, shy in public and close to just a few in the media, but as a manager he was wonderfully canny and phenomenally successful.
Paisley's Reds won the European Cup in 1977, 1978, and 1981 - along with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid he's still the only boss to daim the magnificent trophy three times with the same club - and he also led Liverpool to six of their 18 top-flight titles plus three League Cup triumphs and the UEFA Cup in 1976. Bob passed away on 14 February 1996, aged 77, survived by his wife Jessie (who died in 2012), two sons and a daughter. He is remembered in the hearts of Liverpool supporters everywhere, celebrated with a flag on the Spion Kop, and honoured by bronze plaques on stone piers either side of the the eponymous Gateway at Anfield showing a sculpture of Bob in relief and a roll-call of his many managerial honours. For most fans when considering who the most successful ever manager in English football history is, Sir Alex Ferguson will spring to mind first. That’s fair enough he won 38 trophies in his time as manager of Manchester United, including 13 Premier League titles. However, Liverpool have had someone better Bob Paisley. The amount of trophies won through the Liverpool legend’s nine-year tenure is ridiculous. 20 in nine seasons. Significantly, from 1976-1983, the Reds enjoyed a period where they would win either the first division title or European Cup (now known as the Champions League) every year. Seven years where Liverpool fans would enjoy the victory of one of the two most sought after trophies in football? That is a record that is unlikely to ever be matched. In comparison with Sir Alex Ferguson, whilst hauling in 38 trophies for the Red Devils over a 27-year career, the longest streak reached was three seasons.
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