#a-zsport Challenge - Bill Shankly

Hi All,

This is my entry #a-zsport Challenge that is hosted by @serialfiller

Today's challenge is the letter 'B'.

As a Liverpool fan, I cannot go past without mentioning Liverpool's most successful manager Bill Shankly.

Bill Shankly was born in Scotland, September 2, 1913.

As a player, he joined Carlisle United in 1932 which he played a single season. Later on he joined Preston North End. He made his first team debut on 9 December 1933. His debut was against Hull City. Shankly created an early goal to help Preston win 5–0.

He only one trophy in his playing career which was the FA Cup in 1937–38. Shankly stayed with Preston until he retired in 1949.

Shankly represented Scotland 12 times and scored 1 goal, during the period 1938-43. His only goal came at Wembley stadium where scored a 50 yard screamer.

Bill Shankly joined his boyhood club, Carlisle United as manager in 1949-1951. In 3 years he took the team from 15th position to 3rd.

Shankly managed several clubs after he left Carlisle United. He joined Grimsby in 1951 and Workington 1954. During the time at those clubs he changed the work ethics and boosted a winning mentality.

Bill Shankly was the head coach of Huddersfield Town from 1955 to 1959. He didn't have much success at the club.

In 1959 he joined Liverpool. At that time Liverpool were stuck in the Second Division for five years. During the the period of 1959–1964, Shankly inherited a fairly average team, he bought the two players to bolster Liverpool,s attack, centre half Ron Yeats and centre forward Ian St John. Liverpool had finished third in both season 1959–60 and 1960–61. Back then only the top 2 teams was promoted.

But in 1961–62 season Liverpool was promoted to the first division by winning the Second Division championship. AND the rest was history.

In Liverpool's first year back to the top division, they finished in eighth position. But in 1963–64 Liverpool won their sixth League Championship title.

In 1964 Shankly installed “THIS IS ANFIELD“ sign in the player's tunnel "to instill fear into the opposition". Wikipedia Talking about mind games. Till this day the exact sign is still present in the players tunnel.

In 1964-65, Liverpool won the FA Cup, for the first time in the club's history. St John scored the winning goal with a 2–1 victory over Leeds United. In his autobiography, Shankly said "winning the 1965 FA Cup final was his greatest day in football". Shankly, p. 102.

Liverpool made their European debut in 1964–65, competing in the European Cup and reaching the semi-finals. Liverpool defeated European champions Inter Milan 3–1 at Anfield in the semi-final first leg. But lost the second leg of the tie at the San Siro, 3–0 and so were knocked out of the competition 4–3 on aggregate,

In 1965–66, Liverpool won the League Championship title and reached the final of the European Cup, where they lost 2–1 in extra time to Borussia Dortmund.

In 1972–73 was the most successful year for Shankly as Liverpool manager. Liverpool won the league title for the eighth time. "Liverpool went on a 21 consecutive home wins in the league. This was the longest run in English top-flight history until it was surpassed by Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool who made it 22 consecutive home wins in March 2020". In numbers: How Klopp and Shankly won 21 home games in a row

Also in that year Liverpool won their first UEFA Cup. Liverpool faced Borussia Mönchengladbach, the first leg at Anfield had to be played twice, due to heavy rain which flooded the pitch. Liverpool eventually won 3–0. The second leg in Mönchengladbach, the German team took an early 2–0 lead, but Liverpool held on to win the final by an aggregate score of 3–2.

"It was the first time an English club had won both the league title and a European trophy in the same season". Shankly, pp. 131–132.

In his last season as Liverpool's manager Shankly won the FA Cup, Liverpool defeat Newcastle 3–0. After announcing his retirement he appointed Bob Paisley.

I found this amazing video on YouTube, a documentry on Shankly's time in Liverpool. Must watch

My favorite Shankly's quote;

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

I invite @lyubo19, @talesfrmthecrypt, @koychev22, @noopu to participate in this challenge. Challenge rules A ZSport Challenge

Thanks for stopping by :)

#football #qurator #OCD #GEM #sports #pl #liverpool #restart

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