On the 10th January, Liverpool picked up a free agent that may have passed under many people’s radars. It wasn’t a back page headline-making move for a star striker or a solid wing back to provide competition for Glen Johnson, yet it could prove to be more important than either of those things. For after being in charge for less than five days, Kenny Dalglish’s first move in January was to bring in experienced number two Steve Clarke to work along side him.
This latest backroom move means that Liverpool now appear to be clawing themselves away from the off-field mess that they were in only a few months ago. With new owners intact and the unsuccessful and unpopular Roy Hodgson replaced (albeit temporarily), Liverpool have finally realized that nothing will be achieved on the pitch until pressing matters are resolved off of it.
The inclusion of Steve Clarke to the coaching staff is a very shrewd move by Dalglish since a managerial acquisition with the track record of Clarke can only be beneficial. Clarke has worked under, and learnt from, the likes of Jose Mourinho, Bobby Robson and Luis Felipe Scolari, and has won the Premier League twice, League Cup twice and the FA Cup in his role as a managerial assistant. During his semi-successful time at West Ham in which he and Gianfranco Zola took West Ham to within two points of European qualification in their first season, Clarke’s important role was recognized when he became the highest paid assistant in the league.
It could certainly be argued that Liverpool have acquired one of the finest assistant managers in England, and history has shown how important having a number two, and crucially the right number two can be. Two of the Football League’s most successful managers, Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson, have always had a right-hand man by their side throughout their most distinguished managerial spells.
Peter Taylor was assistant to Brian Clough at Hartlepool, Derby County, Brighton and Nottingham Forest and is now widely regarded as one of the best assistant managers of all time. The chemistry between the two men was undeniable and both were fully aware of the contribution that the other had on their success. Clough humbly said of Taylor: “I’m not equipped to manage successfully without Peter Taylor. I am the shop window and he is the goods in the back.”, while Taylor said of Clough: “We just gelled together, we filled in the gaps…My strength was buying and selecting the right player, then Brian’s man management would shape the player”. Taylor and Clough won seven different honors while working together from 1968 to 1980 which included two European Cups and two League Championships.
While Alex Ferguson’s list of assistant managers is far longer than Clough’s, the success that the right partnership has brought is equally as impressive. Bryan Kidd, Steve McClaren and Carlos Queiroz have all contributed in no small part to Manchester United’s success over the last two decades and it’s surely no coincidence that during 2003/04 when Ferguson had no assistant for the majority of the season United finished 15 points behind Arsenal. Ferguson is clearly aware that the support and ideas that an assistant can provide is the catalyst for creating a good team, and without a number two around who else would he get to speak to the BBC?(!).
Steve Clarke was a firm favorite during his time at Chelsea and I’m sure that he can achieve a similar status if he can help rebuild the shambles that Liverpool currently find themselves in. Two minds are always better than one and when they are as experienced as Dalglish and Clarke, who have around 70 years of football know-how between them, it can only be a good thing. The afore-mentioned Peter Taylor perhaps put it best when he said: “I always knew that two men, the right two, could build up a club quicker than one”, Liverpool fans will be hoping that they’ve finally found the right two because there’s plenty of building to be done.
The article was written by Karl Sears for Football Fancast. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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Thought Clarke was first team coach not assistant manager, you forgetting Sammy Lee?
Did Kenny not say at the press conference that Clark was the club’s appointment and not his?
agree… next to go will should be sammy lee. great bloke, nice fella, and it hurts to say this but i dont think he fits into the new structure KK wants to set up…
i see kenny was watching the young lads, surely suso should be introduced soon at the right time in the right game.
Steve clarke is a great back room man to have on the training pitch and in the dug out;
If you listen to king kenny, and stop making crap up, then you will know that its the clubs move with kenny’s agreement when kenny was talking to comolli when his name came into a converstaion.. but you dont sound if you lot actually listen do you?
This is his standing at the club to stop you all banging on about his job role and dutes?!!!! dera god!;
Kenny Dalglish Manager
Sammy Lee Assistant Manager
Steve Clarke First-team Coach
GOT IT? DEAR GOD SOME FANS,,,, THEY BUY A SHORT AND THINK THEY ARE THE KOPS BEST????
Totally agree with this article, no one at lfc will admit it but I think clarkes input will be greater than Sammy Lee’s. Far greater managerial / coaching experience under very very good managers and also better experience of recent success.
A very interesting appointment regarding future manger too I think… As polled on this website, Villas-Boas voted #1 by supporters for next lfc manager has worked closely with Clarke already at Chelsea. Is it possible a deal for VB might already be done for start of next season or at least be the main target to replace King Kenny?
I loved the quote by KD.. If it’s best for lfc for me not to be manager then so be it, how humble is that!? The man knows that if for the future lfc are able to secure an outstanding young manager then he will put his personal interest 2nd for the good of the club…. Outstanding!
I think Villas-Boas / Steve Clarke combo with Dalglish upstairs will be some force to be reckoned with… Providing they are, of course, backed by FSG in the transfer market.
It should have been Phil Thompson instead of Clarke.
Yeah I thought Kenny was going to appoint Phil Thompson as his number two instead. The guy knows the club inside out and would no doubt work well with Kenny, the players and the staff.
Totally agree. Think he’s going to be a great signing for us, will bring a lot of experience to the club and maybe make up for a lot of the rustiness that Kenny may have for the first few weeks or so.
Peter Taylor? omg