Have We Found The One, At 21?

AS Brendan Rodgers finally takes the hot seat at Liverpool FC, the Northern Irishman becomes the 21st man at the helm.

A look back at his 20 predecessors and their successes indicate the requirements that Rodgers needs to fulfil if he is to become an Anfield hero.

Here, we take a look at the 20 former Liverpool managers in rank order from the most inadequate to the truly outstanding.

20. Don Welsh 1951-1956

After a prolific playing career with Charlton Athletic and 3 times with England, Welsh moved into management. An uneventful spell at Brighton led him to Anfield. He receives the worst ranking on this list due to leading Liverpool to relegation to the second division. He never managed to bring the club back up again and was promptly sacked in 1956.

19. Ronnie Moran (caretaker manager) 1991, 1992

Although only in charge for a total of 10 games, Ronnie Moran has been spared the last spot on the list due to the difficult circumstances that befell his time in charge. Moran took charge after the surprise resignation of Kenny Dalglish after the Hillsborough disaster. Although his brief stint in charge was not tragic, the Liverpool legend will undoubtedly be best remembered for his playing and coaching career, not his managerial career.

18. George Patterson 1928-1936

In a distinctly mediocre stint with the club, Patterson never took the club higher than 4th and an average league position of 13th during his 7 years in charge indicates his disappointing time with Liverpool. Despite his long tenure, he never really made an impact at Anfield and will be one of the least remembered Liverpool managers in history.

17. Roy Hodgson 2010-2011

The now England manager had his most difficult managerial spell to date at Anfield where circumstances and poor results lead to just 31 games in charge before he left his post. Taking over from popular Rafa Benitez and dealing with the transition of owners left Hodgson with little hope. The fans never really connected with the manager and his mediocre tenure abruptly ended with disappointment.

16. Phil Taylor 1956-1959

On paper, Taylor had a fantastic record in his 4 seasons with the club. In his time as manager, Liverpool finished 3rd twice and 4th twice. Unfortunately, this record was achieved in the second tier of English football. This means a place at the unwanted end of the Liverpool managers list is the best that Taylor could have hoped for.

15. Graeme Souness 1991-1994

In a fairly uneventful tenure with his beloved Liverpool, Souness won the club the FA Cup in 1992. He then led the club to disappointing 6th placed finish before being sacked in 1994. Despite his overwhelming success as a player, Souness could not live up to expectations as a manager.

14. George Kay 1936-1951

The 15 year tenure that was endured by George Kay was made problematic in part due to the Second World War, with no football being played during 1939-45. In the club’s first season back after the war, Kay led Liverpool to the First Division title. His disappointing position on this list is due to disheartening mid-table finishes after the title win.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
13. Roy Evans 1994-1998

After the departure of Souness, Roy Evans took the reins at Anfield. After a promising start in which he took the club to a 4th placed position and a League Cup final victory in his first season, Evans never really lived up to expectations and Gerard Houllier soon took full charge of the club.

12. Matt McQueen 1923-1928

Despite a relatively mediocre record in his time at the club, McQueen lead Liverpool to an unexpected title win in his first season in charge. This was the clubs first ever back-to-back title victories having won the trophy the season before under David Ashworth.

11.Kenny Dalglish (second stint) 2011-2012

Many Reds fans will argue that Dalglish’s most recent spell in charge of Liverpool should be much further down the list. Disappointing league form certainly hampered Dalglish’s tenure but a Carling Cup win and an FA Cup final appearance allows the King to sit pretty in 11th place.

10. David Ashworth 1919-1923

As previously mentioned, Ashworth won the Reds the league title in his fourth and final year with the club. He also has the honour of being only one of two managers to have a win ratio of over 50% before the Shankly era.

9 & 8. W.E Barclay & John McKenna 1892-1896

The first managers of Liverpool and the men who put the club in the spotlight. The duo guided the club to the First Division and have one of the most impeccable records of any Liverpool managers with a win ratio of 60%.

7. Gerard Houllier 1998-2004

A very successful spell in charge at Anfield for the Frenchman, was highlighted by his team’s treble win in 2001. Houllier also helped in the emergence of current captain Steven Gerrard. His style of play and astute signings bought a belief back to the club that had been missing since Kenny Dalglish’s first spell in charge.

6. Tom Watson 1896-1915

The manager whose tenure stands as the second longest at Liverpool, Watson’s achievements at any other club would stand alone at the summit. However, the class of manager that has befallen Liverpool means that Watson is 6th on this list. Following in the footsteps of the successful Barclay-McKenna reign was no easy feat. However, Watson took the club from the bottom of the second division to champions of England in just 24 months.

5. Rafa Benitez 2004-2010

The Spaniard’s achievement in Istanbul already puts him way above some of the aforementioned managers on this list. That Champions League win immediately made Rafa a legend at Anfield. Fantastic performances domestically made up for some of his strange tactical decisions. Unfortunate ownership problems cut Benitez’ tenure short but his place on this list as the 5th greatest manager in Liverpool’s history speaks volumes of the man’s abilities.

4. Joe Fagan 1983-1985

Despite his short reign as manager, Fagan achieved some of the most successful moments in Liverpool’s history. In his first season, Fagan guided the club to their first treble. Winning the First Division along with the League Cup was further enhanced by another European Cup success in Rome. Regardless of his short spell, Fagan will be remembered as one of the clubs most treasured managers.

3. Kenny Dalglish (first stint) 1985-1991

Along with 3 domestic titles, Kenny’s first spell in charge remains the most successful in the clubs history, in terms of win percentage (60.91%). The man who had such an illustrious career as a player at Anfield, wasted no time in announcing himself on the managerial stage, guiding his beloved club to a league and cup double in his first season in charge. It is a shame that his second spell at the club dampened his wonderful managerial credentials, which must be remembered and appreciated by Reds fans.

2. Bill Shankly 1959-1974

The Father of Liverpool’s modern dominance, Bill Shankly’s 15 year reign delivered 12 trophies to the club. As long as Liverpool play their games at Anfield, the Scotsman will forever be remembered as fans pass through the famous Shankly Gates. Not much needs to be said about a man whose love for the game is echoed in his quote that sums up his time at the club,

”Some people believe football is a matter of life and death…I can assure you it’s much, much more important than that.”

1. Bob Paisley 1974-1983

If Bill Shankly was the father of Liverpool’s modern dominance, Bob Paisley was the prodigal son. In just 9 years at the helm, Paisley delivered an unbelievable 20 trophies to the club. These trophies included 6 domestic titles and 3 European Cups. Paisley achieved what was set out for him by his predecessor and made Liverpool the greatest team in the world for a period during the 70’s and 80’s. Anyone who remembers watching the Liverpool team at that time would be aware of how much the club dominated both domestically and in Europe. Paisley claims the no.1 spot on this list thanks to his impeccable trophy cabinet. However, Shankly deserves credit for creating the team that Paisley so brilliantly managed.

Brendan Rodgers 2012-?

When Brendan Rodgers ends his current tenure at Liverpool, he will be hoping to claim a place as one of the greatest managers at Anfield in recent history. With a CV that wouldn’t excite most fans, scepticism is a natural by-product. However, the decision has been made and the former Swansea boss will lead Liverpool into a new era. Whatever happens, Rodgers will find it tough to replicate what half of the aforementioned managers have achieved for Liverpool FC.

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook