As Kenny Dalglish turns 70, Liverpool fan Ben Murray pays tribute to the King of the Kop
Liverpool’s best ever? It would be hard to argue against it. In his time at Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish won ten league titles, three European cups, three FA Cup and five league cups as well as a hatful of other major honours, earning him the title King of the Kop.
Famous for wearing the number 7 jersey, King Kenny has been hailed as the greatest striker in post-war British football, scoring 118 goals in his 13 years as a Liverpool player and as a player manager.
But it wasn’t just the amount of goals he scored, it was the games he scored in and the influence he had to help his teammates. In his first season at Liverpool, Kenny scored the only goal in the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley against Bruges to help the Reds become the first British team to retain the trophy.
Over the following years, the successes continued, as Kenny went on to become one of the most decorated players to ever play for Liverpool - before taking up the opportunity to become player manager in 1985 following Joe Fagan’s resignation as manager.
In his first season in charge he guided Liverpool to their first double. In the final league game of the 85/86 season, King Kenny scored the winner against Chelsea to clinch the league title away from our neighbours, Everton, who ended the season two points behind the Reds. This was followed by a famous 3-1 win against Everton in the FA Cup final in which Kenny played… A bad year for the Blues but the start of something special for Kenny.
In his role as player manager, Kenny secured a further two league titles and an FA Cup before stepping down in 1991, with the pressures of the job and the trauma of Hillsborough taking their toll. The disaster in South Yorkshire in 1989 claimed 96 lives and had a profound effect on Kenny.
His effort to support and comfort the affected families in the aftermath was colossal and something the city will never forget. Kenny returned to the Liverpool hot seat in 2011 following a tough few years for the club and in his short tenure led Liverpool to a league cup victory and an FA Cup final before returning to his non-executive director post at the club.
The steady arm on the tiller helped begin the rebuild of the club following a period of financial turmoil under Hicks and Gillette. In 2018, Kenny was rightly recognised and knighted for his services to football, charity and the city of Liverpool.
One of the most successful players and managers of the game, and more importantly one of the most genuine and caring human beings there has been. A legend the city of Liverpool will never forget.
Sir Kenny. The King. On your 70th birthday, we thank you.
Words by Ben Murray