Kenny Dalglish

At 73 years old, Kenny Dalglish has this physical status:

Club career

In May 1967, Dalglish signed a professional deal with Celtic. Sean Fallon, the club's assistant manager, went to see Dalglish and his parents at their house, which had Rangers-related pictures on the walls. Dalglish was loaned out to Cumbernauld United in his first season, scoring 37 goals. He began working as an apprentice joiner during this period. Jock Stein, Celtic's boss, wanted Dalglish to spend a second season at Cumbernauld, but the youngster wanted to be professional. Danny McGrain, George Connelly, Lou Macari, and David Hay were among the tenacious players slated for the Quality Street Gang, which included future Scottish internationals Danny McGrain, George Connelly, Lou Macari, and David Hay. Dalglish played his first-team competitive debut for Celtic in a Scottish League quarter-final tie against Hamilton Academical on September 25, 1968, winning by 4–2.

He spent the 1968-1969 season with the reserves, but only scored four goals in 17 games. He stepped into midfield and had a fruitful season as he helped the reserve team win the league and cup double, scoring 19 goals in 31 games. In a league match against Raith Rovers on October 4, 1969, Stein placed Dalglish in the starting XI. Celtic defeated 7-1, but Dalglish did not score, and didn't score in the next three first-team games he played in during the 1969–70 season.

Dalglish maintained his goalscoring form in the reserves into next season, scoring 23 goals. Dalglish scored one goal in the first leg to win by 6–1 in the Reserve Cup Final; a highlight of his season was his appearance in the Reserve Cup Final against Rangers; Dalglish scored one goal in a 4–1 victory, then win in the second leg by a hat-trick, clinching the trophy. Dalglish was in the stands at the Ibrox tragedy in January 1971, when 66 Rangers fans died, but not a first-team regular. He played for Celtic against Kilmarnock in a testimonial match for the Rugby Park club's long-serving midfielder Frank Beattie, scoring six goals in a 7–2 victory for Celtic on May 17, 1971.

Dalglish was able to make his Celtic debut in the 1971-1972 season. In a 2–0 victory over Rangers on August 14, 1971, Celtic's second goal for the first team was scored on a penalty kick. He continued to score 29 goals in 53 games this season, including a hat-trick against Dundee and braces against Kilmarnock and Motherwell, which helped Celtic win their seventh straight league championship. Dalglish defeated Hibernian 6–1 in the 1972 Scottish Cup Final. Dalglish's leading scorer in 1972–73 was Robin Woods, who scored 39 goals in all competitions, and the club lifted the league championship once more. Celtic won a league and cup double in 1973-74 and reached the European Cup semi-finals. The ties against Atlético Madrid were tense, and Dalglish characterized the first leg in Glasgow, which was without doubt the worst game I had ever seen in as far as violence is concerned." In 1975, Dalglish earned a second Scottish Cup winner's medal, providing the cross for Paul Wilson's first goal in a 3–1 victory over Airdrieonians, who fought to be captain Billy McNeill's last match before retiring from playing football.

Dalglish was made Celtic captain in the 1975-76 season, during which the club lost a trophy for the first time in 12 years. Jock Stein had been seriously injured in a car accident and missed the majority of the season due to his injury. Celtic defeated another league and cup double in 1976–77, with Dalglish scoring 27 goals in all competitions. After making 320 appearances and scoring 167 goals for Celtic, Dalglish, Liverpool manager Bob Paisley was signed by Liverpool manager Bob Paisley for a British transfer fee record of £440,000 (£2,908,000 today). The arrangement was unpopular with Celtic fans, and Dalglish was booed by the audience as he returned to Celtic Park in August 1978 to play in a testimonial match for Stein.

Dalglish was hired to replace Kevin Keegan and quickly settled into his new club. In the 1977 FA Charity Shield against Manchester United, he made his debut on August 13, 1977, in the season opener at Wembley Stadium. In his first game for Liverpool against Middlesbrough, he scored his first goal for the club on August 20. Dalglish won by 2–0 over Newcastle United on his Anfield debut, and he scored Liverpool's sixth goal when they defeated Hamburg 6–0 in the second leg of the 1977 European Super Cup. Dalglish had played 62 times and scored 31 goals, including the winning goal against Bruges in 1978.

Dalglish set a personal record of 21 league goals for the club in his second season, winning the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award twice. He did not miss a single game for Liverpool until 1981-1983, when he appeared in 34 out of 42 league games and scored only eight goals, finishing fifth in the league but also lifted the European Cup and Football League Cup. He returned to his goal-scoring form last season and was an ever-present player in the league once more, scoring 13 goals as Liverpool defeated Dalglish for the third time since his arrival in the league. It was also around this time that he began to form a potent strike partnership with Ian Rush; Dalglish started to play just off Rush, "running riot in the extra space given to him in the golf course." During the 1982–83 season, Dalglish was named PFA Player of the Year, scoring 18 league goals as Liverpool retained their crown. Dalglish was less effective as a goalscorer from 1983 to 1994, but he remained a regular player.

Dalglish selected himself for only 21 First Division games in 1985–86, but the FA Cup final win over Everton came after being player-manager following Joe Fagan's retirement in 1985 and the aftermath of the Heysel Stadium fire. He scored in a 1–0 away win over Chelsea on the last day of the league season, giving Liverpool their 16th league title. Dalglish had a much better campaign in the 1986–87 season, scoring six goals in 18 league appearances, but by then he had committed to younger players and a first-team spot.

Dalglish formed a new striker partnership with John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley for the 1987–88 season, but he appeared only twice in a league season that saw Liverpool win their 17th title. Dalglish did not participate in Liverpool's 1988-1989 season, and he made his last league appearance against Derby on May 5th. He was one of the oldest players to play for Liverpool at 39 years old. In a 3–0 home league victory over Nottingham Forest on April 18, 1987, his last goal had appeared three years earlier.

International career

In the 1–0 Euro 1972 qualifier over Belgium at Pittodrie, Tommy Docherty made his Scottish national team debut as a replacement. Dalglish scored his first goal for Scotland a year later in the 2–0 World Cup qualifier victory over Denmark at Hampden Park on November 15, 1972. Scotland will qualify for the final tournament, and he was a member of Scotland's 1974 World Cup squad in West Germany. Despite not losing any of Scotland's three games, he started in all three games as Scotland was eliminated during the group stages.

Dalglish scored Scotland's winning goal against England at Hampden Park in 1976 by nutmegging Ray Clemence. In another 2–1 victory at Wembley Stadium, Dalglish defeated the same opponents and goalkeeper. Dalglish continued to compete in both the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, where he began playing against eventual runners-up the Netherlands in a thrilling 3–2 victory, and the 1982 World Cup in Spain, scoring against New Zealand. On both occasions, Scotland failed to move beyond the group stage. Dalglish was selected for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, but was forced to cancel due to injury.

Dalglish scored 30 goals for Scotland (also a national record) and tied for Denis Law). His last appearance for Scotland, after 15 years as a full international, was played at Hampden Park in 1986, which Scotland lost 3–0. In a World Cup qualifier also at Hampden Park, his 30th and final international goal had been set two years ago, on November 14, 1984, when England defeated Spain 3–1. Many people, however, - both the media and the general public - felt that Dalglish would never be able to duplicate his superb club form at international level, and it was often said that he went'missing' during games.

Managerial career

Dalglish became Liverpool's manager after the Heysel Stadium fire in 1985 and Joe Fagan's subsequent resignation as boss. In his first season as coach in 1985–86, he led the team to its first "double." Liverpool won the League Championship by two points over Everton (Dalglish himself scored the winner in a 1–0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season) and the FA Cup by beating Everton in the final.

Liverpool's 1986-87 campaign was winless. In the League Cup final at Wembley, they lost 2–1 to Arsenal. Dalglish signed striker Peter Beardsley from Newcastle and winger John Barnes from Watford before the 1987-88 season. John Aldridge, a goalscorer for Oxford United who had moved to Italy in 1987, had already purchased Oxford United midfielder Ray Houghton, who had been selling him in the spring of 1987 and early in the new campaign. The new-look Liverpool team, shaped by Dalglish, dominated the league for almost the entire season and had a string of 37 games unbeaten in all competitions (including 29 in the league; 22 wins and 7 draws) from the start of the season to February 1988, when they lost to Everton in the league for the first time. Liverpool had four games remaining to play after losing just two games in 40 games. However, Dalglish's team lost the 1988 FA Cup Final to underdogs Wimbledon.

Dalglish re-signed Ian Rush in 1988, in the summer. Liverpool beat Everton 3–2 after extra time in the second all-Merseyside FA Cup final last season, but was denied a second double in the final game of the season after Arsenal secured a last-minute goal to take the trophy from Liverpool. Liverpool won their third league title under Dalglish in the 1989–90 season. They were unable to qualify for the Double and their third straight FA Cup final appearance when they lost 4–3 at Crystal Palace in extra time in an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. Dalglish received his third Manager of the Year award at the end of the season. Dalglish resigned as Liverpool's boss on February 22, 1991, two days after a 4–4 draw with rivals Everton in an FA Cup fifth round tie at Goodison Park in which Liverpool forfeited the lead four times. The club was three points ahead of schedule and still in contention for the FA Cup at the time of his departure.

Dalglish was the boss of Liverpool at the time of the Hillsborough fire on April 15, 1989. On the day, the tragedy claimed the lives of 94 people, with the final death toll 97. Several of the victims' funerals, including four in a single day, were attended by Dalglish. His role in the aftermath of the tragedy has been described as "colossal and heroic." Dalglish sat in on a twenty-year absence from the incident in March 2009, expressing regret that the police and FA did not consider delaying the match's start. During the Hillsborough Memorial Service on April 15, 2011, Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram announced that he would apply Early Day Motion to have Dalglish knighted "not just for his outstanding playing and managerial career, but also for the charitable work he has done with his wife, Marina, for breast cancer research and what he did after Hillsborough." It is common knowledge that it affected him greatly."

Dalglish was re-electing at Second Division Blackburn Rovers in October 1991, having been bought by multi-millionaire Jack Walker. They were at the top of the Second Division by the turn of 1992 and then suffered a dip in form before advancing to qualify for the playoffs, when Blackburn led Blackburn to glory in the Second Division Play-off final at Wembley, where they defeated Leicester City 1–0. For the first time since 1966, Blackburn was back in the top flight of English football for the first time since 1966. Dalglish agreed to Southampton's Alan Shearer for a British record fee of £3.5 million in the 1992 close season. Despite a serious injury that had kept Shearer out for half the season, Dalglish took his fourth position with the team in the inaugural year of the new Premier League in the first year. Dalglish's bid to sign Roy Keane fell the following year. Blackburn finished runners-up to Manchester United in two positions the following season. Tim Flowers and David Batty, both from England, had been called to Dalglish's squad by this time.

Dalglish paid Chris Sutton, with whom Shearer formed a fruitful strike partnership, at the start of the 1994–95 season. Both Blackburn and Manchester United were in contention for the title by the end of the season's last game. Blackburn had to fly to Liverpool, and Manchester United had to face West Ham United in London. Blackburn lost 2–1, but the tournament was still a success after United failed to win in London. After Tom Watson, Herbert Chapman, and Brian Clough, Dalglish was only the fourth football manager in England to lead two separate clubs in top-flight league championships in England. In June 1995, Dalglish became the Head of Football at Blackburn. After a disappointing season under his new manager, Ray Harford, the club's 1996-97 season ended.

Following his release from Blackburn Dalglish, he was given a brief stint as a "international talent scout" at his boyhood club Rangers. He was reported as having played a vital role in the recruitment of Chilean Sebastián Rozental.

Dalglish was appointed manager of Newcastle United's Premier League team on a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 1997, taking over from Kevin Keegan. Dalglish led the club from fourth position to a runner-up spot in May and a spot in the new UEFA Champions League's following season. He left the team, which had been in second place for two years, by selling well-known players such as Peter Beardsley, Lee Clark, Les Ferdinand, and David Ginola and replacing them with younger ones such as John Barnes (36) and Stuart Pearce (35), as well as virtual unknowns such as Des Hamilton and Garry Brady. Gary Speed and Shay Given are two other notable long-term investments. Newcastle finished in just 13th place in the 1997–99 season, with Freddie Shepherd dropping two draws in the first two games of the new 1998–99 season and replacing them with former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit. "His 20 months with Newcastle United are the only part of Kenny Dalglish's career that has come close to failing," a commentator from The Independent has stated.

With his former Liverpool player John Barnes as head coach, Celtic's chief of football operations was appointed in June 1999. Barnes was fired in February 2000, but Dalglish took over the first team on an interim basis. He led them to the Scottish League Cup final, where they defeated Aberdeen 2–0 at Hampden Park. After the appointment of Martin O'Neill as the boss, Dalglish was dismissed in June 2000. Dalglish has agreed to a £600,000 settlement from Celtic following a brief court fight.

Rafael Bentez, the club's youth academy, welcomed Dalglish to play in April 2009. The appointment was confirmed in July 2009, and Dalglish was also named as the club's ambassador. Following Ben's departure from Liverpool in June 2010, Dalglish was asked to assist in finding a replacement, and Fulham's Roy Hodgson was appointed manager in July.

Liverpool fans started calling for Dalglish's return as manager as early as October 2010, but no change in the club's results since that time was acquired by New England Sports Ventures), and no further developments were made in the club's results until the year's end were made, with the manager moving to Dalglish dismissed in 2011. In the 3rd round of the FA Cup, Dalglish's first game in charge was against Manchester United on January 9, 2011. Dalglish's first league game in charge was against Blackpool on January 12; Liverpool lost 21-01. Dalglish admitted that Liverpool faced "a big challenge" after the game.

Dalglish said he would like the job on a permanent basis if it were given to him shortly after his appointment, and Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said on January 19th that the club's owners would favour this option. Liverpool beat Wolves at Molineux on January 22, 2011, his first victory since his return to the club. Some journalists noted that Dalglish had begun to assert his authority at the club after signing Andy Carroll from Newcastle for a British record transfer fee of £35 million and Luis Suárez from Ajax for £22.8 million at the end of January (in the aftermath of Fernando Torres' transfer to Chelsea for £50 million). Following a 1–0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in February 2011, Alan Smith called it "a very impressive display of discipline and spirit" and a "defensive master plan" by David Pleat, Henry Winter wrote, "it will only be a matter of time" before he [Dalglish] is named as the long-term boss."

Liverpool revealed on May 12 that Dalglish had been granted a three-year contract. Spurs' Harry Redknapp's Spurs beat him 2–0 at Anfield in his first official match in charge. At times, Dalglish's second stint as boss of Anfield was turbulent. Luis Suárez was defended by the Scot in the aftermath of his eight-match suspension for verbally insulting Manchester United defender Patrice Evra when the two sides met in October 2011. After the Uruguayan's apparent refusal to shake Evra's hand during the return game in February 2012, an apology from both player and boss came only after the owners intervened.

Dalglish won the 2011–12 Football League Cup for the first time in six years in February 2012. He also helped Liverpool progress to the 2012 FA Cup Final, where they lost 2–1 to Chelsea. Despite the success in domestic cups, Liverpool finished eighth in the league, their lowest showing in the league since 1994, losing out on Champions League for the third straight season in a row. Liverpool fired Dalglish on May 16, 2012, a week after the end of the season.

Dalglish as a non-executive director returned to Liverpool in October 2013.

The Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand at Anfield on October 13, 2017 was officially renamed the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand in honor of his contributions to the club.

Source