Dalglish – Elliot Lee Journalism

Yesterday, Liverpool announced that the Centenary Stand at Anfield will be renamed to the Kenny Dalglish Stand following nearly a four-decade love-affair with The Reds.

The solitary Scottish player to be selected in the FIFA 100, Dalglish was signed by Bob Paisley in 1977 to replace Kevin Keegan and more than pulled his weight.

Dalglish scored 172 goals in 515 appearances for Liverpool and in 1985 he became player-manager – and won the domestic double that season with an FA Cup final win over Everton.

Dalglish left Liverpool in 1991, nearly two years after the Hillsborough disaster, with 19 trophies ( 8 league titles and 3 European Cups to name a few) to his name as both a player and a manager.

When Liverpool where in a crisis, ‘King Kenny’ returned to the helm to control the unstable side. After Rafa Benitez’s sacking an uninspiring Roy Hodgson took charge and if he were still at the club today, I wouldn’t go as far to say Liverpool may be near the tail-end of the Premier League.

Dalgish returned and won the 2012 League Cup – Liverpool’s only piece of silverware in the past 12 seasons.

However, Dalglish was on the wrong of the Luis Suarez/Patrice Evra controversy and stood by the Uruguayan – who he signed – and was forced to apologise by the owners.

Unfortunately by the end of 2011/12 season, despite getting The Reds into an FA Cup final, he was dismissed by the owners.

Despite being a legendary player and manager, Dalglish is remembered for his reaction in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster.

Dalglish attended many of the Funerals of the 96, even attending four in one day, and his reaction prompted a large quantity of fans calling for the Queen to knight Dalglish to Sir Kenny Dalglish.

Dalglish has been a terrific servant to Liverpool, and will always be regarded in our highest regard, due to his compassion, benevolence and for understanding football like no other.

Elliot Lee

YNWA