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There can only ever be one King of
the Kop and that man has to be Kenny Dalglish. Both as a
player and as a manager Dalglish showed his brilliance time and
again, leading Liverpool to title after title in both
capacities. When Dalglish
was signed in 1977 to replace the departing Kevin Keegan, many
fans wondered whether he would be able to live up to the
expectations of replacing such a key figure. As it turned
out, Dalglish would take Liverpool to a whole other level.
He scored within 7 minutes of his debut, the first of 172 gaols
for the club, each one a classic in one way or another.
Following the Heysel tragedy and
the resignation of Joe Fagan, Dalglish was a popular, if
somewhat surprising choice as player / coach. Again some
fans had reservations, not about Dalglish's ability as manager,
but that his work in the dugout would prevent him from using his
skills on the playing field. In reality the fans need not
have worried, as Dalglish effortlessly combined his skill on the
pitch with his new found skills as manager.
No where more was this more
evident than during the run in to the momentous 85/86 campaign,
that would see Dalglish lead his Liverpool team to a wonderful
League and FA Cup double. Fittingly Dalglish (the player)
scored the goal that secured Liverpool the League title.
Over the next five years
Dalglish would lead Liverpool through one of its most glorious
era's winning a total of 3 League titles and 2 FA Cups.
Despite his great success as
manager, the stress of running a club like Liverpool began to
take its toll on Dalglish, who sadly resigned in February 1991.
If his legendary skills as a
player had not already earned him the right to be King of the
Kop, his equally successful reign as manager surely has. |