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Liverpool is the most successful club in English history and have only been eclipsed in European Cup wins by two legendary teams of Europe, Real Madrid ( 6 wins ) and AC Milan ( 5 wins ). Bill Shankly's appointment as manager in the 1959/60 season was the start of a great Anfield dynasty.
Shankly set the platform for the appreciable success of the club ever since. Liverpool were without doubt at their greatest in the late 1970s and early 1980s when they ruled both English and European football. It was perhaps ironic with the set-up that Shankly presided over that the greatest success of the side did not materialise until after he had retired. Before his untimely death in 1980 Shankly was able to see the fruits of his football philosophy bear when Liverpool won the European Cup and the great side with the likes of Kevin Keegan, Joey Jones, Ian Callaghan and Terry McDermott was a joy for all to watch. Bob Paisley took over from Shankly and led Liverpool through this great era - winning a record 19 trophies along the way - until he passed over the reigns to another 'bootroom boy' Joe Fagan. Paisley, now tragically stricken with Alzheimer's Disease, also rose to the top in this time-honoured traditional Liverpool manner as he was Shankly's number two throughout the formative years of Liverpool's great era.

Fagan was only in the job for two years, but they are remembered for the best and the worst of Liverpool. In 1983/84 he managed Liverpool to their only ever treble (League, European Cup and League Cup). A year later though, tragedy struck. Fagan had announced his retirment from management on the eve of Liverpool's European Cup Final against Juventus in Belgium, at the Heysel Stadium. This announcement has forever been overshadowed in history by the deaths of 39 fans in the rioting before the match in what is one of the lowest moments in football history. The scenes of the Liverpool side exiting their aircraft after their return at Liverpool Airport will stay in the minds of Liverpool fans everywhere for the rest of their lives. Joe Fagan had to be helped from the plane as he was unable to walk unaided because of the upset.

The next season saw another first at Liverpool - a player-manager. Kenny Dalglish took over the side and led them to the League and FA Cup double. Were it not for the European ban implemented after Heysel they could very well have won the European Cup again also.

Dalglish sensationally quit in 1991 because of the "pressure" of the job. When he left he took with him the record of being the most successful player-manager in history, which he still holds to this day.

Then in a big mistake Liverpool broke with tradition. By not appointing from within, even though they went with a former Liverpool player in Rangers' manager Graeme Souness, they were taking a big risk and Souness failed at Anfield. His solitary success was in the 1992 FA Cup Final and when he left the club by "mutual consent" in early 1994 (after a disastrous FA Cup loss to Bristol City) he was replaced by his number two Roy Evans, another 'boot-room boy'. Souness is now managing south coast club Southampton.

Thus far this move looks to be a good one as Evans is building a promising side and already has one trophy (the 1994/95 League Cup ) under his belt and will no doubt be looking for more.