Bill Shankly Quotes
Whether you appreciated or liked them or not there was no ignoring some of the great Bill Shankly's quotes. The man was pure legend who had the ability to have all those who listened to him hang on his every word. A truly fascinating man who will always, always be worshipped by Liverpool fans all over the world and someone who will always live on in the memory. Read below some of the great Bill Shankly quotes:
Someone said "football is more important than life and death to you" and I said "Listen, it's more important than that."
On a Granada Television chat-show in 1981.
My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility. Napoleon had that idea. He wanted to conquer the bloody world. I wanted Liverpool to be untouchable. My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in.
I don't think I was in a bath until I was 15 years old. I used to use a tub to wash myself. But out of poverty with a lot of people living in the same house, you get humour.
It's there to remind our lads who they're playing for, and to remind the opposition who they're playing against.
On the "This is Anfield" plaque
On the "This is Anfield" plaque
I'm a people's man - only the people matter.
My life is my work. My work is my life.
The problem with you, son, is that all your brains are in your head.
To a Liverpool trainee
To a Liverpool trainee
Sickness would not have kept me away from this one. If I'd been dead, I would have had them bring the casket to the ground, prop it up in the stands and cut a hole in the lid.
After beating Everton in the 1971 FA Cup semi-final
After beating Everton in the 1971 FA Cup semi-final
I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her, but I'd never cheat her.
Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool.
This is a team of skill and character, with men eager and ready to do any job if it's for the benefit of the club.
The fans here are the greatest in the land. They know the game and they know what they want to see. The people on the Kop make you feel great - yet humble.
No one was asked to do more than anyone else...we were a team.
We shared the ball, we shared the game, we shared the worries.
At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don't come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques.
On boardroom meetings
On boardroom meetings
I'm just one of the people who stands on the Kop. They think the same as I do, and I think the same as they do. It's a kind of marriage of people who like each other.
On his relationship with the fans
On his relationship with the fans
If he isn't named Footballer of the Year, football should be stopped and the men who picked any other player should be sent to the Kremlin.
On Tommy Smith
On Tommy Smith
Fire in your belly comes from pride and passion in wearing the red shirt. We don't need to motivate players because each of them is responsible for the performance of the team as a whole. The status of Liverpool's players keeps them motivated.
Football is a simple game based on the giving and taking of passes, of controlling the ball and of making yourself available to receive a pass. It is terribly simple.
Don't worry, Alan. At least you'll be able to play close to a great team!
To Alan Ball, who'd just signed for Everton
To Alan Ball, who'd just signed for Everton
"He has football in his blood," the disappointed scout complained. "You may be right," Shankly said, "but it hasn't reached his legs yet."
After a scout told Shankly about a young player who he'd given a trial at Liverpool
After a scout told Shankly about a young player who he'd given a trial at Liverpool
Nonsense! I've kicked every ball, headed out every cross. I once scored a hat-trick; One was lucky, but the others were great goals.
After being told that he had never experienced playing in a derby
After being told that he had never experienced playing in a derby
It was the most difficult thing in the world. When I went to tell the chairman, it was like walking to the electric chair. That's the way it felt.
On his resignation
On his resignation
"Where are you from?" "I'm a Liverpool fan from London." "Well laddie ... What's it like to be in heaven?"
To a Liverpool fan
To a Liverpool fan
Aye, here we are with problems at the top of the league.
To the journalist suggesting Liverpool were in difficulties
To the journalist suggesting Liverpool were in difficulties
I only wanted him for the reserves.
To the players after failing to sign Lou Macari in 1973
To the players after failing to sign Lou Macari in 1973
"100,000 wouldn't buy him," Tommy Docherty said. "Yeah, I am one of the 100,000!," replied Shankly.
Shankly and Docherty discussing a player every other club coveted on sight
Shankly and Docherty discussing a player every other club coveted on sight
A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe you are the best and then make sure that you are. In my time at Anfield we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside, Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.
But that's where I live!
To the Brussels hotel clerk who queried his signing "Anfield" as his address on the hotel register
To the Brussels hotel clerk who queried his signing "Anfield" as his address on the hotel register
Just go out and drop a few hand grenades all over the place, son. To Kevin Keegan
Take that poof bandage off, and what do you mean you've hurt 'your' knee, it's Liverpool's knee!
To Tommy Smith after he'd turned up for training with a bandaged knee
To Tommy Smith after he'd turned up for training with a bandaged knee
Aye, Roger Hunt misses a few, but he gets in the right place to miss them.
To a reporter in the 1960s
To a reporter in the 1960s
If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.
The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.
"Anything off the top?", asked a barber in 1968. "Aye, Everton," replied Shankly.
Just tell them I completely disagree with everything they say.
To an interpreter regarding excited Italian journalists
To an interpreter regarding excited Italian journalists
The best side drew.
After a hard fought 1-1 draw
After a hard fought 1-1 draw
It's a 90 minute game for sure. In fact I used to train for a 190 minute game so that when the whistle blew at the end of the match I could have played another 90 minutes.
You son, could start a riot in a graveyard.
To Tommy Smith
To Tommy Smith
I told this player, "Listen Son, you haven't broken your leg. It's all in the mind."
Aye, watch it Bob, it's very greasy and treacherous out there. Very difficult for goalkeepers.
To Arsenal 'keeper Bob Wilson before the 1971 Cup Final
To Arsenal 'keeper Bob Wilson before the 1971 Cup Final
"Sorry, boss, I should have kept my legs together," said Lawrence. "No, Tommy, your mother should have kept her legs together!," replied Shankly.
After Tommy Lawrence had let in a fluke goal between his legs
After Tommy Lawrence had let in a fluke goal between his legs
If Everton were playing at the bottom of the garden, I'd pull the curtains.
Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present, it was her birthday. Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves.
Son, you'll do well here as long as you remember two things. Don't over-eat and don't lose your accent.
On the day he signed Ian St John
On the day he signed Ian St John
What can you do, playing against eleven goalposts?
After a 0-0 draw at Anfield
After a 0-0 draw at Anfield
With him in defence, we could play Arthur Askey in goal.
After signing Ron Yeats
After signing Ron Yeats
For a player to be good enough to play for Liverpool, he must be prepared to run through a brick wall for me then come out fighting on the other side.
If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be.
On the offside rule.
On the offside rule.
Although I'm a Scot, I'd be proud to be called a Scouser.
He's worse than the rain in Manchester. At least God stops the rain in Manchester occasionally.
About Brian Clough
About Brian Clough
He typifies everything that is good in football, and he has never changed. You could stake your life on Ian.
About Ian Callaghan
About Ian Callaghan
He's not just the best centre-forward in the British Isles, but the only one.
About Ian St John
About Ian St John
Above all, I would like to be remembered as a man who was selfless, who strove and worried so that others could share the glory, and who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say "We're Liverpool."
"When you get the ball, I want you to beat a couple of men and smash the ball into the net, just the same way you used to at Bury," said Shankly. Lindsay replied: "But, boss, that wasn't me, it was Jimmy Kerr." Shankly turned to Bob Paisley and said: "Christ, Bob, we've signed the wrong player."
Laddie, that man scored 200 goals in 270 matches - an incredible record - and he has won cup after cup as a manager. When he talks, pin back your ears.
To a photographer who suggested Brian Clough was outspoken
To a photographer who suggested Brian Clough was outspoken
It's great grass at Anfield, professional grass.
About Anfield
About Anfield
I've been a slave to football. It follows you home, it follows you everywhere, and eats into your family life. But every working man misses out on some things because of his job.
I was only in the game for the love of football - and I wanted to bring back happiness to the people of Liverpool.
A football team is like a piano. You need eight men to carry it and three who can play the damn thing.
Quoted by John Toshack in The Guardian 21 Jan 2006.
Quoted by John Toshack in The Guardian 21 Jan 2006.
Ladies and gentlemen, today we are joined by a man who ranks amongst the greatest there is: Shakespeare, Rembrandt and Bach. This man is Dixie Dean.
There's only two teams in Liverpool: Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves.
The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life.