Bob Shankly
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Shankly was a professional football player and manager. from the village of Glenbuck
in Ayrshire
, Scotland
.
Shankly was one of five brothers who all played football professionally, including Bill
who would become a Scottish international
and manager of Liverpool
. Bob began his career with junior
club Auchinleck
before moving to the local club Glenbuck Cherrypickers
.
He then moved into the senior ranks with Alloa Athletic
after being turned down by Ayr United
, despite scoring a hat-trick of goals in a trial match. He later played for Falkirk
, although he had signed for Falkirk whilst unaware that Preston North End (where his brother Bill was then playing) wanted to sign him. Like many working class men from Ayrshire at the time, he began working life as a miner (as did all his brothers), combining this job with football on a part-time basis. He married in 1936 and had two children, John (who became a civil engineer, but was offered the chance to become a professional footballer himself) and Margaret.
It was as a football club manager that Bob Shankly made his name. After retiring from playing he had a spell as a coach of Stenhousemuir
before managing Falkirk
, Third Lanark
, Dundee
, Hibernian
and Stirling Albion
, where he eventually became a director. Whilst manager of Dundee, he managed to guide his club to victory in the Scottish Football League
championship of 1961-62, three points ahead of Rangers F.C.
and to date the only time Dundee have won the league title. The following season he guided Dundee to the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup
, where they were defeated 5-2 on aggregate by AC Milan. Craig Brown later compared Shankly's achievements with Walter Smith
, Jock Stein
, Alex Ferguson
and Jim McLean
. With Shankly Dundee made it to the 1963/64 Scottish Cup
final. He resigned from Dundee in February, 1965 as he was finding it difficult to sustain this level of success.
He took over from Jock Stein
as manager of Hibernian who he steered to a League Cup Final defeat by Celtic in April 1969.
He remained in football management until 1973 when he then went onto Stirling Albion's board. He survived a major car accident in 1975, in which he, Jock Stein
and another friend were seriously injured. Bob died from a heart attack at an SFA
meeting in 1982. He was 72 years old, and his death came just one year after that of his younger brother Bill, who had also died from a heart attack. A stand at Dens Park
is named in Shankly's honour.
Glenbuck
Glenbuck is a small, remote village in East Ayrshire. It nestles in the hills 3 miles east of Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, Scotland....
in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Shankly was one of five brothers who all played football professionally, including Bill
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
who would become a Scottish international
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and manager of Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Bob began his career with junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
club Auchinleck
Auchinleck Talbot F.C.
Auchinleck Talbot F.C. are a Scottish football club based in Auchinleck, near Cumnock, Ayrshire. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently compete in the SJFA West Super League Premier Division...
before moving to the local club Glenbuck Cherrypickers
Glenbuck Cherrypickers
Glenbuck Cherrypickers were a football team in the village of Glenbuck in South Ayrshire, a district of Scotland.The Glenbuck Cherrypickers were notable for the high number of professional footballers that they produced, despite only existing for around fifty years...
.
He then moved into the senior ranks with Alloa Athletic
Alloa Athletic F.C.
Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
after being turned down by Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
, despite scoring a hat-trick of goals in a trial match. He later played for Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, although he had signed for Falkirk whilst unaware that Preston North End (where his brother Bill was then playing) wanted to sign him. Like many working class men from Ayrshire at the time, he began working life as a miner (as did all his brothers), combining this job with football on a part-time basis. He married in 1936 and had two children, John (who became a civil engineer, but was offered the chance to become a professional footballer himself) and Margaret.
It was as a football club manager that Bob Shankly made his name. After retiring from playing he had a spell as a coach of Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
before managing Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
, Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
, where he eventually became a director. Whilst manager of Dundee, he managed to guide his club to victory in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
championship of 1961-62, three points ahead of Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and to date the only time Dundee have won the league title. The following season he guided Dundee to the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, where they were defeated 5-2 on aggregate by AC Milan. Craig Brown later compared Shankly's achievements with Walter Smith
Walter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
, Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
, Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
and Jim McLean
Jim McLean
James Yuill McLean is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of Dundee United; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions...
. With Shankly Dundee made it to the 1963/64 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final. He resigned from Dundee in February, 1965 as he was finding it difficult to sustain this level of success.
He took over from Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
as manager of Hibernian who he steered to a League Cup Final defeat by Celtic in April 1969.
He remained in football management until 1973 when he then went onto Stirling Albion's board. He survived a major car accident in 1975, in which he, Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
and another friend were seriously injured. Bob died from a heart attack at an SFA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
meeting in 1982. He was 72 years old, and his death came just one year after that of his younger brother Bill, who had also died from a heart attack. A stand at Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
is named in Shankly's honour.