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How Liverpool has built a legacy of success through the decades
Few football clubs in Europe can match the Reds' consistent historic legacy. It’s one of the many reasons they are one of the most well-supported clubs in the world. With millions of fans from Denmark, Ireland, Asia, and further afield paying top dollar to travel to Anfield and get a glimpse of the vintage LFC experience, many are only getting the finished product.
Decades of heritage and history stem from the working-class roots of one of England’s most uncompromising and unique cities, and they have helped propel the Reds from an extension of its socialist streets to a multi-billion-dollar business.
Sportsbooks have all but paid out on the idea that Liverpool will lift the title this season. Many sportsbooks didn’t have LFC in contention at the beginning of the season, though, with City and Arsenal considered the two frontrunners for the EPL.
Suppose you’re somebody who factors in the odds and shops around for the best options. In that case, bookmaker reviews are becoming a new way for experts to explore some key elements they like about a sports betting site, which ones offer the best range of outright markets, and what they have to say about the Reds' title chances next season.
Many Liverpool fans say Bill Shankly laid the foundation for managers after him. His ethos, obsessive approach to football, and determination not to settle for anything but the best-turned Liverpool into the giants of the English game. Bob Paisley took the reins after Shankly, continuing this ethos and guiding Liverpool to multiple European triumphs.
Before Shankly joined Liverpool in the 1950s, the Reds suffered relegation and did not have the stature or iconic status in the English game. In fact, before Shankly, their local rivals, Everton, could match them for domestic success.
Not only did Bill want to transform the fortunes at Anfield, but there was a deep-rooted belief that the club should not lose connection with the gritty, working-class roots that dominate one of England’s great cities.
The Shankly ethos, which focussed on the importance of left-wing ideals, socialism, teamwork, and not losing touch with the city they represented, meant that LFC became an extension of the city.
Over a decade and a half, Shankly transformed the squad, management, and attitude and mentality of what it meant to play for Liverpool FC. This transformation was the first, and remains the most crucial, building block in the legacy of success that has defined LFC over the last half-century. When he stepped down in 1974 after guiding Liverpool to multiple domestic trophies, many fans were stunned, but it simply acted as a prelude to LFC’s golden era.
Liverpool’s domestic success during this period was unprecedented—six league titles in seven seasons. Few teams have had such periods of dominance in English football. It was a continuation of the belief, ethos, and playing style that Shankly had nurtured in his decade and a half at Liverpool.
By breeding such phenomenal success, Liverpool became the titans of the English game. Throughout the 1970s, they fended off competition from their local rivals, Everton FC, with both cities sharing multiple domestic and European honours. It was an era defined by some of the greatest players to wear the shirt, including Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, and Ian Rush.
Although Shankly set the foundation, Paisley masterfully executed the ethos and strategy to create a dominant legacy that defined the Reds. Many older fans remember this period as the Halcyon days.
Steven Gerrard was one of the high points of this period, guiding the Reds to many unforgettable moments, including Istanbul and the 2006 FA Cup Final.
However, these high points were dotted with multiple low points, including the Roy Hodgson years and Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea, which would’ve ended the then 20+ year drought for domestic success.
It’s an era marred by high-profile transfers out of the club, including the likes of Michael Owen, Suarez, and Robbie Fowler. Despite pockets of success, it fell way short of what Reds fans of the 1970s and 80s had come to expect.
Within a few years, Liverpool had become the feared force they used to be. Klopp led the Reds to multiple Champions League finals, including winning their sixth in 2019. He also ended the 30-year drought when the Reds won the EPL in 2020. Without the foundation set by Shankly and Paisley, who have been honoured with statues and gates at Anfield, Klopp would not have had this legacy to add his name.
Arne Slot may not have had the same domestic cup success as Klopp. Still, with a few games to go, Liverpool has almost guaranteed another EPL trophy in their cabinet, making them the most successful team in English football and adding yet another chapter to the incredible legacy pieced together over the last six decades.
Decades of heritage and history stem from the working-class roots of one of England’s most uncompromising and unique cities, and they have helped propel the Reds from an extension of its socialist streets to a multi-billion-dollar business.
Sportsbooks have all but paid out on the idea that Liverpool will lift the title this season. Many sportsbooks didn’t have LFC in contention at the beginning of the season, though, with City and Arsenal considered the two frontrunners for the EPL.
Suppose you’re somebody who factors in the odds and shops around for the best options. In that case, bookmaker reviews are becoming a new way for experts to explore some key elements they like about a sports betting site, which ones offer the best range of outright markets, and what they have to say about the Reds' title chances next season.
Pre-Shankly era
Many milestones have occurred throughout this journey, and we’ll explore some of the key ones that have led Liverpool to become one of the giants of world football. However, if we were to pinpoint a definitive era that transformed the history of LFC, it would be the era of Bill Shankly, who took the reins in 1959 and took Liverpool from large spells of mediocrity to the pinnacle of domestic football.Many Liverpool fans say Bill Shankly laid the foundation for managers after him. His ethos, obsessive approach to football, and determination not to settle for anything but the best-turned Liverpool into the giants of the English game. Bob Paisley took the reins after Shankly, continuing this ethos and guiding Liverpool to multiple European triumphs.
Before Shankly joined Liverpool in the 1950s, the Reds suffered relegation and did not have the stature or iconic status in the English game. In fact, before Shankly, their local rivals, Everton, could match them for domestic success.
Shankly’s foundation
When the Scotsman arrived from Huddersfield Town, Liverpool played in the second tier of English football for five seasons. To modern Reds fans or those unfamiliar with the club's history, the idea that one of the most recognisable clubs in European football languished outside the top flight is hard to fathom. It speaks volumes about the job Shankly did.Not only did Bill want to transform the fortunes at Anfield, but there was a deep-rooted belief that the club should not lose connection with the gritty, working-class roots that dominate one of England’s great cities.
The Shankly ethos, which focussed on the importance of left-wing ideals, socialism, teamwork, and not losing touch with the city they represented, meant that LFC became an extension of the city.
Over a decade and a half, Shankly transformed the squad, management, and attitude and mentality of what it meant to play for Liverpool FC. This transformation was the first, and remains the most crucial, building block in the legacy of success that has defined LFC over the last half-century. When he stepped down in 1974 after guiding Liverpool to multiple domestic trophies, many fans were stunned, but it simply acted as a prelude to LFC’s golden era.
European domination with Paisley
Although Shankly never won the European Cup with the Reds, his successor became the most successful manager in the club’s history. Paisley's tutelage resulted in four European Cup successes in eight years, all but one of them.Liverpool’s domestic success during this period was unprecedented—six league titles in seven seasons. Few teams have had such periods of dominance in English football. It was a continuation of the belief, ethos, and playing style that Shankly had nurtured in his decade and a half at Liverpool.
By breeding such phenomenal success, Liverpool became the titans of the English game. Throughout the 1970s, they fended off competition from their local rivals, Everton FC, with both cities sharing multiple domestic and European honours. It was an era defined by some of the greatest players to wear the shirt, including Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, and Ian Rush.
Although Shankly set the foundation, Paisley masterfully executed the ethos and strategy to create a dominant legacy that defined the Reds. Many older fans remember this period as the Halcyon days.
Navigating the barren spells
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Liverpool’s squads experienced diminishing returns; many expensive transfers did not fire them back into title contention, and a conveyor belt of managers came and went as small domestic successes were dwarfed by the dominance of Manchester United and Arsenal during the advent of the 21st century.Steven Gerrard was one of the high points of this period, guiding the Reds to many unforgettable moments, including Istanbul and the 2006 FA Cup Final.
However, these high points were dotted with multiple low points, including the Roy Hodgson years and Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea, which would’ve ended the then 20+ year drought for domestic success.
It’s an era marred by high-profile transfers out of the club, including the likes of Michael Owen, Suarez, and Robbie Fowler. Despite pockets of success, it fell way short of what Reds fans of the 1970s and 80s had come to expect.
The Klopp revolution
Even during these low times, Liverpool didn’t go more than a few years without some sort of trophy. There were plenty of finals for the Reds to attend, and multiple domestic and European Cup triumphs, including a treble in 2001. Despite this, they did not have the fear factor that made Shankley and Paisley’s teams so feared. That was until Jurgen Klopp signed a deal to become Reds boss in 2015.Within a few years, Liverpool had become the feared force they used to be. Klopp led the Reds to multiple Champions League finals, including winning their sixth in 2019. He also ended the 30-year drought when the Reds won the EPL in 2020. Without the foundation set by Shankly and Paisley, who have been honoured with statues and gates at Anfield, Klopp would not have had this legacy to add his name.
Arne Slot may not have had the same domestic cup success as Klopp. Still, with a few games to go, Liverpool has almost guaranteed another EPL trophy in their cabinet, making them the most successful team in English football and adding yet another chapter to the incredible legacy pieced together over the last six decades.
Final thoughts
The polished product we see today at Anfield, the magic of the atmosphere, and tourists jetting in from all over the world to sample it are byproducts of the foundations that Shankly started nurturing over 60 years ago.
No matter how much money you throw at them, special teams and sporting organisations don’t emerge out of thin air. Heritage, history, and a legacy of success are cultivated throughout generations.
Granted, the Reds have not always had it their own way in this regard, especially during large spells of the 2000s and 2010s, but with Slot on course to lift the league title and compound this incredible ethos at LFC, there’ll be plenty more success for seasons to come.
Written by Alan Spencer
