“My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility. Napoleon had that idea and he conquered the bloody world, and that's what I wanted - for Liverpool to be untouchable. My idea was to build Liverpool up and up and up until, eventually, everyone would have to submit, and give in” - Bill Shankly
Tuesday 1 December 1959 is a date that will forever be etched in the minds of football supporters everywhere as it was on this day that Bill Shankly was confirmed as the new manager of Liverpool Football Club.
A fortnight later, a gruff-voiced Scot walked into Anfield and set about building a football dynasty which would span three decades of domestic and European domination and leave a legacy that would make Kopites truly proud of their club.
When Shankly arrived on Merseyside, he was greeted by a general state of dilapidation from the stadium to the team, both of whom had seen better days.
He once told reporters: "If you'd seen Anfield when I came it was the biggest toilet in Liverpool. I had to bring water in from Oakfield Road. It cost £3,000. There was no water to flush the toilets."
In the 15 years Shankly spent at Anfield, Liverpool won four League Championships, two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup and one Second Division title.
His legacy has spanned even further and continues to do so to this day. A bronze statue of the Scot adorns the entrance to the Kop stand whilst the Shankly Gates, bearing the words of the club's anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' welcome visitors at Anfield Road.
Click Liverpool will be producing a week-long '50 Years of Shankly' series leading up to the Barclays Premier League game between Liverpool and Wigan Athletic on Wednesday 16 December. Several commemorative events will be taking place at Anfield that night as part of 'Shankly day' and we'll be bringing you it all live from the press box in addition to regular updates on the match itself.
On Monday 14 December 2009 - half a century to the exact day that Shanks took office as Liverpool manager - we will be previewing and reviewing The Shankly Show at the Liverpool Empire in addition to exclusive interviews from ex-players, supporters and members of the Shankly dynasty so stay tuned to Click Liverpool for dedicated Liverpool FC updates and exclusive Shankly content.
* Photograph courtesy of Stephen Hale.
peter williams, chipping, preston around 8 months ago