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Kenny Dalglish’s cavalry in 2018 means that one of Britain’s sports icons is now known as ‘Lord’, but for many it has always been ‘The King’.
From the European Cups to all the national honors on offer, the Scotsman has been responsible for orchestrating historic moments for the Celts, Liverpool and Scotland.
Now, 42 years after the day he recorded his name in Liverpool folklore by scoring the winner at Wembley in the European Cup final, BBC Scotland analyzes his five best moments.
1978 European Cup final
When Kevin Keegan left Anfield to go to Hamburg in 1977, there were doubts about Dalglish’s ability to replace the fan favorite when Bob Paisley paid Celtic a record £ 400,000 British transfer fee for Scottish services.
But any burning concerns about the Kop were quickly removed as the Glasland striker scored 31 impressive goals in 62 appearances that season, and the 31st confirmed his status as a Liverpool legend after just nine months at the club.
With just over an hour on the clock in the 1978 European Cup final, Dalglish remained calm to send the red half of Merseyside into ecstasy, hitting the ball over precipitated Birger Jensen on the goal of Club Brujas to mark the winner.
The composite finish was typical of Dalglish, but there was no composure after the ball hit the bottom of the net, with the Scotsman leaping over the billboards to celebrate with the Red Sea behind the goal when Paisley’s men got up. . his second consecutive European Cup.
1986 double as player-manager
Dalglish would win two other European Cups and five league titles before becoming player manager at the age of 35 in May 1985.
In their first season in charge, the league would get to the point as both Merseyside clubs fought at the top, and Liverpool traveled to Stamford Bridge knowing that a victory would crown them England’s champions for the 16th time.
With 23 minutes played, Dalglish found himself free in the area. Similar to that moment at Wembley eight years earlier, time seemed to stand still as the Scotsman lowered the ball onto his chest. Showing characteristic composure, he guided the ball to the furthest corner to score another iconic goal that would deliver his tenth league medal as a player, and the first as manager.
The following week, Liverpool and Everton would face off for another great honor, this time in the FA Cup final. After Gary Lineker’s first game in the first half, Dalglish’s men would turn the game around to run out of 3-1 winners, as the club claimed its first national league and Double Cup in its first year at the helm.
Kenny Dalglish with the FA Cup and the Division One trophy
100th Scotland cap
The year 1986 would be quite significant for ‘King Kenny’. While guiding Liverpool to a first Domestic Double, Dalglish would accomplish a historic feat on an international level, earning a remarkable number 100 for his nation in March of that year.
Throughout a 15-year international career, winners against Auld Enemy of England and iconic goals in the World Cup finals flood the memory bank, but it could be a friendly with Romania in Hampden on a wet night of Wednesday presented only as Dalglish’s proudest moment in navy blue
Then acting manager Sir Alex Ferguson gave him the captain’s armband for the game, before World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer handed him the illustrious 100th cap.
Scotland would win the game 3-0 and Dalglish continued to record another two caps before his retirement, ending his international career with a record 30 goals. And while his scoring record matches Denis Law, Dalglish sits alone when it comes to tops with his 102, 11 more than the next best.
Beckenbauer presents Dalglish with a trophy to commemorate his 100th cap
1995 Premier League title at Blackburn
Dalglish left Liverpool in February 1991 and after an eight-month break from the game he returned to management in October to guide Blackburn Rovers out of the second tier of English football.
The following season, Blackburn finished fourth in the new Premier League. The following season two best would go, finishing runner-up of Manchester United, only to arrive at the top the following year.
With the formidable duo of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton at the forefront of Blackburn’s attack, Dalglish’s men defied the odds of winning the first division and outpacing Ferguson’s side in the process. A truly remarkable achievement for a club that languished at the second tier just three years earlier.
The title meant that Dalglish was only the fourth football coach in history to lead two different clubs to the top tier championships in England.
Dalglish celebrates with his team Blackburn of Ray Harford and Tony Parkes
Nine in a row at Celtic
Before his record move to Liverpool in 1977, Dalglish had great success in his hometown.
The Scotsman accumulated nine winner medals in his time at Celtic, including four league championships. But of all the titles he won in Glasgow, none would have felt sweeter than Celtic’s coveted nine-in-a-row in 1974.
Following his introduction to the first team in the 1971-72 campaign, Dalglish became an integral part of Jock Stein’s iconic side. By scoring over 80 goals in three seasons, Dalglish contributed massively to three of Celtic’s nine successive league titles, and was his most important equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Falkirk in April 1974, securing the historic ninth championship. Glasgow club consecutive.
It is a record that has not yet been broken, and has only been equaled by city Rangers rivals in the years up to 1997, something the current crop of Celtic players will seek to rewrite.
