Bob Paisley OBE (born 23 January 1919, Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham; died February 14, 1996) was an English football player and manager, best known as manager of the hugely successful Liverpool F.C. side of the 1970s.

He was a member of the Bishop Auckland team that won the FA Amateur Cup in 1939, and joined Liverpool immediately afterwards, although World War II delayed his League debut until 1946. Liverpool won the league in his first season, and he also picked up an FA Cup winners medal in 1950, despite being dropped for the final. In 1954, Paisley retired from playing and became reserve team coach, and served in Liverpool's back room staff (the famous "Boot Room") until manager Bill Shankly stepped down in 1974. Paisley was chosen to succeed him, and took the team to second place the following season, before winning the title in 1976. This was the start of Liverpool's dominance of the game in England - in Paisley's nine seasons in charge, Liverpool won six League titles and finished second twice, and won the club's first three European Cups.

Paisley retired in 1983, to be replaced by Joe Fagan, another of the Boot Room old boys. He continued to serve Liverpool as a director, until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. After his death, he was honoured by the club with the opening of the Paisley Gates at one of the entrances to Anfield, complementing the existing Shankly Gates.

Honours

As a player:

• Football League: 1946-47
• FA Cup: 1949-50

As a manager:

• Football League: 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83
• European Cup: 1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81
• UEFA Cup: 1975-76
• Football League Cup: 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83
• European Super Cup: 1976-77
• Charity Shield: 1974, 1976, 1977 (shared), 1980, 1982

External links

• Liverpool FC official profile