Bob Shankly

Robert "Bob" Shankly, born on February 25, 1910 was a former professional footballer from the village of Glenbuck in Ayrshire, Scotland. One of five brothers who all played football professionally, including Bill who would become famous as a Scottish international and manager of Liverpool F.C., he began his career with junior club, Auchinleck Talbot F.C. before moving to local club Glenbuck Cherrypickers F.C.. He then moved into the senior ranks with Alloa Athletic F.C. after being turned down by Ayr United F.C., despite scoring a hat-trick of goals in a trial match. He later played for Falkirk F.C. as well although signed for them 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 was 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 less as a player and more as a football club manager that Bob Shankly made his name. After retiring from playing he had a spell as a coach of Stenhousemuir F.C. before managing Falkirk F.C.; Third Lanark F.C.; Dundee F.C.; Hibernian F.C. and Stirling Albion F.C., 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 5-1 on aggregate by AC Milan (although they did win the home tie 1-0 at Dens Park). He resigned from Dundee in February, 1965 as he was finding it difficult to sustain this level of success and took over from Jock Stein as manager of Hibernian.

He remained in football management until 1973 when he then went onto Stirling Albion's board. The death of his younger brother Bill in 1981 deeply affected Bob, and he died himself the following year whilst representing Stirling Albion at a Scottish Football Association meeting.