Shankly Week begins on Liverpoolfc.com
As Liverpool Football Club today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary manager Bill Shankly, a special week of coverage honouring the great Scot begins on Liverpoolfc.com and LFC TV.
Born on September 2, 1913 in Glenbuck, Scotland, Monday marks the centenary of the man who pledged to build Liverpool into a 'bastion of invincibility' - and without doubt succeeded.
Raised in a mining community north of the border, Shankly's passion was forever football and he achieved his ambition of becoming a professional by defending the colours of Preston North End for 16 years and representing his country.
When his playing days concluded, Shankly immediately took the step into management and fine-tuned his trade with Carlisle United, Grimsby Town, Workington and Huddersfield Town.
By the time he was chosen to replace Phil Taylor in the Anfield dug-out in 1959, the Reds were languishing in the Second Division with a dilapidated stadium, sub-standard training facilities and a bloated playing staff.
But the challenge did not faze Shankly - he set about the gargantuan task of single-handedly conducting a revolution at Liverpool. In the 15 years that followed, he was rewarded with three First Division titles, one UEFA Cup and two FA Cups.
Current boss Brendan Rodgers, who recently revealed that he has listened to tapes of Shankly, said: "The legacy that he's left behind here is something that's with us to this very day. The club that Liverpool is renowned for worldwide was really started by him.
"I never met the man but in my time here I've got to speak to many of the old players that worked with him. The legend lives on here very strongly. He created what is now known as one of the biggest families in the world.
"His ethics and values have been retained at this club and renowned as the 'Liverpool Way'. He was a remarkable man; he came in and picked the club off its knees when it was in the Second Division and stayed for 15 years.
"Liverpool played the game at that time with a charisma that we're trying to get back to the team, and what many of the old Kopites have been used to at this football club."
He moulded not just one, but two great Anfield teams and the Scot brought an incredible list of future legends to the club: Ian St John, Ron Yeats, Emlyn Hughes, Ray Clemence, Steve Heighway, Kevin Keegan and Ray Kennedy to name but a few.
Shankly transcended football too, with his socialist principles, admirable ethics, generosity and humility endearing the man to the working class people of Merseyside. Put simply, he was worshiped by Reds supporters.
More than 30 years after the Anfield idol passed away and almost four decades since his unexpected resignation shocked the whole football world, his name is still sung like a hymn on the Kop and his values remain at the core of the club.
The Reds' managing director, Ian Ayre, explained: "The name Bill Shankly is, and always will be, synonymous with Liverpool Football Club. He laid the foundations to enable the club to grow to what it is today.
"We continue to live and breathe those values he created over 40 years ago throughout our Liverpool family and it's important that we give our fans the opportunity to celebrate this important milestone with us."
Before Sunday's Barclays Premier League fixture against Manchester United, the home crowd paid their respects with a minute's applause in honour of Shankly and the Kop displayed a special mosaic in tribute.
The gestures kicked off a week of wide-ranging coverage and events organised by the club to honour the great Scot on what would have been his 100th birthday.
During the next seven days, Liverpoolfc.com and LFC TV will pay homage to the former boss with 'Shankly Week' - featuring interviews, historical content, rare photos and anecdotes from his life.
Log on to the official website throughout the week for a special daily feature investigating how Shankly built the foundations of modern Liverpool, his 10 greatest matches, signings and quotes at Anfield, plus exclusive interviews with Sir Bobby Charlton, Heighway, St John, Yeats and more.
Check the official Liverpool FC Facebook page each day for galleries chronicling Shankly's career before, during and after the Reds. You can also have your say and leave a tribute via Twitter by using the hashtag #Shankly100.
Elsewhere, a one-off dinner will be held at Anfield this Saturday, September 7, at which an authentic version of the meal served at Shankly's retirement dinner 39 years ago will be produced and the family will launch the new Shankly Foundation.
A special Shankly museum has also been created at the Boot Room Sports Café at Anfield - the collection features memorabilia from his 15 years with the club and is free to all supporters during September.