1892 John McKenna & William Barclay
This duo shared secretarial and managerial duties in Liverpool FC's formative years. McKenna was a close aide of club founder John Houlding, while Barclay had previously been vice-president at Everton FC. Between them they recruited players from Scotland to create what became known as the 'Team of Macs' and supervised LFC's application to join the Football League. McKenna later became club chairman and a director.
1896 Tom Watson
Aged 37, he was headhunted from the successful Sunderland club of the time and duly led Liverpool FC to its first top-flight titles, in 1901 and 1906, as well as a first FA Cup final appearance in 1914. Not least, he helped the club to emerge from the shadow of elder neighbours Everton. Tom reigned until his death in 1915, making him the longest-serving manager in Anfield history.
1919 David Ashworth
The diminutive Irishman, a former referee, held the hot seat for three years, guiding Liverpool FC to a third top-flight title in 1921/22. He left rather surprisingly to become boss of Oldham Athletic FC midway through the following season.
1923 Matt McQueen
The club turned to one of its directors as a temporary replacement or Ashworth. McQueen, who'd played for LFC in their very first season, ultimately oversaw a successful defence of the First Division championship and stayed in the manager’s chair for five years.
1928 George Patterson
Local lad George was originally recruited by Tom Watson in 1908, occupying a variety of positions (including club secretary and caretaker-manager) over two decades before becoming full-time first-team boss – a role he fulfilled for eight seasons.
1936 George Kay
In charge of one of the most unlikely triumphs in the Reds' history when he guided the club to title no5 in 1946/47, the first full season after the resumption of football following the war. The former Southampton boss spent almost 15 years as manager, leading the team in 357 matches.
1951 Don Welsh
A guest player for the Reds during the Second World War, he replaced Kay in March 1951 after the board persuaded him to leave Brighton. He stayed for five years but Liverpool FC struggled to make an impact, finishing third in Division Two in 1955/56 but missing out on promotion after losing five of their final nine games.
1956 Phil Taylor
Club stalwart who spent 23 years at Anfield, first as a player and ultimately as the manager. On the pitch he was a title-winning wing-half who skippered the side to a first Wembley appearance; off it he was an assistant to Welsh then boss in his own right. Three times he came close to clinching promotion back to the top flight before his resignation in November 1959.
1959 Bill Shankly
The man who changed everything, and whose legacy and personality still pervades throughout the club. Bill was boss for 15 years, during which time he transformed Liverpool FC from second-tier also-rans to footballing powerhouse. He led the Reds to the League title in 1964 and 1966, a first FA Cup triumph in 1965 and a second nine years later, plus the UEFA Cup in 1973. Not that the bare facts can ever do Shanks justice. An absolute legend.
1974 Bob Paisley
An unassuming and (at first) reluctant replacement for Shankly, he went on to enjoy even greater success as his Liverpool FC side conquered the Continent, winning the European Cup in 1977, 1978, and 1981 – still the only manager to claim the trophy thrice with the same club. Bob also led the Reds to six of their 18 top-flight titles plus three League Cup triumphs and the UEFA Cup in 1976. Did we mention he'd won the title as a half-back with the club too?
1983 Joe Fagan
Sixty-two years of age and in fine fettle when he succeeded Paisley, he immediately wrote his name in the record books by becoming the first British manager to win three major prizes in one season: the European Cup, League and League Cup. Sadly his second season was his last as boss, culminating with the tragedy at Heysel.
1985 Kenny Dalglish
The first of two spells as manager for arguably the finest footballer ever to wear the red jersey. As player-boss in 1985/86 he led the Reds to their first domestic double of League and FA Cup, almost repeating the feat in 1987/88. A year later his team won the FA Cup in the wake of Hillsborough but narrowly missed out on the title. In 1989/90 they were champions again, but pressures took their toll and Kenny resigned in early 1991.
1991 Graeme Souness
Former team captain who took over from Dalglish and, by his own admission, struggled to apply his methods to a club in transition at a time of change in English football. No-one ever doubted his dedication or love for LFC, though, and in 1992 he won the FA Cup – the only major honour that had eluded him as a player.
1994 Roy Evans
The last of the so-called Boot Room boys, Roy had been a Liverpool FC player, reserve-team coach, first-team coach and assistant-manager before becoming first-team boss in his own right. His Reds side won the League Cup in 1995 and came close to the title with some fabulously entertaining football.
1998 Gerard Houllier
The club's first overseas boss, and the man who restored LFC's pride. Houllier initially took joint-charge with Roy Evans in the summer of 1998, then took sole control as manager the following November. His Liverpool FC team won a famous treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000/01.
2004 Rafael Benitez
Six years in charge for the man from Madrid (but lured from Valencia) including one of the greatest nights in LFC history. The Champions League triumph in Istanbul came in his first season in charge, 2004/05, and he also managed the Reds to the 2006 FA Cup final in another six-goal thriller of a final. A much-coveted first Premier League title proved agonisingly just beyond his reach.
2010 Roy Hodgson
With bags of experience in European football, and having guided Fulham to a Europa League final, Roy was appointed as Reds boss in July 2010 in the midst of unrest surrounding the ownership of the football club. The results did not come and he left Anfield in January 2011 by mutual consent.
2011 Kenny Dalglish
Returned as manager for a spell of just under 18 months in which the Reds reached two Wembley finals and recorded a record eighth success in the League Cup. As the Kop song goes, to the tune of Wandering Star: 'Shankly made us famous, Paisley made us sing, Rafa gave us Istanbul…and Kenny is our king'.
2012 Brendan Rodgers
The Northern Irishman steadied the ship in his first season then proceeded to take the Reds to the brink of Premier League glory in 2013/14 with a team whose style and self-belief thrilled the football world. His side recorded 101 league goals for the campaign – a feat achieved just once before in 1895/96.
2015 Jürgen Klopp
Former Borussia Dortmund boss who was appointed in October 2015 and at once transmitted his charm, enthusiasm and passion to players and fans alike. He led Liverpool FC to two major finals in season 2015/16 and seems destined not only to return the Reds to European action but also preside over a serious Premier League title tilt.
