Soccer Player & Manager Becomes Liverpool FC’s New Knight
Best Quote: “I am delighted by the news that the King is to be knighted by the Queen.”
Sir Kenny Dalglish has been speaking about his Knighthood following today’s announcement of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours — for us common folks unfamiliar with the process of becoming raised from the level of Commonwealth by Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Official Birthday celebrations during the month of June. The Queen can mark her reign by granting various individuals a knighthood and other honors.
Now many commoners may be worthy of recognition but one man stands tall for his contribution to football, the 67-year-old Kenny Dalglish who has been the force behind Liverpool FC for more than a decade.
Although the young forward’s first journey to Merseyside came to nothing, 11 years and 167 Celtic goals later, he was finally recruited by the Reds to replace a club legend.
In a hugely successful career in football for over 20 years, he played for Celtic and Liverpool winning major honors with both clubs. Internationally, he remains Scotland’s most capped player with 102 appearances.
With an impressive record that includes scoring 172 goals as a forward and winning 187 games as a manager, Dalglish is proud of his accomplishments.
Dalglish says he is “hugely grateful” for the award and immediately dedicated it to Jock Stein, Bill Shankly, and Bob Paisley.
“Obviously it was for others with more education and knowledge than myself to decide whether or not I deserved a knighthood and it goes without saying that I am hugely grateful to them for the decision that they have made,” said Dalglish.
“All I can say is that from my own point of view I am definitely no more deserving of an accolade like this than Jock Stein, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were. I am just fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and I would like to dedicate this honor to them because, without the standards that they set at Glasgow Celtic and Liverpool, individuals like myself would not have been able to thrive as much as we did.”
During his managerial tenure at Liverpool, he secured three league titles, including a league and cup double in 1986 – the first person to ever achieve this feat as a player/manager. A further league title followed with Blackburn Rovers in 1995.
“The most important thing to stress is that this honor is not a reflection of myself,” he said.
“It is a reflection of everyone who has played a part in my life and my career.”
Nobody achieves anything alone, especially in football.
“In my case, any success I have enjoyed has been due to the contributions made by my family, the players, coaches and managers that I was fortunate enough to work with and the supporters who backed me. This instance is no different.”
“The enjoyment that I have derived from being involved in football for as long as I have is outstripped only by the sense that I’ve been hugely fortunate to have the right people around me at all times. None more so than my family whose support allowed me to focus on playing and managing, sometimes to the detriment of their own aspirations and ambitions. They share this honor as much as anyone else because without them none of this would have been possible.”
“Similar sentiments apply to those in football who believed in me sufficiently to give me opportunities and who backed me on and off the pitch in a multitude of ways. At Milton Bank Primary, High Possil Secondary, Glasgow Boys, Cumbernauld United, Celtic, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United I was fortunate to be supported and accompanied by individuals who gave me a chance to do my job to the best of my ability, whether as a player or a manager. I have always appreciated the roles that they played in my life and that applies even more on this day as it does on any other.”
Dalglish’s Knighthood is also recognized for his contribution off the pitch in support of the Hillsborough families and The Marina Dalglish Appeal. He has helped to raise over £10 million to improve cancer care across Merseyside.
Sir Kenny has thanked those who nominated him for this honor and added, “Last, but by no means least, I would like to express my gratitude to those who nominated me for a knighthood. I don’t know exactly what the process is but obviously, something like this couldn’t happen unless someone puts your name forward so thank you to whoever it was who holds me in sufficient esteem that they believe me worthy of such an accolade. It is extremely humbling to have people who think of you in this way.”
Former Chair of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, Bishop James Jones KBE praised Kenny Dalglish’s “humanity and compassionate leadership” as he put the Hillsborough Families and survivors above himself.
“Kenny Dalglish showed truly exceptional pastoral care to the Hillsborough Families from the day of the disaster.
“His humanity and compassion comforted and sustained the community of the bereaved and survivors, and indeed the City itself, in an exceptional way and over the long period in which they were not believed. He put their needs above his own reputation.
“The global culture of football has many negative features. His honour sends out a signal that the world of football and society at large, value his humanitarian and compassionate leadership which are an antidote to the values of fame and fortune so often associated with football today. He is truly an exceptional role model.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said, “I am delighted by the news that the King is to be knighted by the Queen.
“It is appropriate recognition of Kenny Dalglish’s unparalleled playing and managerial career in football, and of his many charitable efforts over the years, most notably in support of the Marina Dalglish Appeal – offering assistance to those with breast cancer and their families.
“15th April 1989 changed Liverpool forever. Kenny stood by the Hillsborough families and survivors in their hour of need and he has been ever present in the decades-long campaign for justice that followed.
“In 2011, on behalf of Hillsborough families and the city of Liverpool, I called for Kenny to be recognized for everything he had done over many years to support those affected by the traumatic events of Britain’s worst sporting disaster. He is a worthy recipient of this honor – and I look forward to taking my place in the ‘Sir’ Kenny Dalglish stand in the future.”
Source: Liverpool FC
