Kenny Dalglish

Футболен клуб „Ливърпул“ продължава да е все така магнетичен и неподражаем. Страстта на милионите му привърженици пък не само не помръква, а придобива още по-внушителни размери.

Вече не само „Анфийлд“, но и стотици кътчета, дори в най-отдалечени страни, са превърнати в бастиони на непоколебима лоялност. Червената магия продължава да бъде нереално въздействаща – нещо, което често пъти подминава модерните властващи в световния футбол.

Чували сме много за семейната атмосфера в клуба, за безкористната дружба между играчи, хора от ръководството и феновете. Но едва ли има някого, който би могъл да отмести тайнствената завеса по-умело от Краля – Кени Далглиш. В своята книга шотландският футболен романтик успява съвсем неподправено да разкрие как живее „Ливърпул“.… (altro)

An interesting history piece. I came across this book by chance on the internet, mentioned on a website somewhere, then found a copy very cheap on Abebooks.

Not really a "diary of a season", it ends up more like a set of match reports for the 1987/88 season so gets a bit samey at times. The most interesting bits are sometimes the bits in between the main games - there aren't many of them reported but occasionally there's an entry NOT relating to a match day. It seems ghost written and the entries sound quite sanitised at times; there's nothing too controversial although Dalglish does have a rant about QPR's and Luton's plastic pitches during the season - something he used to do a lot.

The real value is the detailed breakdown of the season - incl appearances, goals, teams etc and also the enormous number of photos from games.… (altro)

I'm a Liverpool fan. Over the years I've read a 3rd party biog on Dalglish and his own autobiography. So when this came out I didn't see a need to buy it - but I spend a lot of time in used bookshops and came across this for a couple of quid, so I thought "why not?".

Its more focused on his connection with Liverpool and written quite a few years after his first memoir. So perhaps its written with an older, wiser eye. Lots of interesting anecdotes - some I knew, not all though.

He comes across as someone who doesn't really "do" emotional stuff; possibly to his detriment after Hillsborough and the pressures of management took their toll by 1991 when he was so stressed he came out in rashes and ultimately resigned.

The tales he tells reveal a likable devoted family man and someone who ultimately has a lot of self belief. To the point that he tells anecdotes where he believes he's been funny...we're often told about his sense of humour...and quite often they're not really funny at all. Decisions he took aren't really explained. For example, when appointed as manager he is quick to point out, in humility, he didn't know why he was chosen and not Phil Neal - his team mate and one of the most decorated players in the game, who later went on to be assistant to Graham Taylor with England - but his first decision is to strip Neal of the captaincy and install his best mate in the team (Alan Hansen) as captain. Within months, Neal was out of the club altogether.

Likewise, he decided he didn't want Chris Lawler, manager of the reserves and a former player with many years service to the club, after a year or so but didn't really explain why, other than he was "too quiet and polite". There are stories there but perhaps the full stories aren't being revealed.

He's full of self belief, to the point he's outraged that he wasn't asked back to the club earlier - or that he was turned down when he put his own name forward after Benitez left (Hodgson got the job). The senior management thought he was out of management too long - and perhaps they were right. He doesn't believe so.

But he did eventually get offered the job and that's where the book closes (at least my paperback copy).

Making this different to his earlier book is also the input of his wife and children - they all write a brief passage at the end, with their own anecdotes of what Liverpool and his connection to the club has meant for them.

Overall an interesting read from a real legend of the game; someone who seems to have retained his modesty and has led an interesting life. And seems a decent bloke - although maybe those he's crossed (see above) may feel differently.… (altro)