The 5 Best Managers in Liverpool History

Throughout the club’s 131-year history, Liverpool FC has been blessed with some incredible managerial talent alongside its superstar players, which has contributed greatly to the mass of silverware and European success we have enjoyed.

This has included 21 different individuals and, in this list, I attempt to pick out the five best performers of all time. Due to the long history of the club, and the decades of football, it was a difficult task but below, you will see my picks.

I thought this was a fun bit of nostalgia as the EPL season is underway, and it may give you some food for thought when you are using your NetBet deposit bonus or placing wagers on Liverpool for their upcoming matches!

1. Bill Shankly

No. 1 has to be Shankly, right? We can see his statue outside Anfield and rightly so. Shankly was a legend and although he isn’t the most decorated Liverpool manager, he had an amazing connection with the club, fans, and Liverpudlians. Shankly bought in future Liverpool legends like Keegan and Toshack and won 10 trophies during his tenure with the club.

2. Bob Paisley

Paisley could also be number one and he is another beloved Liverpool manager and, arguably, achieved one of the greatest silverware runs in English football history. This included 20 trophies in only 9 seasons and saw the club dominate during the 1970s. We, of course, have the famous Paisley gates outside the Kop stand at Anfield and rightly so due to the legacy Paisley made for Liverpool.

3. Jurgen Klopp

With so much turmoil at the club and rumours about trading Mo Salah, Klopp appears to be holding firm. Some people won’t like me placing him third, above Daglish, but he has done a lot for the club since joining in 2015 and has put Liverpool back in the spotlight in the EPL. His current silverware includes an EPL, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Community Shield.

4. Rafael Benitez

I loved watching Liverpool during Benitez’s tenure and they were just exciting to watch, with Gerrard, Alonso, and Luis Garcia, to name a few iconic players. At first, many people thought Benitez wouldn’t work but the 2004/05 Champions League trophy said otherwise, and he also bought us an FA Cup afterwards. Sure, his later years at the club were a little stale, but many people remember the amazing Champions League run and that’s why I have him fourth.

5. Kenny Dalglish

Dalglish could, arguably, be much higher but it’s down to personal preference either way, I had to have him on the list. He remains a Liverpool legend as both a player and manager and he actually had two tenures as manager. During his first stint, Daglish won three First Division titles, two FA Cups, and four Charity Shields, and then a League Cup during his second stint.

These Liverpool Managers Will Forever Live in Club History

While I rate these as the best Liverpool managers of all time, there are other notable unmentioned managers who could have easily been on this list, including Tom Watson (1896-1915), Joe Fagan (1983-1985), and Gerard Houlier (1998-2004), who all gave the club success and won a variety of silverware.