L’ère Bill Shankly (1959-1974)

When Bill Shankly took over Liverpool in 1959, the club was in deep crisis. 10 years earlier, the team had won the league title, but had then gradually fallen down the table. Fans began to lose faith in their favourites. Shankly was well aware that the club needed to be radically rebuilt to return to the top of English football. To do this, he began a total restructuring of all aspects of Liverpool’s operations – from the playing staff to the training process and the club’s infrastructure. First, Shankly completely reorganised the team, getting rid of many older players. In their place, he attracted young, hungry footballers who shared his philosophy. The main acquisitions were Ron Yates, Ian Callaghan, Alan Hans and others. At the same time, the coach introduced his innovative ideas into the training process. He focused on the physical training of players, increasing their endurance and speed. Shankly also paid great attention to the tactical flexibility of the team, developing universal skills in the players. A key part of his job was to develop a strong team identity and spirit. Shankly created a family atmosphere within the club, instilling in the players a sense of pride in Liverpool and responsibility to the fans. This helped to unite the team and align them around a common goal. The results of Shankly's new philosophy began to show in the early 1960s. In 1964, Liverpool won their first league title in many years, ending their trophy drought. This marked the beginning of a glorious new era for the club. Over the next few years, Shankly's team continued to rise, regularly challenging for the championship and in 1966 they achieved a victorious 'double', winning the league and the FA Cup.

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