100 Players
Who Shook The Kop – the groundbreaking series that had every Liverpool fan
talking back in 2006 – is set to return this summer, here's my top ten
countdown.
#6 -
No one has played more games for Liverpool than Ian Callaghan. Chances are, no one ever will.
Cally wore
a Liver bird on his chest a remarkable 857 times during 18 years at the club.
There can
be no better role model for aspiring footballers than a midfielder who
represented everything that's good about the game.
A true
gentleman in every sense of the word, the Toxteth boy was the only player to
survive Liverpool's fairy-tale journey from life as a mediocre Second Division
outfit to the lofty summit of European football.
Along the
way he won almost every honour possible, including the highest respect from his
fellow professionals and the adulation of the fans, and was booked just once.
Cally
initially joined the Reds as an apprentice and made his senior debut after just
four outings for the reserves. The momentous occasion came in April 1960 at
home to Bristol Rovers.
If that
wasn't daunting enough, he also faced the added pressure of replacing Liverpool
idol Billy Liddell. But while other youngsters may have buckled in such
circumstances, the fresh-faced 17-year-old turned in a performance that belied
his tender years and was deservedly applauded off at the end by both teams, the
crowd and the referee!
It
signalled the start of a remarkable career that can be divided into two
distinct sections: the first as a winger, the second in the middle of the park.
Fast,
direct and possessing incredible stamina, it was during the promotion winning
campaign of 1961-62 that he became an established first-team regular and it was
his pinpoint crossing that supplied many a goal for the prolific strike
partnership of Hunt and St John.
Cally was
one of the first names on Bill Shankly's teamsheets as League and FA Cup glory
came Liverpool's way during the heady years of the mid to late Sixties.
However, a
cartilage operation meant he missed a large chunk of the 1970-71 season and his
long-term future at the club was considered to be in jeopardy.
Thankfully
he came back fighting fit and the evergreen Callaghan was given a new lease of
life in a central midfield role, confounding any doubters by raising his game
to an even higher standard.
A tireless
worker with bags of energy, he peaked in 1973-74 - a campaign in which he notched
his one and only senior hat-trick, overtook Billy Liddell's record of 492
Liverpool appearances, helped the Reds to a second FA Cup success and became
the first Anfield player to win the Football Writers' Player of the Year award.
If that was
not enough, he was then recognised in the New Year Honours list with an MBE for
services to the game.
Cally's
remarkable longevity meant he was still an important part of the team when
Europe was conquered for the first time in 1977, an emotional occasion for a
man who'd played in the club's first game in continental competition 13 years
earlier.
At 35,
there was still one final chapter to the fairytale: a surprising recall to the
England squad 11 years after last featuring during the early stages of the 1966
World Cup.
Despite all
his success, the self-effacing Callaghan never changed and walked out of the
Anfield dressing room for the final time in 1978 as the same affable individual
who had joined the club for a £10 signing-on fee all those years before.
He left with
an envious medal collection, a glowing reputation and a total number of
appearances that is unlikely to ever be surpassed. Who said nice guys don't
win?
Other
clubs:
Fort
Lauderdale Strikers (USA - on loan) Swansea, Canberra City (on loan), Cork,
Crewe
You can get
involved now by casting your vote of what you consider to be the 10 greatest
players in this club’s illustrious history. http://www.liverpoolfc.com/100pwstk
Follow @Glady_Libs_LFC
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