Welcome to
my weekly blog “The Igor Bišćan Hall of Fame” every week I’ll be adding two new
additions, one will be a Liverpool Legend or fans favourite, the other a
Player, Manager or Club who have contributed to the world game we all love
(Massimo Taibi & Eric Djemba-Djemba need not worry). Please comment below
who you’d like to see make the IBHoF, here are this weeks entries. YNWA
BOB PAISLEY
1938/39 -
1953/54 (Player) 1974/75 - 1982/83 (Manager)
When Bob
Paisley moved into the manager's chair unexpectedly vacated by Bill Shankly in
the summer of 1974, most pundits saw the modest north-easterner as a two-way
loser. If the Reds continued in their winning ways, it would be a case of yet
more triumphs for the team that Shanks had created; if, on the other hand, the
flow of trophies dried up, then poor old Bob would take the blame. But it
didn't happen quite like that.
After one
barren campaign, the man who had served Liverpool as player, coach and assistant
manager since 1939 began putting his own stamp on the side. Six Championships,
three European Cups, one UEFA Cup and three League Cups later, he retired as
the most successful boss in English football history. And no one could
seriously suggest that his incredible record was the result of anyone's
efforts but his own. Of course, Bob was the first to acknowledge that Bill had
laid the foundations, although as number two in the Anfield hierarchy he had
undeniably put in much of the spadework himself. With characteristic
diffidence, he was reluctant to take the job when it was thrust upon him, even
urging his predecessor to change his mind about stepping down. In the end, he
said he'd do his best...
Bob started
with the respect of his players, though there may have been traces of
resentment in some quarters as a result of tough decisions he had been called
on to implement as first lieutenant during the Shankly regime. Probably he
suffered some early embarrassment, too. When Bill, on appearing at the training
ground, was addressed as 'Boss' by some of his former charges. Undaunted, he
soldiered on, sensibly deciding not to compete with the wisecracking Scot for
the fans' affections. He was no extrovert and had no intention of pretending to
be one; 'I'll let the players on the pitch do my talking for me,' he said at
the time, and over the seasons that followed their statements were eloquent
indeed. To begin with, however, they were not quite so communicative, with no
silverware being added to the Anfield collection in 1974/75.The prophets of
doom had a field day, predicting that the new manager would prove little more
than a caretaker and that some top name was being lined up.
The Paisley
way was not to panic. He responded by quietly enhancing his legacy of players,
adding the likes of Neal and McDermott to his squad and - a master stroke, this
- converting Ray Kennedy from a struggling striker into a vastly influential
left-sided midfielder. In 1975/76 he began to enjoy the fruits, with a title
and UEFA Cup double to match Bill's identical achievement of three years
earlier. Thereafter he began to break new ground, the subsequent campaign
yielding the ultimate prize which had perpetually eluded Shanks - the European
Cup. As his confidence grew, Bob even began to unbend a little in public, and
when asked for his views before that greatest ever British football triumph on
Italian soil, he revealed his own brand of wry humour: 'The last time I was in
Rome was 33 years ago. I helped to capture it.'
As the honours
mounted, the extent of Bob's soccer expertise became ever more apparent. He
preached a gospel of control and movement, and made sure that he had the right
men to put it into practice, bringing such outstanding talents as Dalglish,
Souness and Hansen to the club. A meticulous planner, shrewd tactician and
canny judge of a player's strengths and weaknesses, also he was an authority on
football injuries, often able to diagnose problems before they became serious.
Refreshingly, he was willing also to own up to his rare mistakes, taking the
blame for changing his formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 for the 1979 FA Cup
semi-final replay against Manchester United, a switch which he believed cost
the Reds the match.
Bob retired
in 1983 after nine years in charge, coming back two years later to advise Kenny
Dalglish, and eventually taking a seat on the board. In summing up the Paisley
career, some years before Bob's death in 1996, Brian Clough said it all: 'He is
a great man, and has once and for all broken the myth that nice guys don't win
anything.'
BORN:
Hetton-le-Hole, 23.1.19. GAMES: 277 (Player), 535 (Manager). GOALS: 12.
DIED:
Liverpool, 14.2.96 (aged 77).
CLUBS:
Bishop Auckland (Amateur).
HONOURS:
League Championship 1947 (Player). 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983. European
Cup 1977, 1978, 1981. UEFA Cup 1976. European Super Cup 1977. League Cup 1981,
1982, 1983. FA Charity Shield 1974, 1976, 1977 (shared), 1979, 1980, 1982.
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ROBERTO RIVELINO
A pre-match
ritual for Isadore Irandir, goalkeeper with Rio Preto, was to say his prayers
in the goalmouth. He adopted his customary pose at the start of a Brazilian
League game with Corinthians and was still on his knees beseeching the Almighty
when the ball whistled past his ear and into the back of the net. Just three
seconds had been played. Irandir had forgotten that the Corinthians line-up
included Roberto Rivelino, one of the most sensational strikers of a ball the
world has ever seen. Rivelino's speciality was the banana free-kick, a shot
which could almost turn right angles in flight, but he was equally adept at
firing in long-range efforts in open play so a massive thumping drive from the
half-way line into a vacant net posed few problems.
His other
trick was the elastic dribble, which consisted of running the foot over the top
of the ball, making it appear to swerve one side before sending it the other
way. This proved a rich source of goals for him, often leaving defenders
open-mouthed and wrong-footed in his wake. With such a repertoire of skills and
his familiar bandit-like moustache, it was no wonder that Rivelino was such an
instantly recognisable figure.
The Sao
Paulo-born Rivelino spent almost his entire career with the local team
Corinthians. He made his international debut against Uruguay at the age of 22
and his versatility (he could play in a variety of positions), coupled to his
dribbling and power shooting marked him down as one to watch. However, Joao
Saldanha, manager of the national team, seemed unsure about how best to use his
explosive new talent with the result that Rivelino often had to be content with
playing just 45 minutes. It was Rivelino's good fortune that Saldanha, whose
tactics had come under increasing criticism, was replaced shortly before the
1970 World Cup by Mario Zagalo, a man who, whilst catering for the traditional
Brazilian flair, also valued the importance of set pieces. With Pele being
singled out for rough treatment, Brazil needed players who could withstand
tough tackling. As well as providing that extra dimension from free-kicks,
Rivelino could easily take care of himself.
Thus
Rivelino was in favour when Brazil began their campaign in Mexico, forming part
of a devastating forward line with Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and Tostao. He
marked the opening game with Czechoslovakia by scoring with a swerving
25-yarder and finished with three goals in the competition as Brazil swept to
world domination. By the time of the 1974 World Cup Brazil had lost many of
their stars. The team struggled with Rivelino alone playing to his full
potential. In a tournament that was devoid of the anticipated Brazilian flair,
Rivelino conjured up a rare moment to remember when he lined up a free-kick
against East Germany. Team-mate Jairzinho positioned himself in the German
defensive wall and neatly ducked out of the way as Rivelino powered a typical
banana bender around him and into the net. It was a beautifully worked routine.
Rivelino
appeared for a third World Cup in 1978. He showed touches of brilliance -
notably in the third place play-off against Italy - but generally looked
overweight and unfit. It came as no surprise therefore when he announced his
retirement shortly afterwards but not before becoming Brazil's then most capped
player.
Rivelino
spent ten years with Corinthians but was dismayed at not being able to win the
Sao Paulo Championship. The fans appreciated his loyalty and nicknamed him
'Reizinho do Parque' ('Little King of the Park'). When it was finally time to
move on, he joined Fluminense for three years before going to Al-Hilal in Saudi
Arabia to make some extra money at the end of his career. He went on to become
a respected TV commentator in Brazil.
BORN: Sao Paulo, Brazil. 1.1.46.
CLUBS: 1965–1974 Corinthians, 1974–1978 Fluminense,
1978–1981 Al-Hilal.
INERNATIONAL
CAREER: Brazil 1965–1978 Caps 92 Goals 26.
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