Product Description

THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF THE PEOPLE'S FOOTBALL MANAGER

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49773 in Books
• Published on: 1997-01-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 331 pages

Synopsis
Football is not just a matter of life and death: it's much more important than that' - Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly was without doubt among the greatest football managers of the post-war era. But to football fans everywhere Bill Shankly was far more than just a manager: he was a folk hero whose legend still dominates the game. The man who took Liverpool from Second Division obscurity to create the legend that became the Anfield of Keegan, Hughes, Toshack and Heighway, with his impertinent questions, blunt observations and appreciation of life, Bill Shankly's wit, down-to-earth wisdom and sheer determination set a standard that holds good to this day. This full and frank biography tells his larger-than-life story and is an inspiring tribute to one of football's most enduring heroes.

Customer Reviews

Very interesting subject.
While I am not Liverpool fan, I have always been interested in the influence on modern football which the media and (older) football fans have placed on Bill Shankly. He is regarded as a legend and more influential than his (impressive) trophy count demonstrates.
This book is excellent in how it brings to life the 'persona' of Bill Shankley and what he was actually like. It is packed with lots of good, interesting detail and you feel like you are getting to know him. What also comes through is what a revolutionary he is. The research carried out by the author is excellent.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book although sloppy writing lets it down in places - many paragraphs are (almost word-for-word) repeated only a few pages apart; and after many years of struggle and toil to work his way up through the managerial ladder, Bill finally gets to Liverpool, running himself into the ground to make them successful, only half a page is given to the 'title run-in' and the first historic championship.

a GOD amongst football writers- STEPHEN F KELLY
This is truly the greatest book i have ever read. I am amazed at the prowess Mr kelly uses when writing of the beautiful game. he should go down in history as the very best sports writer to grace the earth with his talents. His knowledge of the subject, unsurpassable. the book is bursting with creative talent and highly original prose. the style with which it is written is sincere with a vivid narrative. kelly is the only writer with the ability to express himself without exaggeration so that the outcome is a persistent high standard of work. it's imperative that people read this book to experience the faultless and perceptive literary gem.

Reads like a newspaper report.....
.....the book for the most part is a player by player and match by match account of every player that moved to or from Liverpool while Shankly was in charge, and every match they played. In amongst all these transfer fees and scorelines there's the occasional quote from Shankly (sometimes repeated...), but not much else. There's very little insight into what he actually did as a manager, from the book it seems his only contribution to Liverpool was to buy players and sell them, and play a bit of five a side. The book contains little that couldn't be found in a book of statistics. Having said that, I read the book with a good deal of interest, as most Liverpool fans will, but I was more interested in the man himself, and there's precious little of him on offer.