The wit and wisdom of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly

LEGENDARY Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was famous for a long list of quotable quotes. Here are a few favourites.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: The statue of former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly is pictured prior to the Budweiser FA Cup third round match between Liverpool and Oldham Athletic at Anfield on January 5, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

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LEGENDARY Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was famous for a long list of quotable quotes.

Shankly, a Scotsman, led the Reds from 1959-1974 and provided plenty of fodder for the English press.

Here’s a list of some of our favourites.

1. TO defender Tommy Smith when Smith said his knee was sore and he was a doubt for a game: “What do you mean your knee, it’s Liverpool’s knee.”

2. AFTER a scout told Shankly a young player he had given a trial to had football in his blood, Shankly said: “Aye, it hasn’t reached his legs yet”.

3. “THE trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don’t know the game.”

4. “SOME people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

5. “THE difference between Everton and the Queen Mary is that Everton carry more passengers!”

6. “IN my time at Anfield we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside — Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.”

7. GOING for a haircut in the mid 1960s when Liverpool was second on the table to Everton. The barber asked, “Anything off the top Bill?” “Aye, Everton,” came the reply.

8. “IF Everton were playing at the bottom of the garden I’d pull the curtains.”

9. “WHEN I’ve nothing better to do I look down the league table to see how Everton are getting along.”

10. DESPITE these barbs, Shankly and Evertonians had a soft spot for each other, as this quote from him after retirement proves: “I have been more warmly received by Everton than I have by Liverpool, it is scandalous that I should have write this.”

Originally published as The wit and wisdom of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly