Bob Shankly

Robert "Bob" Shankly (25 February, 1910 - 1982) was a former professional footballer and manager from the village of Glenbuck in Ayrshire, Scotland.

One of five brothers who all played football professionally, including Bill who would become famous as a Scottish international and manager of Liverpool F.C., he began his career with junior club, Auchinleck Talbot F.C. before moving to local club Glenbuck Cherrypickers.

He then moved into the senior ranks with Alloa Athletic F.C. after being turned down by Ayr United F.C., despite scoring a hat-trick of goals in a trial match. He later played for Falkirk F.C. as well although signed for them whilst unaware that Preston North End (where his brother Bill was then playing) wanted to sign him.

Like many working class men from Ayrshire at the time, he began working life as a miner (as did all his brothers), combining this job with football on a part-time basis.

He was married in 1936 and had two children, John (who became a civil engineer, but was offered the chance to become a professional footballer himself) and Margaret.

It was less as a player and more as a football club manager that Bob Shankly made his name. After retiring from playing he had a spell as a coach of Stenhousemuir F.C. before managing Falkirk F.C.; Third Lanark F.C.; Dundee F.C.; Hibernian F.C. and Stirling Albion F.C., where he eventually became a director.

Whilst manager of Dundee, he managed to guide his club to victory in the Scottish Football League championship of 1961-62, three points ahead of Rangers F.C. and to date the only time Dundee have won the league title. The following season he guided Dundee to the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup, where they were defeated 5-2 on aggregate by AC Milan (although they did win the home tie 1-0 at Dens Park). With Shankly Dundee made it to the 1963/64 Scottish Cup final. He resigned from Dundee in February, 1965 as he was finding it difficult to sustain this level of success and took over from Jock Stein as manager of Hibernian.

He remained in football management until 1973 when he then went onto Stirling Albion's board. He survived a major car accident in 1975, in which he, Jock Stein and another friend were seriously injured.

Bob died from a heart attack at an SFA meeting in 1982. He was 72 years old, and his death came just one year after that of his younger brother Bill, who had also died from a heart attack.

At Dens Park the new stands were built for the start of the 1999/2000 season. The stands were named after Bobby Cox and Bob Shankly, names chosen by the fans.