Source: Daily_Mail
Alex Ferguson has beaten one Liverpool record, now can he do a Bob Paisley?
ShareThe joy-filled screeches of an adjacent playground broke the sunny silence in St Peter's cemetery in Woolton, Liverpool, yesterday. [LNB] The sound brought life to the small, evocative graveyard that sometimes bustles with the awe of Beatles pilgrims, this being where a certain Eleanor Rigby lies.[LNB] Champions: Bob Paisley holds the European Cup aloft in 1978 as Liverpool celebrate the second of his three wins in the competition[LNB]In memory: Paisley's gravestone in St Peter's cemetery, Woolton, where he was buried in 1996[LNB]There is some debate as to whether her name on a tomb toward the front of the cemetery was the literal inspiration for the Beatles song and its famous opening line - 'Ah, look at all the lonely people' - but behind the church, there is no question about the other legend buried here.[LNB] Robert (Bob) Paisley OBE, as it says on his simple gravestone, was unique in English and European football, a man of as yet unmatched achievement. [LNB] Paisley was buried in Woolton 15 years ago. That was 13 years after retiring as Liverpool manager with a record of six league titles (and two second places), one UEFA Cup, three League Cups and the rather significant matter of three European Cups.[LNB] In the 56-year history of the European Cup/Champions League, Paisley is the only manager to have won it three times. He did that in the space of five seasons and did it all, including those league titles, in nine. To call him remarkable would be like calling the Beatles 'musical'.[LNB] Building on the deep emotional and physical foundations laid by Bill Shankly at Anfield, Paisley cemented that work and then some. With a slippers-and-cardigan management style that was the definition of understatement, Paisley established Liverpool as the leading force in England and Europe. [LNB] There is no mention of this on his grave. There is his name, the dates - 1919-1996 - a small picture of a football and a short inscription: 'He remained an ordinary man amid extraordinary achievements'.[LNB]That alleged ordinariness leads many on Merseyside to feel Paisley's national and continental contribution isundervalued. Just now they are also feeling defensive on Paisley's behalf because of another phenomenon: Sir Alex Ferguson.[LNB] Glory: Alex Ferguson celebrates United's victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final[LNB] [LNB] Having seen Manchester United last Saturday eclipse the Liverpool title record of 18, there is now fresh concern that a week tomorrow Ferguson can join Paisley as the second manager to win three European Cups. The Liverpool-Manchester rivalry needs no elaboration. But after 1999 in Barcelona and 2008 in Moscow, Ferguson stands again on the brink of equalling Paisley's European record and on Merseyside there is an added dimension to Ferguson-Paisley: the three-letter prefix Ferguson has. [LNB]Even the church administrator at St Peter's mentioned it in passing. Then again, his name is Graham Paisley.He is the son of Bob.[LNB] Neither Graham nor his mother Jessie, who is a bright 95, are campaigning for a posthumous knighthood for Bob Paisley but as with former Liverpool players, there is an awareness that in Ferguson, Bobby Charlton and Matt Busby, United lead Liverpool 3-0.[LNB]LIVERPOOL v UNITEDBob Paisley OBELeague 6 (1976, 77, 79, 80,82, 83)[LNB]European Cup 3 (1977, 78, 81)[LNB]UEFA Cup 1 (1976)[LNB]League Cup 3 (1981, 82, 83)[LNB]European Super Cup 1 (1977)[LNB]Total : 14[LNB]Sir Alex FergusonLeague 12 (1993, 94, 96, 97,99, 2000, 01, 03, 07, 08, 09, 11)[LNB]European Cup 2 (1999, 2008)[LNB]FA Cup 5 (1990, 94, 96, 99, 2004)[LNB]League Cup 4 (1992, 2006, 09, 10)[LNB]European Cup-winners' Cup 1(1991)[LNB]European Super Cup 1 (1991)[LNB]Club World Cup - 1 (2008)[LNB]Total : 26[LNB]Terry McDermott, whom Paisley bought from Newcastle and helped transform into the 1980 Footballer of the Year and a European Cup- winner (thrice), spoke affectionately about Paisley for some time beforesaying: 'All that and he was never knighted. And while I don't think itwould matter to him, it matters to others.'[LNB]Given Liverpool's self-confidence as afootball city, and its leftist political profile, it is peculiar that validation is sought from Buckingham Palace, but perhaps it is a sign ofjust how much Ferguson has destabilised this world. [LNB]Ferguson's years in management are such that his Aberdeen met Paisley's Liverpool in the European Cup in 1980 - Liverpool won - and while Graham spoke of his father's 'gracious behaviour always', he acknowledged Ferguson's 'longevity, his appetite, it's very impressive. He and my dad overlapped but not by much. My dad'srivalry was more with Brian Clough. Aberdeen were just developing underFerguson.' [LNB] McDermott added: 'It may be galling for Liverpool fans but you have to give Alex Ferguson credit. He's second to none, but so is Bob Paisley. They're in the same bracket.'[LNB] That bracket of post-war British managerial greats takes in Busby, Stein, Shankly, Nicholson and Clough. Arguments are made for others such as DonRevie but there is no disputing Paisley's presence. Born into a mining family in Hetton-le-Hole near Sunderland - Paisley signed for Liverpoolin 1939 in the Roker Park boardroom - he stayed 44 years at Anfield as player, physio, coach and manager. [LNB] A quiet man - Alan Hansen once said if Paisley had written an autobiography he'd have mentioned himself twice in it - Paisley was a founder member of the famous Anfield Bootroom. As such, he had to be more nimble verbally than he is given credit for. [LNB] There was that remark to Alan Kennedy at half-time of the left back's difficult debut - 'They shot the wrong Kennedy' - and the one about Rome and Borussia Monchengladbach after Liverpool's first European Cup win in 1977: 'This is the second time I've beaten the Germans here . . . the first time was in 1944. I drove into Rome on a tank when the city was liberated.'[LNB] From St Peter's, Rome to St Peter's, Woolton, Bob Paisley walked the walk. His record remains unmatched and even if and when it is equalled, that will hardly be a signal to forget him. [LNB] To twist a clich?, at the end of the day people will remember him. Like Eleanor Rigby, he made Liverpool sing. [LNB] Silverware: Paisley poses at home with the vast collection of trophies he won[LNB] Sir Alex: I have no plans to retire from management... it keeps me aliveI'll put you to sleep in 10 seconds! Rooney in Twitter violence threatWin tickets for the Champions League final between Man United and BarcaHe's done a Ramos! Now Stekelenburg drops Ajax's title trophy under bus[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough, Eleanor Rigby, Matt Busby, Bill Shankly Places: Barcelona, Moscow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Rome, United Kingdom, Europe, Buckingham Palace
