Happy 60th birthday, Alan Hansen

In order to appreciate why every Reds fan will be wishing Alan well, now might be the perfect time to look back over a Liverpool career which spanned 13 years and 620 games.

Hansen joined the Reds from Partick Thistle as a 21-year-old in May 1977, with Bob Paisley looking to renew his defence as Tommy Smith had announced he would leave the club and Emlyn Hughes was approaching 30. Smith however stayed on for another season with the club and Hansen's opportunities were initially limited.

The young Scot's ability as a footballer and versatility helped him find a place in the Reds line-up though, as shown by the fact he started the club's biggest game of the season, the European Cup final against Bruges. Liverpool won 1-0 and Hansen had his first winners' medal as a Reds player.

The next season Hansen replaced Emlyn Hughes in his preferred position of central defence where he excelled but was liable to take risks by running with the ball, but of course over time Hansen's love of bringing the ball out of defence would become essential to Liverpool's pass and move style.

That 1978-79 season saw him win his first league title, as Paisley's team set a record for points accumulated over a season (with two points awarded for a win). The Reds brilliant season was built on defensive strength - the team only conceded an incredible four goals at Anfield all season.

The man from Sauchie was now an integral part of a team who were evolving into Paisley's second great side. It had three Scotsmen, all who joined the club within 12 months of each other, at its centre - Hansen, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish.

The league was won again in 1980, with the victory all the sweeter as the Reds edged out rivals Manchester United. The title was lost the next season, but there was the small consolation of winning the League Cup for the first time in the club's history and then a third European Cup won by beating Real Madrid in Paris.

That League Cup win was especially enjoyable for Hansen as he scored the winner against West Ham United, giving the team the first of four League Cup wins in a row.

Liverpool had three great central defenders during this period - with Phil Thompson and Mark Lawrenson all vying for a place alongside the imperious Hansen. The Reds won the league three seasons in a row as Hansen dominated the defence and set the team's attacks in motion.

Not even the departure of the legendary Paisley could stop the red machine as a treble was won in 1984 under Joe Fagan, with the European Cup added in Rome to league and League Cup triumphs.

In fact, by 1985 there was only one trophy Hansen had not won - the FA Cup. Made club captain by new player-manager Kenny Dalglish, it was an anomaly he soon rectified.

Winning a first FA Cup in 12 years would always have been a special moment, but the fact that the club played against Merseyside rivals Everton made the 3-1 victory even more satisfying.

Having already won the league title, upon lifting the cup Hansen became the first captain to win the league and FA Cup double since Arsenal's Frank McLintock in 1971, and only the third since the First World War.

The team under Dalglish was also evolving in a way which meant that Hansen's less forward thinking role was an asset, as in 1987 John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge arrived at the club. These players along with Ray Houghton formed one of the most devastating attacks ever seen in English football.

Another stellar season brought his seventh Championship winners medal, with the only surprise being that Hansen was denied a little piece of history by Wimbledon in the FA Cup final. He would have been the first captain ever to achieve a league and FA Cup double twice.

A sign of how important Hansen was to some of the greatest sides in Liverpool's history is the fact that the club's last title win in 1989-90, came in Hansen's final season with the club.

In his time at the club the player who joined for £100,000 from Partick Thistle changed from a dynamic youngster to an experienced leader who won eight league titles, three European Cups, four League Cups and two FA Cups and was the foundation stone upon which some of Liverpool's greatest ever teams were built.

Happy 60th birthday, Alan.