Past playersBob Paisley
Years: 1946-1954
Appearances: 277
Goals: 13
Honours: League title (1946-47)
Bob Paisley the manager may well have superseded the memory of Bob Paisley the player, but when he joined Liverpool in 1939 he was regarded as a half-back with a bright future in the game.
Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War II would postpone his debut for several years and he didn't make his bow until 1946 when he featured in four FA Cup matches.
Following this, he established himself in the side as an uncompromising half-back when league football resumed at the end of the war and immediately won a league championship medal, the first of many championships he would be associated with as player, trainer/coach, assistant manager and eventually manager of the only professional club he served during his long career in the game.
Not noted for his goalscoring, Paisley's most famous strike came when he lobbed the Everton goalkeeper, to help Liverpool through to the FA Cup final of 1950.
But there was great disappointment in store for the likeable Geordie when he wasn't picked for the final itself, a disappointment he later said helped him when he had to make similarly tough decisions as a manager.
Paisley continued to clock up appearances regularly until the end of the 1953-54 season, at which time he announced his retirement as a player.
