FeatureFrom Barclay and McKenna to Arne Slot: The men who have led Liverpool

Slot arrives at the Reds after three seasons of success at Feyenoord, whom he led to the Netherlands’ league title in 2023 and the KNVB Cup earlier this year.

A former player, predominantly as a midfielder, the Dutchman had previously been at the helm of SC Cambuur and AZ Alkmaar in his home country too.

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Slot is the 22nd man to take charge of Liverpool since the club’s formation in 1892, and here we take a look back through the history of the role...

William Edward Barclay was the first man to take charge of Liverpool following the split from Everton that led to the club’s foundation under John Houlding.

He held the title of club secretary, though the role was essentially first-team manager. The starting line-up, however, was selected by the board, of which John McKenna was said to be the most prominent member.

Barclay delivered a Lancashire League title and, following a successful bid to enter the league by Liverpool in 1893, a Second Division title during his three-year stint.

McKenna, who had played a key role behind the scenes throughout, took over the duties as boss for a season in 1895-96, leading the club back to the First Division following instant relegation.

For the next campaign, McKenna opted to take a step back, retiring to the boardroom ahead of appointing Tom Watson, who would go on to become the club’s longest-serving manager, a record which still stands today.

Watson spent the next 19 years as Liverpool ‘secretary’, innovating the approach taken at Anfield after a hugely successful spell with Sunderland, as they firmly established themselves in the league.

He delivered the club’s first ever top-flight titles in 1901 and 1906, the latter following another Second Division triumph in 1904-05.

Watson led Liverpool up until his death in May 1915, ahead of what would have been his 20th season in charge at Anfield.

George Patterson took to the dugout temporarily in his place – being officially appointed in 1918 – and during the First World War he led Liverpool through a range of local wartime competitions.

Former referee turned manager David Ashworth was to be next, having been appointed in December 1919 following the earlier resumption of the league.

Ashworth had a quick impact, returning the Reds to the summit and the league title swiftly, claiming the honours in 1921-22.

In a surprise, though, he brought an early end to his reign by resigning to join Oldham Athletic in 1923, leaving club director Matt McQueen to take over initially on a temporary basis, though he was to remain in charge until 1928, leading the team for five years as secretary-manager.

McQueen helped guide the Reds to a title defence in 1923, with Liverpool winning successive championships for the first time in their history.

His retirement came amid a quiet period before and after, with Patterson re-appointed as boss in 1928, becoming the first man to officially enjoy two separate spells in the dugout in L4.

The Reds then opted for George Kay in 1936, who would spend 15 years at the helm. He was forced to navigate the outbreak of the Second World War and a return to regional competitions early in his tenure.

In 1947, though, he delivered a long-awaited First Division title, the club’s fifth in total, and is credited as having selected future manager Bill Shankly to play for a game during wartime.

Don Welsh oversaw proceedings from 1951 until 1956, ahead of Phil Taylor’s time in charge for the following three years until 1959, though the Reds had dropped down to the Second Division and begun to languish there.

However, Liverpool’s luck was to change with the appointment of the revered Shankly, a manager who would go on to revolutionise the club from top to bottom over the course of the next 15 years.

Shankly, backed by the famous Boot Room, took charge of 783 games – the most in club history – and with it delivered a tremendous amount of success.

A Second Division title in 1961-62 paved the way for three First Division titles, two FA Cups, a UEFA Cup triumph and three Charity Shields as he turned Liverpool into one of English football’s superpowers.

With the ascension of Bob Paisley to the main role in 1974 providing continuity, there was to be no slowing down for the Reds following Shankly’s resignation.

An era of domestic and continental dominance saw them go on to win six more First Division titles, a first, second and third European Cup, a second UEFA Cup, three League Cups, a UEFA Super Cup and six Charity Shields under Paisley’s stewardship.

As a key member of Shankly’s backroom staff, Paisley carried on from where he left off, building on the foundations laid in the years prior.

When Paisley’s time in charge came to a close, his association to Liverpool had totalled 44 years, having fulfilled a range of roles from player to physio to reserve-team manager and more.

The club again opted for stability, handing the reins to Joe Fagan from 1983 to 1985, with Paisley’s right-hand man taking over in the dugout.

His first campaign was historic, as Liverpool won a magnificent treble of First Division, League Cup and European Cup – the latter by defeating AS Roma in their own stadium.

Next up was another club first, with Kenny Dalglish becoming Liverpool’s first player-manager. Assisted by Paisley in his first two seasons, he delivered three league titles, two FA Cups and four Charity Shields during his stellar six-year tenure.

Following Dalglish’s sudden resignation in February 1991, Liverpool appointed a caretaker-manager in Ronnie Moran, who oversaw matters at first-team level until a successor was found.

Former captain Graeme Souness was chosen as the man to lead the charge from the dugout the following season, where he would remain until April 1994, securing an FA Cup during his spell as boss.

Next at the helm was Roy Evans, who delivered a League Cup during an entertaining four years as sole manager. His time, though, came to a close when Gerard Houllier was brought in as co-manager, with the partnership lasting just 18 games before the Frenchman took the seat himself.

A cup treble in 2000-01 etched Houllier’s name into the history books, securing success in the League Cup, UEFA Cup and FA Cup in a memorable return to glory for the Reds – while another League Cup was later added.

In 2004, however, he was replaced by Rafael Benitez, who delivered a dramatic and amazing European Cup triumph in Istanbul at the end of his maiden campaign.

Benitez concluded his time at Anfield with a Super Cup and FA Cup to his name too, and his tenure was followed by Roy Hodgson in 2010, the Englishman leading the club for six months before a second spell for Dalglish in 2011, the Scot securing another League Cup to add to his trophy collection.

Liverpool recruited Brendan Rodgers in the summer of 2012 and he would remain in post until late 2015, having taken the Reds close to a first Premier League title during 2013-14.

However, Liverpool’s next appointment was key, with Klopp taking to the dugout in October 2015 to begin what was to become a thrilling nine-year spell.

Klopp’s impact was apparent from the off, bringing a high-energy style of play before the trophies soon followed and flowed.

He departed Anfield having written his own legend like many before him, lifting seven major honours, including Champions League glory, a first ever FIFA Club World Cup and ending the 30-year wait for a top-flight title.

Klopp has now passed the baton to Slot, with the 45-year-old’s reign officially under way and pre-season for 2024-25 looming next month.