text: Although the conditions for even greater victories were in place by the time Shankly announced his retirement in July 1974, Kopites were truly devastated to hear of the departure of their magnetic leader. In true Shanks fashion, though, he slipped quietly away safe in the knowledge he had set Liverpool FC on the path to greatness.
  Twenty trophies in nine seasons - not bad for a man who was loath to make the step into football management.
  But then, that was the reluctant genius that was Bob Paisley, the manager given the unenviable task of succeeding the legendary Bill Shankly.