On Tuesday this week it was exactly 30 years since Bob Paisley took charge of Liverpool for the final time. NICK HILTON looks back on a glittering end to the Reds legend’s nine-year trophy-laden Anfield reign

FOOTBALL is marking the retirement of the most successful manager in the English game this week – just as it was 30 years ago.

Today it is Alex Ferguson who is preparing to depart the stage with a haul of 25 major trophies won in his 26 seasons with Manchester United.

Back in 1983, Bob Paisley said his farewells after nine years that brought unprecedented success at Liverpool – 13 major trophies including six league titles and three European Cups.

Both men rounded off their careers by winning the title at a canter.

United were crowned champions with four matches of the current Premier League season remaining and went into last Sunday’s home game against Swansea City – Ferguson’s farewell to the Old Trafford faithful – with a 10-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City.

Liverpool won the 1982/83 title with seven games to spare.

The departures were stage-managed in different ways however.

Paisley gave a year’s notice of his retirement, allowing Liverpool plenty of time to prepare for the succession which saw number two Joe Fagan promoted to the top job.

Ferguson’s announcement last week came as more of a shock, although work had doubtless been going on behind the scenes for some time.

The Scot will be in charge of the team for the final time in the Premier League game at West Bromwich Albion this Sunday.

Paisley’s last hurrah was a 2-1 defeat at Watford, following an Anfield farewell after the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

Memorable as the Villa afternoon was, it couldn’t match for drama or sentiment, the finale of Liverpool’s League Cup final win over Manchester United at Wembley a couple of months before, when the staff and players created a unique tribute to the manager they respected and admired so much.

The human drama took place across a few dozen yards of the Wembley turf after Liverpool had just slugged out an epic extra-time victory with goals by Alan Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan answering the first-half strike from United’s Norman Whiteside.

The players, weary but exultant after their efforts in a gruelling contest, were preparing for the climb up the steps to Wembley’s Royal Box to collect the cup.

Liverpool’s senior coaches Joe Fagan and Ronnie Moran, their job done, began the long walk towards the tunnel. Paisley followed just behind.

What happened next was entirely spontaneous, according to Moran, the only surviving member of the trio.

He recalled the idea striking Fagan and himself almost at the same time: “We turned around together and said ‘hey Bob, you go up and get that cup’.”

Moran went on: “The players cottoned on straight away and were right up for it.

“It had not been planned, it could not have been because we did not know whether we were going to win or lose and at Liverpool you never took anything for granted.”

Paisley had to be persuaded, however.

No manager had ever stepped up ahead of his captain to collect the trophy at a major English cup final before.

Moran recalled: “Bob was always reluctant to put himself forward. Remember, he did not want to take the job as manager of Liverpool at first. He would never have gone up on his own judgement. He said to us ‘oh no, I am not going up’.

“But we said to him ‘look Bob, it’s your last game here, go and get that cup’.”

They enforced the point by relieving Paisley of his coat and flat cap. Graeme Souness, who as captain gave up the right to lift the trophy, was equally determined that Paisley should enjoy the honour.

Some years later, Souness recounted: “Every one of the players reacted instinctively to the situation. We all wanted him to go up first and collect the cup.

“I think it was in the minds of a few of us that the biggest disappointment of Bob’s playing days had been the time he was left out of the Liverpool team for the 1950 FA Cup final at Wembley.

“It seemed the right kind of gesture to make because, as players, we owed so much of our success to him.”

So Paisley mounted the 39 steps and halfway up, someone threw a red and white scarf around the shoulders of his grey suit.

Moran said: “Bob was made up afterwards. It was a proud moment for him.

“He had nine good years in the job and finished on a high. There has to be a strong bond between the staff and players for something like that to happen.”