Dalglish delight after receiving his knighthood
Former Celtic player is knighted Dalglish admits to share of ‘luck’
Scottish football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish said he was “humbled” to receive a knighthood for an outstanding football career and supporting Liverpool’s fans in their darkest hour.
Known as “King Kenny” on Merseyside, the former player and manager said it was his duty to “turn supporter” and help Liverpool families in the aftermath of the Hillsborough football tragedy in 1989.
Sir Kenny was dubbed a knight by the Prince of Wales during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony yesterday for services to football, charity and the city of Liverpool.
The 67-year-old made more than 300 appearances for both Celtic and Liverpool and earned more than 100 caps for the Scotland national team.
Speaking after the ceremony, Sir Kenny said about the Hillsborough families: “They were fantastically supportive of the football club and at that instance it was important for us to turn supporter.
“They needed a bit of help, we wanted to help them, and I’m sure they would have done the same for us. I think that’s what life is all about.”
Sir Kenny was the Scottish international striker who became a star of English football when he filled the gap left by the departing Liverpool hero Kevin Keegan at Anfield after a trophy-laden spell at Celtic.
He went on to become a Kop legend, winning three European Cups and six league titles with the club. As a manager he performed the rare feat of winning top-flight league championship titles with two different clubs, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers.
Speaking about becoming a Sir, he said: “You feel humble. When you start off in your life, what do you want? You just want to play football.
“And when you play football, what do you want to do? You want to try and be successful, be a professional footballer, try and win something.”
Asked about highlights from his career, Sir Kenny replied: “I’ve been very fortunate with the people I’ve worked with in football, both as a player and a manager, they’ve been fantastic people.
“And the two football clubs I’ve played for Celtic and Liverpool – the two most successful clubs of the era I was playing in – I’ve been fortunate as well. You always need a bit of luck to get a bit of success.”
The former striker and his wife Marina were Liverpool’s public face as a whole city mourned following Hillsborough where 96 people died in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
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