Between them Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan won 23 trophies in their combined 11 years as Liverpool manager.
Having succeeded fellow legendary Reds boss Bill Shankly, Paisley claimed six league titles and three European Cups, among many other honours, as the boot room dynasty continued. And it did not stop when Fagan took the reins in 1983, adding another First Division trophy, European Cup and League Cup to the club’s trophy cabinet.
The pair’s time at Liverpool has become the centre of BT Sport’s ‘The Boot Room Boys’ documentary. Scheduled to premiere on April 5th, here are a selection of exclusive quotes from the film, courtesy of two former players who got to experience the effects of the fabled Boot Room, first-hand.
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On Bill Shankly departure
Chris Lawler: It was a bit difficult at that time, Bob had taken over then after Bill and Bill Shankly used to still come down, he’d have a shower, and have a walk around the pitch and the players then didn’t know who to call boss. Bob was the boss then and the old boss was Bill Shankly and he was still around. He had to be told, I don’t know who told him because it was embarrassing for Bob and awkward for the players, it was a shame.
On Boot Room personalities
Phil Thompson: Oh, they were all different personalities, and I think that's what made it so special. Certainly, Bob. Bob was wonderful. He was a genius, and he knew his football inside out, but communicating it, he found it very, very difficult.
He'd always, sort of, fall over his words, which became a bit of a laugh and joke about all the players, sort of, taking the Mickey. I think one of the great things is Bob knew, he knew what his strengths were, and most importantly, you know what your weaknesses are as well because he could be really tough. He wasn't always Uncle Bob.
Then you had Joe, quiet Joe, and Joe was a listener. Joe could take a lot of things in, but when he got angry, and he spoke, and raised his voice, you jumped. He didn't do it very often, but that is the way he was. So, he was always silent Joe, quiet Joe. He was like than.
Then you come onto Ronnie Moran, the sergeant major of the club. I think without Ronnie Moran we wouldn't have had that success that we'd have had, because Ronnie was driven. He was absolutely. We used to think, 'Does nothing ever satisfy this guy?'
What made them a good team
Phil Thompson: I think what made them a good group, and how it all worked, is they were all different in their ways. I think that was special, and it all come together. They were marvellous.
You know, Bob was a wonderful lieutenant to Shanks, because Shanks would always be there, and he had that wonderful voice on him, but you've obviously got to keep all your players on side, you're the manager, and you're picking the team. So, you know the players well.
Bob was the one who barked the orders. Bob was always, he was the one who was always moaning at the players. So, you'd have the good cop, and you'd have the bad cop, and it was ever thus on good relationships that you know have, sort of, a manager and an assistant. It was always that way.
A bit of a similar way that I ended up with Gerard Houllier. Gerard would be the same, I would be the one, I'd played the game, and I think Bob played the game back in the '60s. He knew what his role was. I think it worked. So, they worked on it really well, and it was special.
The Boot Room Boys, the latest from the award-winning BT Sport Films series, will premiere on BT Sport 3 at 10.30pm on 5 April and will be available via the BT Sport App any time thereafter. For more info, visit btsport.com
