The secrets of King Kenny at 60... and some pictures for his players to pin up!



Kenny Dalglish, one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players and managers turns 60 on Friday.



In tribute, Sportsmail has spoken to some of the men who have known King Kenny best over the years - and listened to their great stories about a man who has brought so much to the game we love...

Best bar none: A snappily dressed Dalglish poses with a half-pint in the late Seventies

Child's play: Dalglish as a carefree toddler

STEVEN GERRARD

When I was taken into Liverpool’s academy, I was invited to Melwood by Steve Heighway to have lunch with the players before going up to Anfield on the team bus.



As a nine-year-old, it was mind-blowing but the reality of sitting next to legends like Kenny, Ian Rush and John Barnes was terrifying.



My dad had drilled it into me what a player Kenny was and I was a nervous wreck when I met him.



I sat next to Kenny on the coach and it was very much a case of me speaking when I was spoken to!



I might have only just started working with him as a player but, as I have known him a long time, he has played a massive role in my career.



Kenny has always been there to offer advice and he is someone I have so much respect for.



I don’t need to talk about his stature in the game. He is Kenny Dalglish. His name says everything.

Growing up: Dalglish hits his first goal in professional soccer for Cumbernauld

GRAEME SOUNESS Liverpool (1978-84) and Scotland (1974-86) team-mate I signed for Liverpool about six months after Kenny and we were staying at the same hotel, the Holiday Inn.

Kenny and his wife Marina had just had Kelly and were staying in the room opposite. One afternoon there was a knock on the door and I opened it to see Kenny with his face covered in baby poo and asking to use my bathroom. Kenny liked his rest in the afternoons but it transpired there had been some dispute over whose turn it was to change the baby and, during the disagreement, Marina had decided to plonk the baby on Kenny’s face while he tried to sleep.

I made sure he took the towels back with him after he’d cleaned up. We stayed there for about a year and every time he knocked after that I always checked the spyhole in the door before opening up.

JAMIE CARRAGHER

I’ll never forget my first meeting with Kenny. I used to play against his son, Paul, at school. I played for Bootle Boys and he played for Crosby.

We got a late penalty in one particular Under 10s game. I think the award was a bit dubious but we scored and made it 1-1.

At the end of the game, Kenny walked off and gave the referee a bit of stick - and because it was Kenny, everyone was a bit in awe of what was going on.

Everyone, that is, except my dad. My dad ended up telling Kenny what he thought of what he’d said to the ref.

Let’s just say they both ended up giving as good as they got! There is nothing new or original that I can say about Kenny. He’s probably the greatest figure in British football.

There is only really Johan Cruyff who has achieved such success both as a player and a manager.



Keepy uppy: Dalglish (right) with Danny McGrain at Celtic Top honour: Dalglish recieves Footballer of the Year award from Bob Paisley in 1983 Danny McGrain - Celtic (1967-77) and Scotland (1973-82) team-mate

I first saw Kenny when we were involved in trials for Scotland Schoolboys in about 1965. I remember this lad with a bright red face walking past looking as if he’d just run a marathon. I saw him two years later when we both ended up at Celtic. I recognised him and we quickly became pals. Jock Stein, the manager, decided to send us both out on loan. Kenny went to Cumbernauld United and scored goals for fun, I went to Maryhill and never won a game for six months. We were so lucky to learn from Mr Stein and train with the Lisbon Lions: every day with Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox. We were like sponges, we soaked in as much information as possible. Kenny’s debut with the first team was a testimonial at Kilmarnock. Mr Stein played him up front and Kenny scored seven goals. He was incredible. Kenny was my best man in 1972. While he was a brilliant footballer, he was terrible with his speech! Honestly, it was the worst ever - but this is a tribute for his 60th so I’ll spare him by not revealing any details!



Dress sense: Frank Worthington poses with Dalglish outside clothes boutique Wedded bliss: Kenny Dalglish on his wedding day to Marina Harkins in 1974

Shay Given - Dalglish signed him for both Blackburn (1994) and Newcastle (1997)

I signed for Blackburn in the morning, aged 18, and then had a busy day doing stuff here and there. Then I had my first Blackburn game that night, for the reserves. I had a shocker.



The next morning Kenny walked past me and muttered: ‘Just as well you signed that contract in the morning, eh?’



That’s what he’s like. He is a funny man, a player’s man. We’d have a fiver bet on the Old Firm games and he’d chase you up and down the training ground if Rangers won.



Party time: With Sandy Jardine and their respective wives Great Scot: With Willie Morgan, Sandy Jardine and Tommy Hutchison in 1974

Craig Brown - Scotland assistant manager in 1986 (later became coach 1993-2001)

I was assistant with Scotland when he was making his final few appearances. At half-time against Romania I gave him a rollicking on the night he won his 100th cap. Those were the days when I was younger and a bit more fiery.

We had been poor so when we got the players back to the dressing room I told him straight: ‘That was not acceptable.’ I said their No 8 was running the show and he hadn’t been able to get near him.

Kenny looked at me and said: ‘Sorry.’ He went back out there to put things right and we went on to win 3-0. At the end when the boys came back in I told them it had been a lot better. Then Kenny looked at me and said: ‘Thank you.’

So this was one of my first internationals with Kenny and he said three words to me the whole time - ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’!