A Biography
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A Biography |
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Ronnie Moran was born in Crosby, just outside Liverpool on February 28th 1934. He began his
footballing career at Liverpool as an apprentice electrician playing with the 'C' team.
Originally a left back, Moran signed professional terms for manager Don Welsh in January 1952
and subsequently made his debut in a 3-2 defeat at Derby County on November 22, 1952. He was
just 18 years old.
It was in season 1955-56 that Moran established himself as Liverpool's first choice number three. The Reds were languishing in the Second Division at this time but Moran, a good marker who was rarely beaten by a winger for pace and was also something of a penalty expert, proved himself a consistent performer missing only six games between 1955 and 1959. He was rewarded for his sterling service towards the latter part of the decade when he was handed the club captaincy. In 1961-62, after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he played sixteen games as the Reds finally regained their top-flight status and two seasons later was part of the Division One Championship winning side missing only seven games all season. Injury problems then began to set in and he missed out to Gerry Byrne for the left back slot in the 1965 FA Cup Final win over Leeds United. He did, however, play in the famous Anfield victory over Internazionale three days later before playing his last competitive game for the Reds in the awesome setting of the San Siro stadium when Liverpool were controversially beaten in the second leg of the European Cup semi-final. In 1966 Moran was invited onto the coaching staff by Bill Shankly though he continued playing for Joe Fagan's reserves for a further two years, helping to bring on the younger players. He formally retired from playing during the 1968-69 season and joined the coaching staff full time, where he became a part of the famous Boot Room team. In 1971 he took charge of the reserve team and in 1972-73 guided the Reds' second string to the Central League Championship. Moran, or 'Bugsy' as he had become known, became a vital ingredient in the Liverpool success story with his shrewd knowledge of the game and the ability to get the best out of the players. In a spectacularly successful period for the club he was a fine, loyal servant working first under Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and then Kenny Dalglish, and later for Graeme Souness and Roy Evans. In keeping with the Boot Room traditions he never sought the limelight, never promoted himself above his colleagues or the team. He became famous on the bench for his loud voice shouting instructions to the players which could be heard in the packed Kop. When Dalglish sensationally announced his resignation as manager in 1991, Moran was installed as 'caretaker' boss, a role he occupied for only ten games. He had placed on record an unwillingness to take the job on full-time and summarily stood down when Graeme Souness was duly appointed as Dalglish's successor. Moran remained on the coaching staff under Souness and then under friend Roy Evans when he took over as manager. Evans became the ninth manager Moran had worked under at the club in one capacity or another in his near half century of dedicated service, the full list being: George Kay, Don Welsh, Phil Taylor, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans. Ronnie Moran finally announced his retirement from football and left Liverpool in 1998. Along with the great Bob Paisley, he had filled every role imagineable at the club from player, to physio, to coach and trainer, through to manager. Perhaps though, like his great Boot Room compatriot Joe Fagan, Moran is destined to be remembered most for his years of unstinting loyalty as a coach, a key member of the Boot Room set up which was the cornerstone of English football's greatest ever success story. |
Born Liverpool, February 28 - 1934
Liverpool FC schoolboy - 1949 Debut at full-back versus Derby, November - 1952 Promotion to First Division - 1962 Championship winner - 1964 Appointed youth team trainer - 1966 Retired from playing - 1968 Appointed reserve team coach - 1971 Appointed first team coach - 1974 Caretaker manager - 1991 and 1994 Retired after almost 50 years' service - 1998 |
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Liverpool faced Celtic at Anfield on May 13th 2000 for Ronnie Moran's testimonial.
Click here to view the match details. |