Former football manager Kenny Dalglish has opened up about his remarkable tenure at Blackburn Rovers, where they achieved unprecedented success in the early 1990s, largely thanks to the support of benefactor Jack Walker. Dalglish, who previously managed Liverpool, led Blackburn to the English Premier League title in March 1994, marking a significant turnaround for the club.
Dalglish’s Return to Management
After stepping down from his role at Liverpool in 1991 following the emotionally taxing aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, many speculated that Dalglish’s managerial career had come to an end. He had enjoyed considerable success with Liverpool, winning three Division One titles and two FA Cups during his six years at the helm. Yet, just eight months later, he accepted a new challenge with Blackburn Rovers, a club on the rise due to Walker’s financial backing.
“I wasn’t trying to prove myself, but I was very fortunate that I was asked to become manager at a time when Jack was throwing his heart into the job, as well as his finances,” Dalglish shared in an interview with FourFourTwo. He emphasized Walker’s genuine commitment to the club, stating, “His finances and his support were both 100 percent genuine. He was born and bred Blackburn.”
Building a Championship Team
Dalglish took charge of Blackburn in October 1991, quickly steering the team to the top of the second division table. Under his leadership, Blackburn secured promotion to the Premier League after defeating Leicester City 1-0 in the play-offs at Wembley Stadium. The club’s ambition escalated as they broke the British transfer record to sign a young Alan Shearer from Southampton for £3.6 million.
Reflecting on the spending, Dalglish remarked, “We spent Jack’s money quite well, if you gauge it in terms of success.” In their first season back in the top flight, Blackburn finished fourth, followed by a second-place finish in the 1993/94 season, where they added another significant signing, Chris Sutton, for £5 million.
That season, the duo of Shearer and Sutton formed the renowned strike partnership known as ‘SAS’, scoring a combined total of 49 league goals. Blackburn entered the final day of the season in a strong position to claim the title, facing Liverpool at Anfield. Despite a 2-1 loss, Blackburn’s title was secured due to Manchester United’s failure to win against West Ham.
With this achievement, Dalglish became only the fourth manager in history to win the English title with two different clubs, joining the ranks of legendary managers such as Brian Clough and Herbert Chapman.
Legacy and Recognition
Dalglish’s words about Walker encapsulated the spirit of their triumph: “Jack was the person most responsible for everything that Blackburn achieved. We hardly blinked our eyes in the second tier, then suddenly we were champions of England.”
He credited the players for their dedication, noting, “All of the players that came in were a credit to themselves. They could have just taken the money, taken it easy, and we would have achieved nothing.”
Today, Asif Kapadia’s documentary film titled Kenny Dalglish is available on Amazon Prime, offering further insight into the life and career of one of football’s most celebrated figures.
