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STAND UP FOR KENNY

Liverpool officially unveil the Kenny Dalglish Stand as Anfield heroes and Manchester United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton attend star-studded opening ceremony

ANFIELD has unveiled a fabulous tribute to 'King Kenny.'

Liverpool have officially opened the Kenny Dalglish Stand in honour of one of the club's most iconic players.

 'King' Kenny Dalglish has a stand re-named after him at Anfield
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'King' Kenny Dalglish has a stand re-named after him at AnfieldCredit: PA:Press Association

It means the Scot, who also became a successful Liverpool manager, will be immortalised at the stadium for ever.

Piper Ian Duncan played 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as the red half of Stanley Park recognised the stature of the man they were here to honour.

A guard of honour greeted the Dalglish family on to the pitch.

Gerard Houllier, Gary McAllister, Steven Gerrard, Ronnie Whelan, Gary Gillespie, Alan Kennedy, Ian Callaghan and Ian St John were on one side.

 The Kenny Dalglish Stand in all its glory
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The Kenny Dalglish Stand in all its gloryCredit: PA:Press Association
 Anfield unveiled a fitting tribute to one of its greatest players and managers
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Anfield unveiled a fitting tribute to one of its greatest players and managersCredit: PA:Press Association

On the other were Alan Hansen, Roy Evans, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Phil Neal, Chris Lawler, Terry McDermott and David Johnson.

Dalglish said: "As a family we're tremendously proud of the accolade the club have given us..

"Anything we've done whether with Hillsborough, at the football club or any other role we did it because we thought it was the right thing to do.

"If the club think I've done something for them, it's a fraction of what they've done for us as a family."

 Dalglish paid tribute to the fabulous Liverpool 'family'
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Dalglish paid tribute to the fabulous Liverpool 'family'Credit: PA:Press Association
 Former Liverpool star Michael Owen forms part of the guard of honour
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Former Liverpool star Michael Owen forms part of the guard of honourCredit: PA:Press Association
 European Cup winner Alan Kennedy and former manager Gerard Houllier chew the cud
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European Cup winner Alan Kennedy and former manager Gerard Houllier chew the cudCredit: PA:Press Association

The King also paid tribute to all the former players who had gathered to mark the occasion who he said "had all contributed to our family's lives".

"The best thing for me was that it was a team game I was playing, not an individual game," he said.

"For me if I won something it was because of the help that everybody else gave me.

"There are lots of players here who played with us. We're only here because everybody played for each other and with each other.

"There was no arrogance, no big headedness, everybody was treated exactly the same and we just got on with the job."

Dalglish scored 118 goals in 355 appearances for Liverpool after leaving Celtic where he netted 112 times in 204 appearances.

On top of that he fired 30 international goals for Scotland in winning 102 caps.

As Liverpool manager he won the old First Division three times in the 80s, the FA Cup twice and the League Cup once.

 Sir Alex Ferguson was at the ceremony to honour his old foe
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Sir Alex Ferguson was at the ceremony to honour his old foeCredit: PA:Press Association
 Dalglish and his wife Marina at the entrance to the stand
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Dalglish and his wife Marina at the entrance to the standCredit: PA:Press Association

On his transition from player to manager he joked that former chief executive Peter Robinson must have thought his powers were waning.

"He came to the house and offered me the job, I was 34 years of age and thought I was playing quite well at the time but obviously he didn't!"

Dalglish paid tribute to Bill Shankly for "putting the principles in place" at Liverpool.

And also "fantastic" Bob Paisley as well as the backroom staff through the years, including Roy Evans who have been "here forever".

He didn't forget the fans who "without them the club would not be as great as it is today".

Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson were also there.


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Tomorrow Liverpool face Manchester United.

A mosaic will be revealed across the Kenny Dalglish Stand and the Kop, with the matchday programme featuring Dalglish on the cover.

 

 

 

 

 

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