Brendan: Shanks' legacy will live on
Brendan Rodgers believes the legacy of legendary manager Bill Shankly will always remain at Liverpool – and the Northern Irishman uses the Anfield icon's achievements as inspiration.
The club and Reds supporters around the world are this week paying tribute to the man who built the foundations of modern Liverpool and added three league titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup to the trophy cabinet.
Monday marked the 100th anniversary of Shanky's birth, a landmark honoured with a minute's applause and special mosaic before Rodgers' side downed rivals Manchester United the previous day.
With parents passing on stories of the Glenbuck native to their children on Merseyside, the 40-year-old insists that Shankly's presence will forever be felt at Liverpool.
"When you mention legacy, it's really about coming into somewhere and by the time you leave, it being a much better place than when you arrived," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.
"I don't think there's any question that from when he arrived here when the club was in the Second Division and when he left 15 years later, it was a different football club.
"The legacy has been left here; the legend of Bill Shankly is with us every single day. It's something that we cherish and will always be grateful for in terms of creating the family that makes Liverpool one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"There are many words that can describe his impact here. His personality, charisma and ability to win trophies over that period was, of course, remarkable.
"That legend goes right the way through over many years. I've met Kopites that have been stood on the Kop for years, I've had them into my office asking them about Shankly.
"Our ground staff, who obviously worked with Shanks as well, tell me all about him. I love listening to the stories myself.
"I'm sure that for people who were regular here on Merseyside, Liverpool supporters over the years, all that has been passed down the generations. The legend will live on."
Rodgers has previously revealed that he listened to tapes of Shankly in an effort to discover more about the Scot - a pastime the boss doubts he will ever get tired of.
He continued: "He was a wonderful personality. I listened to it in the car. He was talking about everything; he was a man that had an opinion on everything and was really interesting.
"You listen to him back then talking about football - the push and move, the pass and control - all things that in this modern day we're trying to achieve. He built it back then and it became the trademark of the Liverpool style of football.
"As a human being he was a great man. I love listening to him talk about the people of Liverpool. He once mentioned that if he was ever in charge of a business, he would have it full of Scousers and full of people from Merseyside because of their honesty, passion and hard work.
"It was really intriguing and interesting listening to it all; I never get tired of listening to it."
Upon his appointment as manager at Anfield in June 2012, Rodgers became the 19th different man to take the reins at Liverpool; does following a boss of Shankly's ilk inspire or daunt him?
"Every manager will have their different take on it. For me, it's more inspiring," he said.
"As I said when I arrived in here, one of the big reasons for me coming to Liverpool was the huge history of the club and the challenge of getting it back somewhere near the level of what it was before.
"I've got pictures up in my office of Bill Shankly and the greats of this club; as a young manager I only draw inspiration from it, without any fears of what has happened here before.
"That's what brought me here - that great history. It's inspiration all the way for me."
Other managers may have lifted more trophies than Shankly but few, if any, have kick-started a revolution in the same manner that the Scot did during 15 years in the Anfield dug-out.
Asked if football will ever see another man like him, Rodgers concluded: "Football is always evolving. In that era, he was obviously a stand-out, great manager.
"But over time football and life will always produce great leaders. In his generation, at that time, he was a great leader. What he has done for this football club will always be here and recognised.
"It was ironic in the game against Manchester United that we won 1-0 and we saw that spirit of Bill Shankly and everything that he stood for in the passion and seeing the supporters happy. Obviously that makes me happy."