An A-Z of Liverpool F.C., Part 12 (the last!)

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We’ll start with two managers, with very different rates of success, though both led Liverpool to relegation. We’ll start with our first, and maybe football’s first, star manager.

Watson

Tom Watson won the 1st Division title five times - a feat very few achieve during their managerial careers. The Geordie had already won the league three times with Sunderland, in 1892, 1893 and 1895, before, at the age of only 37, he moved to Liverpool in July 1896, where he led them to the big breakthrough, the club’s first League title in 1901. However, Watson’s trajectory witjh the Reds was anything but smooth, as only three years after winning the League Championship, Liverpool got relegated. But they won the 2nd Division title at the first time of asking, and followed up with their second League title just 12 months later in 190, thus becoming the first club to win the Second and First Division championships in successive seasons.

Watson managed Liverpool for 742 matches, right up until his death in May 1915 - a 19 year stint in the hot seat reflecting his record, achievements and stature within the game.

In those days the job title was secretary rather than manager, and it was Watson’s job to arrange fixtures, keep records, and submit match details to local papers. But Watson went beyond the remit of club secretary, and got involved in team selection, tactics and player recruitment – becoming a manager in all but name - as well as implementing a strict diet and new coaching regime at Anfield.

Famous players signed during Watson’s reign included Scotsman (and the club’s first superstar) Alex Raisbeck, legendary goalkeepers Sam Hardy and Elisha Scott and prolific scorers Jack Parkinson and Sam Raybould.

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