Page "Bill Shankly" Paragraph 65

Shankly was 60 years old when Liverpool won the 1974 FA Cup and, on returning to the dressing room at the end of the match, he " felt tired from all the years ".

His mind was made up and he said: " I knew I was going to finish ".

His wife, Nessie, had asked him to retire a year earlier but he decided that was not the right time.

Tommy Smith said that Shankly's feelings for Nessie were " without a doubt " a major reason for his decision.

In 1974, he decided that " now is the time " as he could leave Liverpool with pride in a job well done and only one regret, which was that he did not win the European Cup.