Willie Stevenson knew the secret for being a great manager wasn't just about being a superb tactician.
Stevenson, who has died at the age of 85, won titles and cups north and south of the border, and was with Stoke City in a golden age of top flight football under Tony Waddington. He was a stylish wing-half, comfortable on the ball, and known for his passing ability.
He made his name at Rangers rather than boyhood club Hibernian when they took a chance on his talent, and he joined Bill Shankly's Liverpool for £20,000 in 1962. The left half would be crowned league champion twice while at Anfield, help lift the club’s first ever FA Cup and take part in their first European final, when they lost to Borussia Dortmund in the 1966 Cup Winners’ Cup final.
When Shankly signed a young Emlyn Hughes from Blackpool, Stevenson moved to the Victoria Ground to sign for Tony Waddington's Stoke. It was one of the few deals that Shankly sanctioned to a club in the same division. He would stay at Stoke for six years, during which time the club picked up its first major trophy too - the 1972 League Cup.
Stevenson later told the Sentinel: “Shankly was a nutcase, but a nice nutcase. His life was utterly dominated by football. He was crackers about it. There’s not many like him – I think Brian Clough was the last nutter. I liked him because he was honest and straight. There weren’t an awful lot of tactics, he just said go out there and told you one or two things about the opposition.
“I think his greatest strength was his ability to lift you whenever you were down. That’s why you wanted to play for him so much.”
He added: “I was also fortunate to play for Tony Waddington, but don’t forget it’s important to have good players around you too, and I certainly had that at Stoke as well.
“Players like George Eastham, Harry Burrows, Peter Dobing, Gordon Banks in goals and many more. You can’t get much better than that. The great thing about that Stoke team was the fact the core of it was made up of local lads from the Potteries. But I have to say they made me feel like one of them, and the public seemed to take to me as well.”
Stevenson would go on to play for Tranmere Rovers and Vancouver Whitecaps but he settled in Macclesfield and Congleton after hanging up his boots, running pubs in both towns. There were photographs adorning the walls with him standing next to football icons such as Pele.
"I have been very fortunate," he said. "Not many players have won the Scottish cup, the Scottish League, the FA Cup and the Football League.".
What Tony Waddington said about Stevenson
Stevenson made 107 appearances for Stoke but missed the great cups runs of the early 1970s due to injury problems.
Waddington, the legendary Stoke boss, told the Sentinel: “He was one of the few players that Bill Shankly released to another First Division club. He used to have a policy that he would not sell players who would then come up against his team, and I was given one of the few opportunities to sign a Liverpool player.
“Stevenson was the master of the long ball and had great self-confidence. He is another example of a player from outside the area who has made his home locally.”
Stevenson on life at Rangers
Stevenson grew up in Leith and his football life began with Edna Hearts and he spent time with Dalkeith Thistle before joining Rangers. He won the Scottish league title in 1959 and the Scottish Cup in 1960.
"I didn't really have ambitions as a youngster of being a footballer," he later told the Sentinel. "I was good enough to play for Scotland schoolboys as well as representing the Scottish League and it just progressed from there.
"At the age of 14 I was fortunate enough to have been offered trials by the likes of Leeds and Newcastle, but went straight from school to play for Rangers.
"I was a young lad at Rangers, but I was playing more than 60 games a season which was far too many for a player in their early 20s.
"I suffered for it and my form and fitness dipped. Rangers bought Jim Baxter who took over my spot.
"I didn't want to languish in the reserves for too long, so when Liverpool offered me first-team football, I had no hesitation in joining them."
Incredible success at Liverpool
Stevenson's honours list grew quickly on Merseyside. He won the First Division title in 1964 and 1966, the FA Cup in 1965 and Charity Shield in 1964, 1965 and 1966. He was in the side that reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1966 too.
He said: "In the five years I was at Anfield we won the League twice and the FA Cup in 1965. I was lucky to have played under a great manager in Shankly and with some terrific players.
"Ian St John, Roger Hunt and Peter Thompson were all at Anfield at the time. Because there was no rotation system, the same side played week in, week out.
"We were a tight squad who socialised with each other and knew each other's game inside out, which helped us to have success on the pitch.
"Undoubtedly, the five years at Anfield under Shankly and playing with so many other good players was the best five years of my career."
The cup final win over Leeds was probably the highlight of his career.
"It was the only time I played at Wembley," he said. "I was named man of the match, but you didn't receive anything like the players do these days."
Finding a new home at Stoke
Waddington sealed a deal for Stevenson for £48,000 in 1967. His time at the club was marked by injuries, including a broken leg against Spurs in October 1970.
Stevenson said: "The same thing happened at Liverpool as at Rangers. Due to the amount of games we were played in I had a lapse in form again. Emlyn Hughes was brought in by Shankly from Blackpool and he took my place, so I moved on to Stoke.
"I was fortunate throughout my career I played for some great sides with great players and Stoke was another one. There were a lot of local lads in the team when I was playing such as Jackie Marsh, Micky Pejic and Eric Skeels, as well as John Ritchie, myself and Peter Dobing
"I broke my leg while playing for Stoke, but was back playing within six months. I was not quite match-fit, though, for the League cup final. Even though I didn't play in it, I would still rate the final as a highlight of my career.
"Tony Waddington had a word with me before the game and told me I wasn't going to be playing. However, it was still a magic day just enjoying the experience with the lads and the night was pretty special too."
Stevenson left Stoke in 1973 to sign for Tranmere on a free transfer before he took the chance to sign for Vancouver Whitecaps, where he spent two years - one playing and one coaching.
"I had family in America, and the formation of the North American League was taking shape, so it was a good move for me," he said. "A lot of guys coming to the end of their career played in the League, including the likes of Pele and George Best."
He briefly went into business with former Stoke teammate Eric Skeels before moving into the pub trade. He was very funny and a popular guest when there was a chance to reminisce about his career.
Tributes from Stoke, Liverpool and Rangers
Stoke said in a statement: "Stoke City Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former left half, Willie Stevenson, at the age of 85. A popular member of the Potters’ side which reached the FA Cup semi-finals in successive seasons in the early 70s, he was also with City when Waddington’s side lifted the 1972 League Cup, featuring in the Third Round as City overcame Oxford United.
"We send our thoughts and sincere condolences to Willie’s family and friends at this sad time."
Liverpool said: "A skilful left-half, Stevenson missed only nine league matches in his first four full seasons at Anfield. He scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including the penalty that clinched a 2-0 semi-final win over Chelsea en route to the historic FA Cup success of 1965.
"The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool FC are with Willie’s loved ones at this sad time."
Rangers said: "The thoughts of everyone at Rangers are with Willie’s family and friends at this sad time."
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