Kenny Dalglish spent his football career playing in front of two of the biggest and most respected fan bases in the world, in the form of Celtic and Liverpool supporters. The giant British clubs produce special atmospheres inside Celtic Park and Anfield, respectively, but Dalglish reckons he's seen a more 'special' bond between club and fans.
The Scot - regarded as one of his country's finest-ever players - has always been vocal about the incredible support he experienced while plying his trade in Glasgow from 1969 to 1977 and Merseyside between 1977 and 1990. He even took charge of both clubs when he moved into management, such was his relationship with the clubs and fans.
However, the most 'special' atmosphere 'King Kenny' ever saw up close and personal came in one of his less successful spells in the dugout. While citing Celtic and Liverpool - as well as their fierce rivals - among the most passionate groups of supporters he's seen, Dalglish insisted one fan base had an even stronger affiliation with their team.
Kenny Dalglish on 'Special' Newcastle Bond
'The bond between city and club is special at St James’ Park'
The biggest and best atmospheres in world football are created by sets of supporters who have an unconditional love for the club they support. No matter the situation, they turn up and sing their hearts out to create an incredible spectacle and motivate the players on the pitch with pure noise.
Dalglish looked past Liverpool and Celtic when naming the best bond he saw between club and fans inside a stadium due to the other gigantic teams in the same city. Rangers and Everton make sure the two cities are split, while Newcastle - whom Dalglish managed in the 1997-98 season - don't share their city with any other top clubs.
Writing for the Daily Mail in 2010, the retired Scotland international explained the unique atmosphere he experienced inside St James' Park. The British icon stated:
"Of course, Celtic and Liverpool fans are just as passionate about their team as Newcastle’s supporters — that goes for Rangers and Everton, too, by the way — but the bond between city and club is special at St James’ Park because it is the only club in town."
Expanding further on the experience in and around the famous ground, he added: "The stadium is only a few minutes’ walk from the main shopping streets and even in the height of summer with no football match to look forward to, everyone still walks around in the black-and-white stripes, proud to be associated with their team.
"Most of my working life has been spent in the passionate football hotbeds of Liverpool and Glasgow. But for crazy, intense, obsessive and undiluted devotion to just one club in the whole city, there is nothing to compare with Newcastle-upon-Tyne."