Liverpool legend John Barnes recently snubbed Jurgen Klopp for another iconic manager while also telling us which player he would swap careers with.
The 62-year-old sits firmly in the pantheon of Liverpool’s greatest players, and remains an avid follower of affairs at Anfield.
When asked which Reds boss he would love to have played under, he didn’t go for the modern option of Klopp, though he admits he’s close to getting the nod.
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Rather, he picks the iconic Bill Shankly, who was at the helm during the 60s and early 70s. His reasoning is hard to argue with.
John Barnes explains preference for Bill Shankly over Jurgen Klopp
Barnes remains a close supporter of the club and one of the more recognised voices on all things Liverpool. He holds that position due to a legendary ten-year career in the red shirt.
The club’s latest episode of Liverpool Player Portraits on YouTube features the Jamaican-born winger discussing his own career and the careers of some of the all-time greats. Barnes is comfortably in Liverpool’s top 10.
When asked for the manager he would like to have played for, he goes with the historically significant Shankly.
Looking up at the Bill Shankly statue outside The Kop stand at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool
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He explains: ““I would love to have played under Bill Shankly… You know, as much as Kenny was great and I’d love to have played under Jürgen, I would love to have played under Jürgen, but for me, the one who started it all was Bill Shankly. So, yeah, that’s the one for me.”
Had Barnes been part of that legendary team of the 60s, his trophy cabinet would be even more impressive than it is already.
Barnes would love to have Ian Callaghan’s Liverpool career
One of the stalwarts of those Shankly sides was Liverpool’s appearance record holder Ian Callaghan.
If Barnes could have had any career other than his own, that’s who he would pick.
As he puts it: “I would have to look at Ian Callaghan, who’s my favourite Liverpool player of all time, Ian Callaghan. I mean, Ian Callaghan’s stories are incredible.
“For a player who played, he was in the World Cup squad, played for England in the World Cup squad, never played in the World Cup, but he got a World Cup winner’s medal, most appearances for Liverpool.
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“He made his debut for Liverpool. When he made his debut for Liverpool, he had to queue up at the bus on Park Road to come up, get off on, my goodness, on County Road. There’s about 100 people in the queue.
“They had to push him to the front because he’s making his debut, he would not have made it. And then after the game, played after the game, walked back to County Road by Everton’s ground, queued up on the bus, got on the bus and went home.
“Ian Callaghan for me is Liverpool’s all-time great.”
For the less historically attuned Liverpool supporter, Callaghan’s name isn’t quite as recognisable as some of the icons of the more recent years at Anfield, but his resume is up there with the best.
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