Kenny Dalglish poses with his PFA merit award backstage during the 2025-2026 Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) awards, at the Opera House in Manchester, August 25, 2026.(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
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The legendary Dalglish was recognised for his contributions to British football at the Manchester Opera House and attended with his wife, Marina and son, Paul.
Sir Kenny is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Liverpool's history, with the former forward winning six league titles, three European Cups and the 1986 FA Cup during his 515 appearances for the Reds.
He later took over the role as player-manager and guided Liverpool to the title in 1986, 88 and 90, which was their final domestic crown for 30 years.
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It is his support he continues to provide to the families of the Hillsborough disaster, however, that sets Sir Kenny apart in the pantheon of Anfield greats. Dalglish was manager in April 1989 and guided the club through its darkest hour.
Dalglish joins the likes of Pele, Eusebio, and Sir Alex Ferguson as recipients of the gong and in a social media post on Tuesday evening, the iconic Scot paid tribute to those who helped him during his career.
Sir Kenny posted: "Honoured to receive the PFA Merit Award tonight. "Football has always been a team game, so I certainly wouldn't be receiving an award like this without my team-mates, managers, staff and supporters who have been part of the journey along the way. "I've been very fortunate throughout my career and I'm extremely grateful for the recognition. Thank you to the PFA."Speaking on the PFA's YouTube coverage of event, Dalglish said: "Look, you only where you in football...it's a team game, if you remember, it's not one on one, is it?
"And for me, I've just been fortunate with the two football clubs that I played for, Celtic and Liverpool, were the two most successful teams at that time.
"I don't think you could have picked two better two teams, two better managers, two better sets of supporters than I got.
"And I was fortunate to play for both of them."