| The Soul of Celtic | About Celtic | Games | Players | Managers | The Board |
(by TheHumanTorpedo)
When Celtic parted company with Kenny Dalglish in August 1977 the Parkhead board sold more than just a truly outstanding player.
The sale of Dalglish was by no means the first time the club had sold their most prized asset to a big English club. Jimmy Delaney, Bobby Collins and Pat Crerand were all allowed – even encouraged or forced – to move south even though their talents would be desperately missed at Parkhead.
But crucially that was before Jock Stein had transformed Celtic into a genuine European superpower.Between 1967 and 1972 Celtic were unquestionably among the very best sides in Europe. In keeping with the era of the space race the expectations and demands of Celtic supporters had rocketed. But with the sale of Dalglish the aspirations of supporters were to return to earth with a painful thud.
In August 1977, after a difficult couple of seasons, Celtic were holders of the League title and the Scottish Cup. The club’s monopoly on the championship had been broken a few seasons previously and their recent European adventures had been brief and inglorious.
But the Double of 1976/77 had left supporters dreaming once more of European glory. After fighting back from near death in a car accident Jock Stein was back at the helm. Danny McGrain was a truly world class defender and in the veteran Pat Stanton the Bhoys possessed a wisely, assured and gifted performer. Most importantly – in the shape of Kenny Dalglish – Celtic had at their disposal the talents of the man who was promising to be the finest football talent in Britain.
A sublime footballer Dalglish was the creative heartbeat of the Hoops – an inspiration whose wonderful natural gifts were complemented by dedication, work rate and professionalism. Capable of moments of genius this was a player who would walk into any side in the world.
In the summer of 1977 Dalglish reminded the world again that he was a talent to be reckoned with. He had scored for Scotland in the 2-1 win at Wembley over England and had then impressed on the national sides tour of South America.
With such quality in their side it was far from fanciful for the Parkhead faithful to dream that another European Cup could be just a couple of season away.
Yet just three days before the start of the new campaign the dream turned into a nightmare. After a long season with club and country Dalglish had been allowed to sit out the Bhoys pre-season trip to Australia. Despite this no one thought for a moment that Kenny would not be turning out at Parkhead when the whistle blew for a new campaign.
For several seasons the press had tried to unsettle Dalglish with idle speculation and stories about how he had no option but to better himself by heading south. These media stirrings failed to overly worry the Celtic support though, who were confident the Parkhead board would not let this immense talent leave. They were wrong.
The move to Liverpool – who were looking to replace the recently departed Kevin Keegan – was sudden. Dalglish had asked for a transfer and after failing to persuade the player to remain in Glasgow Jock Stein kept a promise to the Anfield club by informing them the player was available. The Celtic support was left angry and shocked at both the club and, perhaps instinctively but unjustly, the player.
It can be argued that there is little the club could have done to retain the want-away player. However, assistant-manager Sean Fallon, who enjoyed a close relationship with the player, insists that Dalglish could have remained at Parkhead if the club had shown more desire and effort to keep him. Ultimately what it boiled down to was that those at the head of the club no longer had the hunger to match Dalglish’s appetite for European success. By selling Dalglish, a mere decade after the club were crowned Kings of Europe, Celtic hoisted up the white flag in the battle for the continents top honours.
The tremors from Dalglish’s exit were immediate. A sense of gloom hung over Parkhead. Celtic endured a nightmare campaign, finishing fifth in the Scottish Premier Division and ending the season trophyless. Significantly they also failed to qualify for Europe. But it was the long term damage which would be most significant.
By selling their star man the Celtic directors had effectively acknowledged the club was now a mere stepping stone to the top for an ambitious player. Ever since that acceptance the Celtic support have been burdened by the knowledge that the ambition and finances of England’s top clubs would provide an almost irresistible lure for Parkhead’s brightest stars.
While Paul McStay and Henrik Larsson would prove the exceptions to the rule the likes of Charlie Nicholas, Brian McClair, Pierre Van Hooidonk and Paolo Di Canio would ultimately use Celtic as a key to England’s Promised Land.
Kenny Dalglish would win three European Cups with Liverpool. After his exit from Glasgow it would be another generation before Celtic would again enjoy life in the latter stages of European competition. In 2008 the European achievements and profile of Celtic continue to be shaded by those of the top English sides. In recent years the problem has been compounded by the vast gap in the financial rewards received from TV revenue and domestic competitions.
The shadow first cast when Kenny Dalglish swapped Parkhead for Anfield has never been so long.