Alan HANSEN

Bob Paisley retired in May 1983 after nine glorious seasons as manager, and was succeeded by another 'boot room boy', Joe Fagan. Fagan ensured a seamless transition and the 1983-84 campaign was to be even more successful, with Hansen and Lawrenson forming a rock-solid defensive barrier. Like 'Lawro', Alan was ever present in the League, scoring his only goal of the campaign in a 5-0 thumping of Coventry City at Anfield in May. In their 42 games, Liverpool conceded only 32 goals (easily the best in the top division) and wrapped up a third title in a row, and a record 15th in total, with a 0-0 draw at Notts County on May 12th. Hansen also played in all 25 of the Reds' matches in other competitions, making a career-high 67 in total. In doing so he helped Liverpool retain the Milk Cup/League Cup, remarkably enough for the fourth year in a row, a Graeme Souness goal giving them a 1-0 victory over Everton in the replayed final at Maine Road (home of Manchester City) on March 28th. A magnificent season was completed when Liverpool defeated AS Roma 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw (see photo above, Alan celebrating with the famous trophy with teammates Kenny Dalglish, Gary Gillespie and Graeme Souness) on the Italians' own ground, the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

With his outstanding performances, Hansen had made a telling contribution to a historic treble and, remarkably, claimed his 11th major honour in only seven seasons. Alan missed only one League match in the 1984-85, a season in which Liverpool made their worst start in many years, dropping to an unheard of 18th place in the table after winning only two of their first 11 League games. His partnership with Lawrenson was affected by recurring injuries to the former Brighton man, who played only 33 League games, but the Reds still conceded only 35 goals in 42 League games, comfortably the best in the top division. However, they could not recover fully from their poor start to the campaign and had to settle for third in the table, 15 points adrift of champions Everton. Alan made 21 appearances in other competitions but Liverpool found no consolation in any of these. After an early exit from the League Cup, they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage (2-1 in a replay by Manchester United), before being beaten 1-0 to Juventus in the final of the European Cup, a match that lost virtually all meaning after the tragic deaths of 39 Juventus fans in the Heysel Stadium disaster. (Martin Greensill)

Alan Hansen was appointed club captain in the summer of 1985 by new manager Kenny Dalglish, the replacement for Joe Fagan, who had resigned in the wake of Heysel. Dalglish also made some changes to the side as the season progressed but both Hansen and Lawrenson continued as the favoured partnership in central defence, Alan making 41 League appearances (without scoring) as Liverpool conceded only 37 goals on their way to regaining the championship. Crucial to achieving a record 16th title was a run of 11 wins and a draw in their last 12 games, the Reds conceding only one goal in their last nine matches. Hansen made 21 appearances in other competitions as Liverpool completed their first ever League-FA Cup double, defeating Everton 3-1 in the first all-Merseyside Cup final at Wembley on May 10th 1986. Having lifted the league championship trophy a week earlier (following a 1-0 win at Chelsea), Alan now had the famous Cup to hold aloft, rounding off a memorable first season as captain. After winning the Double, the 1986-87 season was one of anti-climax for the club and change for Alan. He made 39 League appearances (no goals) as Liverpool conceded 44 goals, their highest total for two decades (they had let in 47 in season 1966-67). Aside from injuries, the main reason for this unusual frailty was the bedding-in of a new central defensive partnership.

Gary Gillespie, a young Scot signed from Coventry City in 1983, had finally broken into the side to play alongside Alan, with Mark Lawrenson moving to full back. With this new formation taking time to gel, the climax of the campaign saw the Reds finish runners-up to Everton (who only conceded 29 League goals) after holding a five-point lead over their neighbours with nine games remaining. Alan made 14 appearances in other competitions but, again, these ended in disappointment as Liverpool went out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup (3-0 to Luton Town in a second replay) and lost in the Littlewoods Cup final (beaten 2-1 by Arsenal despite taking the lead). Hansen continued as captain as Liverpool began the following campaign very brightly, dropping just one point and conceding only six goals in their first 11 League games. He continued his new partnership with Gillespie as the Reds remained unbeaten in the League for a record-equalling run of 29 games from the start of the season, finally losing 1-0 at Everton on March 20th, 1988. That proved to be just a blip as they went on to win the League title easily, racking up 90 points with 87 goals scored and only 24 conceded, their lowest total in almost a decade (the record-breaking 1978-79 side having let in only 16).

This defensive solidity included an impressive run of seven consecutive clean sheets between December 1987 and February 1988. However, hopes of another double were dashed when unfashionable Wimbledon beat them 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley, one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition. Nevertheless, it had been an excellent season overall for both Hansen and the club. Liverpool had lit up the domestic scene with their vibrant attacking play, backed up with an excellent defence in which Alan, by now pushing 33 years of age, was still the key figure. He made a total of 49 competitive appearances that term (including 39 in the League) and, as a bonus, scored his first goal in four seasons in a 3-2 League win over Charlton Athletic at Anfield in September 1987. (Martin Greensill)

The 1988/89 campaign did not go nearly as well for Alan Hansen as the previous season. Injury prevented him from starting a game until May 1989 (a 0-0 draw away to local rivals Everton in the League) and he made only six appearances that season. One of these, however, was in the FA Cup final, Alan helping Liverpool defeat Everton 3-2 at Wembley (after extra-time) on May 20th. His and Liverpool's last game of that momentous season (the Hillsborough disaster had occurred on April 16th 1989, the tragic events meaning a delayed end to the season) came in a 2-0 home defeat by Arsenal, the Gunners snatching a last-gasp second goal to agonisingly deny Liverpool the League title on goals scored (both sides finishing on 76 points from 38 games). Due to his long absence, Hansen had been replaced as captain that season by Ronnie Whelan, the Irish midfielder, but the armband was returned to him in readiness for the 1989-90 campaign as Liverpool sought to regain the championship. Now partnered by Glenn Hysen, the captain of Sweden, who had joined the club that summer, Alan soon returned to his customary fine form.

Although injuries restricted him to 31 League appearances, he helped the Reds concede only 37 goals in their 38 games (the best in the top division) as they won a record 18th title. He also made 11 appearances in other competitions, Liverpool coming closest to more silverware in the FA Cup, where they suffered a shock 4-3 semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace at Villa Park (the photo above is during the game), the Londoners gaining revenge on the Reds who had annihilated them 9-0 at Anfield earlier in the season. Now nearly 35, and increasingly troubled with injuries, Alan had to be substituted in a 2-1 League win against Queen's Park Rangers at Anfield on April 28th 1990, and this proved to be his last game for the club. Later attempts at a comeback were thwarted by a knee problem and he retired in 1991, bringing the curtain down on an outstanding Liverpool career.

In 13 glorious seasons at the club, Hansen had made 620 appearances in all competitions (scoring 14 goals) and collected 16 major honours, including eight League championships and three European Cups. A key figure in a magical era for the club, he is probably the best defender in Liverpool's history. (Martin Greensill)