Ian Robert Callaghan MBE was born on the 10th of April 1942 in Toxteth, Liverpool and started his career playing schoolboy football in Liverpool. His dad, who was an Evertonian, said, 'You’re going to Everton, aren't you?' But Ian, having been impressed watching the legend Billy Liddell when he was 13, told his dad he wanted to sign for Liverpool instead of Everton. Joining the Anfield groundstaff in 1957, he played as an apprentice until he turned professional in March 1960. When Billy Liddell was retiring he was asked if Liverpool had in their ranks a worthy successor. Liddell didn't harbour any doubts saying, "There is a 17-year-old called Ian Callaghan who looks like taking over from me. I played with him twice, watched his progress and I believe he'll be a credit to his club, the game and his country."
Ian made his debut on the 16th of April 1960 at Anfield in a 4–0 victory over Bristol Rovers and when the final whistle went 27,000 spectators gave him a standing
ovation along with both sets of players as well as the referee! The
headline in the Daily Post read: "A Callaghan debut to remember." In the
Daily Express Graham Fisher wrote: "For Liverpool right-winger Ian
Callaghan, a veteran of four Central League games, he just ended the
most accomplished League debut I’ve had the pleasure to witness." Quickly establishing himself in the first
team, he played an important role as the club won the Second Division
title in 1962 and he went on to help them win the league title in 1964, 1966, 1973, 1976 and 1977, as well as Liverpool's first FA Cup triumph in 1965 when beating Leeds United 2-1 in the final at
Wembley. Having taken the lead in extra time and then being quickly
pegged back, Callaghan's cross for Ian St John’s winner ensured the victory. In the golden age of Bill Shankly's 1960s side, the manager said, "Ian Callaghan is
everything good that a man can be. No praise is too high for him. He is a model professional, and a model human being. If
there were 11 Callaghans at Anfield there would never be any need to put
up a team sheet. You could stake your life on Ian. Words cannot do
justice to the amount he has contributed to the game. Ian Callaghan will
go down as one of the game’s truly great players."
Although Ian's England caps were small in number, he had an interesting international career nonetheless. Having been picked by Alf Ramsey in his squad of 22 for the forthcoming World Cup in 1966, Callaghan made his debut versus Finland on the 26th of June 1966. His second cap came in England’s third group game at the tournament, a 2-0 win against France. Although he didn't play again, and did not win a medal, following a FA led campaign to FIFA to award medals to all the winners' squad members, he was presented with his medal by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the 10th of June 2009. Ian can be proud that he was one of only four to appear in the competition for England, outside of the final winning eleven. Remarkably his third and fourth caps did not arrive until the 1976-77 season, a gap of more than 11 years and he was the final member of the 1966 squad to appear for England.
A cartilage operation meant he missed a large chunk of the 1970-71 season and his long-term future at the club was considered to be in jeopardy. Thankfully, fast, direct, and possessing incredible stamina he came back fighting fit and the evergreen Callaghan was given a new lease of life in a central midfield role, confounding any doubters by raising his game to an even higher standard. More medals followed as he won the UEFA Cup in 1973 and 1976, the FA Cup again in 1974 when he was voted FWA Footballer of the Year and was in the team when they won the European Cup in 1977 and was a non playing substitute when they won it once more in 1978. This proved to be his last year at the club as his playing time was reduced as younger additions like Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish established themselves at the club. Ian left Liverpool shortly after the 1978 European Cup final and signed for Swansea City managed by former Liverpool striker John Toshack and helped Swansea win a second successive promotion in 1979, which took them into the Second Division. He then went on to have brief loan spells playing in the United States, Australia and Ireland towards the end of his career, spending the final season of his career in the Fourth Division with Crewe Alexandra, making 15 appearances in the 1981–82 season before retiring as a player in his 40th year.
He was booked only once in his career, in the 1978 League Cup Final replay at Old Trafford with Liverpool losing to Nottingham Forest. A Liverpool FC legend, Ian made an incredible 857 appearances for the Anfield club, a total unlikely to ever be beaten, and with a multitude of club honours and a World Cup to boot, he was one of the greatest players in Liverpool's history.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2026/09/merseyside-for-sport-johnny-morrissey.html
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