JOE FAGANJoe Fagan, who died on 30 June, 2001, at the age of 80,will be remembered for leading Liverpool to the unprecedented treble ofChampionship, League Cup and European Cup in 1985.After progressing through the ranks of the famous 'bootroom' to become manager in 1984, he enjoyed two seasons in charge atAnfield, guiding the club to successive European Cup finals.After winning the first final in Rome in 1984, Mr Fagan'scareer ended in sadness following Liverpool's defeat to Juventus in Heysel in1985, in which 39 Juventus fans were killed.Joseph Fagan was born on March 12, 1921, in Liverpool.He attended St Elizabeth Central School, where he developed a reputation as areliable centre half.In 1938 he turned down the offer of a contract withLiverpool to sign for Manchester City, but his career was interrupted by theoutbreak of war a year later. He served in the Royal Navy and was able tocontinue playing in the makeshift wartime league.Mr Fagan rejoined City at the end of the war, making hisfull debut on New Year's Day 1947 and enjoyed success as the team gainedpromotion into the First Division just five months later.After leaving Maine Road in 1951 to becomeplayer-manager of part-time team Nelson - a job he combined with inspecting gasmeters in local factories - he then briefly returned to the professional gamewith Bradford Park Avenue, before securing a position as coach at Rochdale in1953.The manager at Rochdale was his former team-mate and warcolleague Harry Catterick, and it was Mr Catterick who recommended Mr Fagan toLiverpool in 1958, 18 months before Bill Shankly arrived at Anfield.Under Bill Shankly he became an integral part of theAnfield 'boot room', progressing from reserve team coach, to first team trainerin 1971 and chief coach in 1974.A further promotion followed in 1979, when he becameassistant manager, playing an instrumental role as the club dominated at homeand abroad.Following the retirement of Bob Paisley in 1983 Mr Faganwas appointed as manager, 25 years after joining the club. Although a quiet andunassuming figure, he was widely respected by players and fans alike.In his first season as manager the league title,European Cup and League Cup were all won, emphatically justifying the club’sdecision to appoint him. He also won the personal accolade of Manager of theYear.His second season in charge did not match the success ofthe first though, as Liverpool finished as runners-up in the league and lost anFA Cup semi-final to Manchester United.The European Cup final appeared to be the season'ssilver lining, and Mr Fagan announced his retirement before the game in the hopehe would end his association with the club on a high.Sadly the deaths of 39 Juventus supporters before thegame cast a dark shadow over his tenure as manager. In a game subsequentlyrendered meaningless, Liverpool lost the European Cup final 1-0 and ended theseason trophyless.The tragedy had a huge affect on Mr Fagan. Already aprivate figure, he slipped further away from any kind of public spotlight,although he returned occasionally to the Liverpool training ground at Melwoodto offer help and advice, before passing away following a long illness in 2001.
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