Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFew players are as synonymous with Liverpools golden era as Ian Callaghan.The midfielders Anfield career began with the club in the second division, but by the time of his departure, 18 years and 857 appearances later, they had won five league titles, two FA Cups and had twice been crowned champions of Europe.While Callaghan could draw on a fantastic set of players around him, this success was made possible by the men in charge, with Bill Shankly leading the Reds out of the second tier and to the upper echelons of the continent, before his replacement Bob Paisley continued this success. You may like I chose Liverpool over Everton, even though my dad was a Blue Im glad I stuck to my guns Anfield legend Ian Callaghan on going against his family It took all of 43 years for me to get my 1966 World Cup medal. To finally be recognised as part of the squad was special Liverpool icon Ian Callaghan on his World Cup wait TV ace tells FourFourTwo about starting his career next to Brian Clough Callaghan on playing under two managerial greatsFourFourTwo's essential 2026 World Cup pack!Get your hands on the newest issue of FourFourTwo - our ultimate World Cup pack! Featuring: Englands American dream, Jordan Pickford and Morgan Rogers, Scotlands return, Mauricio Pochettino Q&A, biggest upsets plus a huge wallchart and preview special!View DealFor Callaghan, playing under both Shankly and Paisley was an honour.The ingredients were good players who played as a team, and great managers too, Callaghan tells FourFourTwo when asked about what it took to establish his great Liverpool side.It was the great Bill Shankly who signed me as a professional and then, when he retired, the equally incredible Bob Paisley took over. To play for those two managers was absolutely fantastic.They had an unbelievable influence on individual players and the team. They were different in many ways. Bob was a quiet man, while Bill Shankly had a lot of personality and no problem with talking to the media, but they did things in their own way.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Callaghan remains Liverpools record appearance holder, but does not feel credit this longevity to anything more than his love of playing in that side.I didnt really think about that, I just always wanted to play and be in the team, he continues. I loved the game to pieces and did everything to train hard and make myself available. I was very fortunate that I didnt get injured an awful lot over my career and, because we were bringing home trophies, you stay in the team all the time.Thats why I ended up playing so many games. It had a lot to do with my brilliant team-mates winning trophies, so I thank them.The 84-year-olds Anfield exit eventually came in 1978 when he left for Swansea City, but even this did not cut his ties to Liverpool.No, I moved on to Swansea with Tosh [Callaghans Liverpool team-mate John Toshack, who was appointed Swansea player-manager in 1978], but I was still training every day with Liverpool, in my Liverpool kit, while I was a Swansea player, he adds.I used to only travel down to Swansea on a Thursday when we were playing at home. When Tosh asked me to sign, I said I was happy to, but didnt want to move house and move my wife and daughters down to Swansea, and he agreed I could do it.TOPICSLiverpoolPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris EvansFreelance Writer
