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Liverpool’s top former captains

By Ethan Lowe

The captain's armband on a Liverpool shirt (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
The captain's armband on a Liverpool shirt (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, United Kingdom: (FILES) Newcastle manager Graeme Souness directs his players during a premiership match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in this 19 November 2005 file photo. Graeme Souness’s troubled 15-month reign as Newcastle manager came to an end on Thursday when the club terminated his contract with immediate effect. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON, United Kingdom: (FILES) Newcastle manager Graeme Souness directs his players during a premiership match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in this 19 November 2005 file photo. Graeme Souness’s troubled 15-month reign as Newcastle manager came to an end on Thursday when the club terminated his contract with immediate effect. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Graeme Souness

Appearances – 359

Games as captain – 147

Goals – 55

Well, as I said, I’m a younger supporter of our great club, but even I know all about Graeme Souness.

Souness enjoyed seven successful seasons at Liverpool, making him a very well respected servant. He’s mostly remembered for his time at our club, where he won 5 League Championships, 3 European cups and 4 League cups.

He arrived at Liverpool in 1978, alongside Alen Hansen and Kenny Dalglish, as Bob Paisley hoped to build on winning his first European cup in 1977.  His debut came on the 14th of January (1978), while his first goal came against bitter rivals Manchester United on the 25th of February (1978).

He was awarded captaincy during the 1981-82 season after a spell of impressive performances and brining success to the club. Although this caused drama between him and previous captain Phil Thompson (would have been 10th on this list), it was a good move for Liverpool.

Under Souness’s captaincy, Liverpool won the League Championship and retained the League cup, both of which were the defended in the 1982-83 season. What strikes me as the most honourable act of Souness’s captaincy is the way in which he relinquished his right as captain to lift the League Cup at Wembley following a win against United, instead insisting that Paisley lift the trophy to mark his retirement season.

I’d have loved to watch Souness play, but unfortunately his career ended before I was even born. He later returned as Liverpool manager, but that’s another situation for another future article.

Next: Number 8

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