I am a better manager than Liverpool legend Bill Shankly – former England boss Kevin Keegan

EPL: Kevin Keegan, Liverpool – Newcastle United (PA)

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Kevin Keegan claims he’s “a better manager” than Liverpool legend Bill Shankly.

Shankly, who managed Liverpool between 1959 and 1974, signed the former attacking midfielder from Scunthorpe United in 1971 for £35,000.

But Keegan, 60, used statistics to defend his own managerial record, using his Anfield mentor as an example.

 “I checked his record, and I’ve got at least 0.5 per cent more wins than him – and he’s a great manager. Statistically I’m a better manager than him!” Keegan told The Guardian.

Shankly won 49.95% of his games as manager, whereas Keegan won 50.47%.

Shankly’s win ratio was diminished by his tenures at Workington, Carlisle United and Huddersfield Town before he took charge of Liverpool in 1959.

Keegan’s ratio was blighted by his February 1999-October 2000 experience as England manager: he won only 38.9% of his games as national coach.

The positive managerial approach of the former Newcastle United and Manchester City boss is well-known and he says Shankly played a huge role in his outlook on life.

“I learned so much from Shanks. He used to say: ‘If I was a road-sweeper, my street would be the cleanest in the borough.’ I took that to heart,” Keegan continued.

“Everything I’ve done I’ve done with enthusiasm and passion. Everything I turn up to, I think I’m going to enjoy. I never look back, so I don’t have regrets.”

Keegan also mused on the difference between the modern game and his heyday as a player.

“In my day, players would smoke in the tunnel before the match.

“There were stoves in changing rooms and home teams would turn them up to choke opponents before the game.

“When I was playing, there were only three games on Match of the Day each week, so only 65 of my 100 goals have been filmed. The other 35 are lost for ever.

“Today all goals are filmed. You’ll never see some of the best things I ever did.”