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Quiet Genius: Bob Paisley, British Football's Greatest Manager
Bob Paisley was the quiet man in the flat cap who swept all domestic and European opposition aside and produced arguably the greatest club team that Britain has ever known. The man whose Liverpool team won trophies at a rate-per-season that dwarfs Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United and who remains the only Briton to lead a team to three European Cups.
From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley's team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era - never re-attained since - which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporters the world over. Yet, thirty years since Paisley died, the life and times of this shrewd, intelligent, visionary, modest football man have still never been fully explored and explained.
Based on in-depth interviews with Paisley's family and many of the players whom he led to an extraordinary haul of honours between 1974 and 1983, Quiet Genius is the first biography to examine in depth the secrets of Paisley's success. It inspects his man-management strategies, his extraordinary eye for a good player, his uncanny ability to diagnose injuries in his own players and the opposition, and the wicked sense of humour which endeared him to so many. It explores the North-East mining community roots which he cherished, and considers his visionary outlook on the way the game would develop.
Quiet Genius is the story of how one modest man accomplished more than any other football manager, found his attributes largely unrecorded and undervalued and, in keeping with the gentler ways of his generation, did not seem to mind. It reveals an individual who seemed out of keeping with the brash, celebrity sport football was becoming, and who succeeded on his own terms. Three decades on from his death, it is a football story that demands to be told.
From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley's team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era - never re-attained since - which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporters the world over. Yet, thirty years since Paisley died, the life and times of this shrewd, intelligent, visionary, modest football man have still never been fully explored and explained.
Based on in-depth interviews with Paisley's family and many of the players whom he led to an extraordinary haul of honours between 1974 and 1983, Quiet Genius is the first biography to examine in depth the secrets of Paisley's success. It inspects his man-management strategies, his extraordinary eye for a good player, his uncanny ability to diagnose injuries in his own players and the opposition, and the wicked sense of humour which endeared him to so many. It explores the North-East mining community roots which he cherished, and considers his visionary outlook on the way the game would develop.
Quiet Genius is the story of how one modest man accomplished more than any other football manager, found his attributes largely unrecorded and undervalued and, in keeping with the gentler ways of his generation, did not seem to mind. It reveals an individual who seemed out of keeping with the brash, celebrity sport football was becoming, and who succeeded on his own terms. Three decades on from his death, it is a football story that demands to be told.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2017
34 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 30, 2017
examination of paisleys managerial career but also a look at his life from growing up in county durham to playing for liverpool and his career afterwards. taken from recollections from family and from others within the game.
October 12, 2025
An amazing account of Bob Paisley’s footballing journey. I remember Liverpool’s dominance of the late seventies and early eighties, and don’t remember a Bob Paisley after match interview, unlike today’s football.
Paisley was the first manager to win three European cups. Took 33 years for the next manager to achieve this.
A good read, but sometimes got a bit lost as the author seemed to go back and forth through the football seasons in some parts.
Paisley was the first manager to win three European cups. Took 33 years for the next manager to achieve this.
A good read, but sometimes got a bit lost as the author seemed to go back and forth through the football seasons in some parts.
February 10, 2018
How times have changed. If a fabulously successful manager of one of Europe's top clubs were to leave at the end of the season, who would replace them? Chances are it would be someone who had experience at another of Europe's top clubs. It is likely they would have a big reputation and an ego to match. They would be skilled at dealing with the media. They are unlikely to be an existing member of the backroom staff, with experience as a physio but not as a manager, with a habit of wearing his slippers around the club, and with little enthusiasm for communicating much with anyone, least of all journalists. And yet that is the route Liverpool took when they needed to replace charismatic genius Bill Shankley with an introverted, vernacular looking man from the northeast, who manifestly did not want the job. And it remains one of the most inspired decisions in British football history, for Paisley succeeded in turning from a power in the land to a major force in Europe. And it is because he was able to succeed a legend, that it is credible to claim that Paisley deserves the title bestowed on him in this book's sub title (just ask the managers who have tried to follow Revie or Ferguson how hard a job it is).
This is a worthwhile if somewhat workmanlike biography, which brings back many memories for people who followed football in the late seventies and early eighties. I am not sure it does enough to capture how much football has changed, which some younger readers might not comprehend. I seem to remember a season when only 14 players played for Liverpool, that is as many as get into the pitch in a single game now for most times. Games against East European teams weren't just inconvenient, they were to be feared because of the consistently high quality of the opposition. What is brilliant about the book and the times it depicts was the managers ability to manage the team on his own terms, with little apparent interference from the owners and the players firmly in their place (among some his nick name was 'the rat' but lack of popularity with the players was never going to cost him his job. A book that I'd recommend but I feel could be richer still.
(A talking point. Sometimes one good decision begat some bad ones. So successful was Paisley that Liverpool became fixated on getting managers with ties to the club and waited too long before looking further afield. IMO).
This is a worthwhile if somewhat workmanlike biography, which brings back many memories for people who followed football in the late seventies and early eighties. I am not sure it does enough to capture how much football has changed, which some younger readers might not comprehend. I seem to remember a season when only 14 players played for Liverpool, that is as many as get into the pitch in a single game now for most times. Games against East European teams weren't just inconvenient, they were to be feared because of the consistently high quality of the opposition. What is brilliant about the book and the times it depicts was the managers ability to manage the team on his own terms, with little apparent interference from the owners and the players firmly in their place (among some his nick name was 'the rat' but lack of popularity with the players was never going to cost him his job. A book that I'd recommend but I feel could be richer still.
(A talking point. Sometimes one good decision begat some bad ones. So successful was Paisley that Liverpool became fixated on getting managers with ties to the club and waited too long before looking further afield. IMO).
May 27, 2017
As the cover says Bob Paisley was British Football's Greatest Manager, his success as Liverpool manager eclipses every other manager including Alex Ferguson, but in many ways he's the forgotten man. A Liverpool stalwart, player, physio, assistant manager and then finally manager after taking over from legend Bill Shankly. He was the quiet, shy man who didn't want the publicity but was fiercely competitive. Unsurprisingly this book focuses on his time at Liverpool, and provides a great insight to the team's of the 70s and early 80s, many stories that I never knew. It's fascinating stuff and deserved recognition of Bob's greatness.
August 30, 2020
Football biographies often offer insight into a world which I love yet scarsely know except from the outside.
Bob Paisley is the British manager with best success/winning rate and the only one who won three European Cups (now known as Champions League). Yet to this day, for many Liverpool fans, he lies in the shadow of Bill Shankly, who yes laid the foundations for the club but still wan't anywhere near the greatness of this understated manager. Probably cause he didn't like publicity or trying to wax supporters.
It is a beautiful biography, full of intetesting anecdotes, very well-researched and unflinching in its portrayal of a true picture of Paisley the man and manager: shy, brutal, driven to win.
Bob Paisley is the British manager with best success/winning rate and the only one who won three European Cups (now known as Champions League). Yet to this day, for many Liverpool fans, he lies in the shadow of Bill Shankly, who yes laid the foundations for the club but still wan't anywhere near the greatness of this understated manager. Probably cause he didn't like publicity or trying to wax supporters.
It is a beautiful biography, full of intetesting anecdotes, very well-researched and unflinching in its portrayal of a true picture of Paisley the man and manager: shy, brutal, driven to win.
June 23, 2018
Although I'm not a Manchester United fan, I'd query the tag "British Football's Greatest Manager." Statistically, that may have been true of Bob Paisley but Alex Ferguson surely earned that accolade after his astonishingly successful career with Aberdeen and Manchester United.
Bob Paisley was certainly a successful manager of Liverpool and carried on , and indeed exceeded, the great achievements of his predecessor, the legendary Bill Shankley. The author has done a fine job of researching into Paisley's life but, at the end, I felt I didn't really know much more about the man than I did at the start.
I also came away with the feeling I didn't really know Paisley, so quiet and withdrawn was he and the impression which I took away with me was that he was a bit of a cold fish. Nor was I sure whether or not Liverpool's astonishing success under Paisley was down to the fact that he was fortunate enough to have a number of the club's best players at the time; Kenny Dalgleish, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush and several others, rather that his brilliant tactical knowledge. Following Brian Clough's great Nottingham Forest team's success at the same time (Clough was Paisley's bête noir) you always felt that this was down to Clough's brilliance as a coach and his assistant Peter Taylor's fabulous ability in the transfer market.
A very interesting book and exceptionally well written but one which still left me wanting to know more about Paisley.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
Bob Paisley was certainly a successful manager of Liverpool and carried on , and indeed exceeded, the great achievements of his predecessor, the legendary Bill Shankley. The author has done a fine job of researching into Paisley's life but, at the end, I felt I didn't really know much more about the man than I did at the start.
I also came away with the feeling I didn't really know Paisley, so quiet and withdrawn was he and the impression which I took away with me was that he was a bit of a cold fish. Nor was I sure whether or not Liverpool's astonishing success under Paisley was down to the fact that he was fortunate enough to have a number of the club's best players at the time; Kenny Dalgleish, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush and several others, rather that his brilliant tactical knowledge. Following Brian Clough's great Nottingham Forest team's success at the same time (Clough was Paisley's bête noir) you always felt that this was down to Clough's brilliance as a coach and his assistant Peter Taylor's fabulous ability in the transfer market.
A very interesting book and exceptionally well written but one which still left me wanting to know more about Paisley.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
August 8, 2024
Absolutely loved this book - and I'm an Everton fan!
Growing up near Liverpool - being an Everton supporter and going to Goodison - Paisley always fascinated me. He was the man responsible for Liverpool's dominance - which, the odd derby match aside - continued right through my childhood in school. But who was he? I could only remember him as an old man with a wry smile and Brylcreamed hair.
Herbert's book is an engrossing, brilliant answer to that question. Anyone with any interest in the era that it covers - really, post-war Britain right up to the 90's - will find it entertaining and enlightening. There are gossipy snippets and cameos from everyone from Clough to Ferguson - but it's the story of Paisley which grips, especially in Herbert's telling.
Without going into too many spoilers, when Joe Fagan takes over the manager's role after Paisley retires, he later realises the downsides to the job - especially dealing with players not being happy at not being selected. It's Paisley's man management, and his amazing eye for detail, which stand out. He found away to smile through steel: his nickname, The Rat. Somehow he kept enough players happy to go on an incredible winning streak - and if the players weren't happy, he did it anyway. How is what is revealed in the book.
Get it.
Growing up near Liverpool - being an Everton supporter and going to Goodison - Paisley always fascinated me. He was the man responsible for Liverpool's dominance - which, the odd derby match aside - continued right through my childhood in school. But who was he? I could only remember him as an old man with a wry smile and Brylcreamed hair.
Herbert's book is an engrossing, brilliant answer to that question. Anyone with any interest in the era that it covers - really, post-war Britain right up to the 90's - will find it entertaining and enlightening. There are gossipy snippets and cameos from everyone from Clough to Ferguson - but it's the story of Paisley which grips, especially in Herbert's telling.
Without going into too many spoilers, when Joe Fagan takes over the manager's role after Paisley retires, he later realises the downsides to the job - especially dealing with players not being happy at not being selected. It's Paisley's man management, and his amazing eye for detail, which stand out. He found away to smile through steel: his nickname, The Rat. Somehow he kept enough players happy to go on an incredible winning streak - and if the players weren't happy, he did it anyway. How is what is revealed in the book.
Get it.
March 31, 2024
Short book on the man whose team made my life a misery as a life long Everton fan growing up in the 70s and 80s.
Liked the title...Quiet but ruthless none the less it was fascinating that many people would not co-operate with the book as he really made a few not enemies as such but upset folks with his methods.
The rivalry with Clough was interesting but he outlasted him performance wise even though Clough bettered him when Forest were at their peak 78-80.
He never or rarely encouraged his players but either people like Ian Rush told him what he needed to do...be more selfish and score more goals; even though this was against the team ethos..
It is an interesting read if you love books about 70s football, the man finally gets some credit, no one was ever as good and as all conquering as Paisley's Liverpool....they were immense.
Liked the title...Quiet but ruthless none the less it was fascinating that many people would not co-operate with the book as he really made a few not enemies as such but upset folks with his methods.
The rivalry with Clough was interesting but he outlasted him performance wise even though Clough bettered him when Forest were at their peak 78-80.
He never or rarely encouraged his players but either people like Ian Rush told him what he needed to do...be more selfish and score more goals; even though this was against the team ethos..
It is an interesting read if you love books about 70s football, the man finally gets some credit, no one was ever as good and as all conquering as Paisley's Liverpool....they were immense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
One of the best football biographies I have read.
The author has clearly done his homework, the acknowledgements list is like a who's who of Liverpool legends.
This book excels when it analyses the reasons and thinking behind a lot of "the rats" decisions. Sometimes these biographies read like a love letter, not this one, Paisleys strengths and weaknesses are frequently highlighted.
Above all what comes out from this book is the passion Paisley had for Liverpool FC. His quiet nature camouflaging a driven and ruthless manager. The ending is gut wrenching.
Even Liverpool fans old enough to remember these glory years will learn lots about the club and it's most successful manager.
The author has clearly done his homework, the acknowledgements list is like a who's who of Liverpool legends.
This book excels when it analyses the reasons and thinking behind a lot of "the rats" decisions. Sometimes these biographies read like a love letter, not this one, Paisleys strengths and weaknesses are frequently highlighted.
Above all what comes out from this book is the passion Paisley had for Liverpool FC. His quiet nature camouflaging a driven and ruthless manager. The ending is gut wrenching.
Even Liverpool fans old enough to remember these glory years will learn lots about the club and it's most successful manager.
May 8, 2024
Unsure why this was a little disappointing - the writing seems ponderous and unexciting but that may well be that the subject was. A man of few words, Paisley's teams did the talking on the pitch, as the saying goes.
Except they didn't. When the world was in awe of the Liverpool secret in the late 70s and early 80s under Paisley, my dad - working near to where they trained before London matches near Victoria - would stop and watch them. Drills and team movement appeared to be instilled in near silence during practice sessions.
Paisley appears shrewd, calculating and desperately shy outside the football world, rarely showing warmth towards his players. Rather explains why so few books have been written about the man behind the success.
Except they didn't. When the world was in awe of the Liverpool secret in the late 70s and early 80s under Paisley, my dad - working near to where they trained before London matches near Victoria - would stop and watch them. Drills and team movement appeared to be instilled in near silence during practice sessions.
Paisley appears shrewd, calculating and desperately shy outside the football world, rarely showing warmth towards his players. Rather explains why so few books have been written about the man behind the success.
April 20, 2023
A rare 6, maybe even a 7! I dug it out because someone gave me the official biography for my birthday. This is far better. Spoiler alert. No one gets to win that many trophies by being the cuddly cardigan wearing favourite legend. Uncle of Legend. Even the flat cap was an affectation. This guy was ruthless and he surrounded himself with ruthless men. I recall one new player asking Ronnie Morgan how he should approach marking Glenn Hoddle. "Work it out yourself, if you can't your stay here will be short."
April 29, 2024
I love detail, and this book written about Bob Paisley's career at Liverpool was full of it.
He is depicted as a shy, slightly awkward man who despite these traits, backed his own judgement in matters of tactics, team selection and knowing the right time to replace players and keep the side at the top.
He managed to do this for years, and very few others have been as successful.
Very well written and full of little known nuggets about the day to day running of a football club
He is depicted as a shy, slightly awkward man who despite these traits, backed his own judgement in matters of tactics, team selection and knowing the right time to replace players and keep the side at the top.
He managed to do this for years, and very few others have been as successful.
Very well written and full of little known nuggets about the day to day running of a football club
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2025
Excellent biography that shows the humility, dedication, as well as ruthlessness of an unconventional leader. I feel like I learned a lot of important Liverpool history while reflecting on character and success. The writing felt dry at times, but the remarkable subject and unique perspectives more than made up for it.
April 29, 2019
There are some shocking grammatical errors in the e book version I read however that doesn't take away from a well researched and written book about one of, if not the most successful managers in English football.
February 16, 2020
Paints an incredibly vivid picture of both the man and the noise that surrounded him during his footballing life. From his playing days, through the glory years of his management and to the spectral end of his life. A biography so intimate, you will you feel you’ve known him all your life.
July 19, 2021
A great book on a great manager, loved by Liverpool fans and many neutrals but not necessarily by all his players. Explains how he sometimes treated players harshly who were no longer part of his plans and had no problems moving on from long time players when the need became apparent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2017
A well deserved biography of one of Liverpool’s great managers.
October 21, 2018
Rare insight into a man who is often forgotten but shouldn’t be, it’s a fair but fresh perspective and is additionally added to by former players who knew him.
February 13, 2019
Fascinating portrayal of footballs greatest ever football manager. A brilliantly researched account that in places felt like it had been rushed to the shelves. None the less a fabulous book.
May 2, 2020
14 trophies in 9 yrs, only English Manager to have won the European Cup 3 times...without a shadow of a doubt, Paisley remains the most successful LFC Manager of all time. A Quiet Genius indeed!
January 23, 2021
Stunning!!!Brilliant!!!The best one!!!👍💪👌❤️🔴📖
November 15, 2021
Sometimes you wish your memories were not affected by fact. This book explains the genious of a man with few social skills.
February 6, 2022
The whole book comes down to the epilogue. Seems like a lovely human.
August 14, 2020
Interesting biography of Bob Paisley's life and career at Liverpool. Learnt some things I did not know but the absence of any contribution by some of his key players (eg. Dalglish) and lack of depth in some chapters when the club were on the top perch was a little bit disappointing...
March 19, 2024
As a big Liverpool FC supporter, this book had been on my radar for a long time and I decided to buy it just after Christmas and I'm so glad I did. Bob Paisley was manager of Liverpool when I first got interested in football at the age of 7 and the teams he created at Liverpool were full of my heroes - Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Terry McDermott and Graeme Souness. Those players took the plaudits and the headlines but Bob Paisley was the man who orchestrated the success and this book tells you how. Its full of dressing room tales from former players and it really gets into the world of Paisley and the character he was and how he dealt with following Bill Shankly as Reds manager and dealing with star players like Kevin Keegan, Dalglish and Souness. Its really well written and made me laugh as well as bringing a tear to my eye near the end. You don't have to be a Liverpool fan to enjoy this, I have just passed it on to my dad who is a Villa fan and he is enjoying it immensely.
April 29, 2025
Great biography but a few strange errors that were so obvious it makes you wonder what else was wrong. Opening page apparently Ray Kennedy scores against Bayern with his left foot and on pg 151 Neal scores the penalty in the '77 European Cup final by putting it to the left from the "goalkeepers perspective". No. Kennedy scores with his right and Neal puts it to the keeper's right. Then Paisley is described as standing top left in the milk cup picture. The actual picture is included and he is top right. Weird. Hoping its just that the author confuses left and right and the rest of the facts we can't confirm as easily are accurate. If you go into such detail about things the detail is in the detail and needs to be right. Or left (out) Still. Enjoyed it but obvious errors take the gloss off it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2018
The man who Liverpool nearly forgot until the recent slump in European attendance brought his contribution back into limelight. A wonderful book which not only shed light on the the quiet man who was given the loudest responsibility in English football but it also shows the way in which LFC used to function in those days.
A must read for any Liverpool fan.
A must read for any Liverpool fan.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews