Alan Hansen

Alan Hansen (born Alloa, Scotland, June 13, 1955) was one of football's most elegant defenders of his generation and later became arguably the most eloquent and respected pundit on the game when he finished playing.

Football career

Hansen was bright at school but turned down the opportunity to study at university in Aberdeen in order to join his brother John at Partick Thistle for whom he played more than 100 times between 1973 and 1977. He quickly established a reputation for himself as a confident central defender and was watched by numerous top clubs.

Related Topics:
University - Aberdeen - John - Partick Thistle - 1973 - 1977

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In 1977, Hansen was purchased by Liverpool as the Anfield club pursued a unique treble of League championship, FA Cup and European Cup. They missed out on this, winning the league and in Europe but losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United. Hansen was put into the first team sporadically the following season and was in the side which lost the League Cup final after a replay to Nottingham Forest in 1978 but retained the European Cup with victory over FC Bruges at Wembley.

Related Topics:
1977 - Liverpool - Anfield - League championship - FA Cup - European Cup - Manchester United - League Cup - Nottingham Forest - 1978 - FC Bruges - Wembley

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The following year Hansen was in the squad as Liverpool regained the League title and also fully established himself as a first choice central defender when long serving club captain Emlyn Hughes was sold to Wolves. He also made his full debut for Scotland though his international career would prove something of a frustration for him.

Related Topics:
Emlyn Hughes - Wolves - Scotland

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Liverpool's domination of club football continued in 1980 with another League title, then in 1981 they ended the season with their first League Cup after defeating West Ham United 2-1 in a replay. Hansen scored the winning goal. They also regained the European Cup with a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.

Related Topics:
1980 - 1981 - League Cup - West Ham United - Real Madrid

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The league title returned to Anfield in 1982, and the team also retained the League Cup with victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Hansen was selected in the Scotland squad for the summer's World Cup in Spain, which proved an enormous disappointment. The team failed to progress beyond the qualifying group and Hansen was guilty, along with central defensive partner Willie Miller, of a catastrophic mix-up which allowed USSR striker Ramoz Shengelia through to score.

Related Topics:
Anfield - 1982 - Tottenham Hotspur - World Cup - Spain - Willie Miller - USSR

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In 1983, Liverpool once again took the League title and held on to the League Cup, this time defeating Manchester United in the final. The two trophies would remain at Anfield too in 1984, although Hansen was involved in a controversial incident in the League Cup final at Wembley when he appeared to handle a shot on the goal line. Despite protests from opponents and fierce Merseyside rivals Everton, no penalty was given. Liverpool won the final after a replay.

Related Topics:
1983 - 1984 - Merseyside - Everton

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The club then completed a treble of trophies when they added another European Cup to the title and League Cup. The final against AS Roma ended 1-1 and went to a penalty shoot-out, which Liverpool won.

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Liverpool emerged trophyless from the following season, and were banned from all European competition after the 1985 European Cup final at Heysel ended in rioting which caused the deaths of 39 Juventus fans. Though the result of the game was immaterial, Liverpool lost it 1-0. Hansen would never play a European tie again.

Related Topics:
1985 - Heysel - Juventus

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Manager Joe Fagan resigned after Heysel due to the grief he felt, and Hansen's friend, team-mate and fellow Scotsman Kenny Dalglish was appointed as player manager. He gave Hansen the captaincy and the season ended in triumph, as in 1986 Liverpool became only the third side in the 20th century to complete a League and FA Cup "double", following Tottenham in 1961 and Arsenal in 1971. Hansen lifted both trophies as captain and earned his first FA Cup winners' medal, thereby completing the domestic set.

Related Topics:
Joe Fagan - Kenny Dalglish - 1986 - 20th century - 1961 - Arsenal - 1971

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Hansen won his last of a paltry 26 Scotland caps in 1987. The reason given for his lack of caps by Scotland coaches of the late 70s and the whole of the 80s was that a formidable partnership had formed between Miller and Alex McLeish at the dominant Scottish side Aberdeen (managed at the time by Alex Ferguson) and it made sense to keep them together at international level. Indeed, Ferguson (in temporary charge after the sudden death of Jock Stein) dropped Hansen from the whole squad for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a decision which led to Dalglish also withdrawing his services.

Related Topics:
1987 - 70s - 80s - Alex McLeish - Alex Ferguson - Jock Stein - 1986 - Mexico

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Liverpool won nothing in 1987, losing the League Cup final when Arsenal defeated them 2-1, while arch-rivals Everton took the League title. But in 1988, arguably the most skilled Liverpool team of all, with Hansen as skipper, lost just twice as they coasted to the League title - Hansen's seventh - and reached the FA Cup final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Wimbledon in one of the competition's biggest shocks.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1988 - Wimbledon

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Hansen missed much of the 1989 season with a knee injury, but battled back to regain his place in the side in the latter half of an eventful campaign on the pitch and a tragic one off it. In April 1989, after the Hillsborough disaster claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans, Hansen was among many Liverpool stars left distraught by the tragedy, attending many funerals and visiting the injured in hospital. Liverpool eventually won the FA Cup against Everton in the final at Wembley, though Hansen didn't lift the trophy - this honour was given to team-mate Ronnie Whelan who had deputised capably in Hansen's absence through injury and retained the role on a basis of continuity and reward even after the club's first choice skipper was fit again. Hansen didn't complain. Liverpool lost the League title and a second "double" thanks to a crucial goal in the final seconds by Arsenal player Michael Thomas which gave the Highbury club the title.

Related Topics:
1989 - Hillsborough disaster - Funeral - Ronnie Whelan - Michael Thomas - Highbury

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Hansen made fewer appearances the following season as his persistent knee problems continued to affect his fitness, but he still captained Liverpool to another League title, which made it eight individually for Hansen, a record which stands to this day alongside ex-Liverpool team-mate Phil Neal and Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs. The club came close to the "double" yet again, but lost a thrilling FA Cup semi final 4-3 to Crystal Palace. Hansen tried to continue the following season but the knee got the better of him, and he quit in 1991.

Related Topics:
Phil Neal - Ryan Giggs - Semi final - Crystal Palace - 1991

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