Legend King Kenny to be honoured at BBC Sports Personality of the Year

17 December 2023 , 00:01

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Sir Kenny Dalglish will get a major award (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Footie great Sir Kenny Dalglish will get a Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award.

On Tuesday he joins a BBC hall of fame including George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton and Steve Redgrave. Dalglish, 72, dedicated the award to his fans and ex-teammates, saying: “My accolades would be the players I played with, the supporters that stood by me.”

Glasgow-born Dalglish grew up supporting Rangers but played for rivals Celtic, where he lifted nine trophies. In 1977, Liverpool paid a then-record £400,000 transfer fee for him. His goal-scoring won him the nickname King Kenny from admiring fans. His 102 appearances for Scotland produced 30 goals, matching Denis Law’s record.

King Kenny playing for Liverpool (Getty Images)

Dalglish was Liverpool manager in 1989 when the Hillsborough tragedy led to 97 deaths. He was widely praised for his support of the victims’ families as they campaigned for justice.

He also managed Blackburn, Newcastle and Celtic, and in 2018 was knighted. BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said: “Kenny has dedicated so much of his life to football, on the pitch and as a manager. He is a true inspiration.”

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