Liverpool have announced that the Centenary Stand at Anfield - the one opposite the recently-developed Main Stand - will be renamed in honour of club legend Kenny Dalglish.
Dalglish signed for Liverpool from Celtic in 1977, as a replacement for legendary striker Kevin Keegan. Dalglish had capacious shoes to fill given Keegan's talent and scoring record, but he went on to far outstrip Keegan's - or indeed anyone's - contribution to the club.
He scored 172 goals in 515 appearances as both a player and player-manager, winning everything there was to win with the club, a haul which consisted of eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups, five League Cups and a UEFA Super Cup.
Dalglish's contribution to the club was critical at the time of the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989, assuming a very heavy burden in a bid to guide the club and the bereaved families through a time of unimaginable difficulty. Dalglish insisted that a representative from the club attend each of the funerals, with Dalglish himself attending many.
He shocked the club and the rest of British football by announcing that he was quitting as manager in 1990, citing the strain of the tragedy as the primary reason behind his decision to leave the club.
Dalglish did return, however: Rafa Benitez appointed him to a senior role with the Liverpool Academy in 2009, and Dalglish then answered the biggest call of all from new owners Fenway Sports Group in January 2011: to save the club from the disastrous and brief reign of Roy Hodgson.
Dalglish took the job on a temporary basis and presided over the sale of Fernando Torres and the arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, before signing a permanent contract a few months later. It proved to be a relatively unsuccessful period: he won the League Cup in 2012, and lost the FA Cup final in the same year, but league form was poor, with Liverpool finishing in eighth place, miles of the pace in terms of Champions League qualification.
FSG then made the decision to fire him, and replace him with Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking at the renaming of the stand this evening, Liverpool's principal owner John Henry hailed Dalglish's contribution to the club:
It is testament to Liverpool’s history and status that we are not lacking in truly great individuals, whose names could easily grace a stand at Anfield.
But in Kenny Dalglish we have a person who carries such immense significance to the fabric of this club, so it feels somewhat incumbent on us to recognise this in a manner that is befitting to the man.
He is unique, not just to Liverpool, but to the game in England as a whole, having achieved greatness as a player and then enjoyed such success as a manager. His record and trophies won on both fronts speak for themselves.
However, Kenny’s contribution to Liverpool goes beyond goals scored, points amassed and silverware placed in the cabinet. His values are Liverpool’s values – he represents what is best about this football club.
The leadership and solace he gave to individuals, the club and city as it tried to come to terms with the trauma and tragedy of Hillsborough transcended sporting achievement.
His name is synonymous with our club, with our home and the city of Liverpool. Now it will be as visible as it is palpable.
Dalglish joins Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly to have a part of Anfield named in their honour, but the first to have a stand named after him- both of the latter names' are upon wrought iron gates at the ground.
This is Liverpool's 125th year in existence, a milestone that has prompted this decision. An official renaming ceremony will take place later this year, before the official opening of The Kenny Dalglish Stand.
Liverpool refused to confirm reports that the Anfield Road End will be renamed in honour of Iago Aspas.
