Sir Kenny Dalglish MBE has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
Sir Kenny, wife Marina and their family have been much-loved members of the Southport community ever since they moved to the town in 1977 following his signing for Liverpool Football Club from Celtic.
In April the couple were awarded the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards at the Grand in Southport.
Sir Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool’s greatest ever player, won eight league titles and three European Cups as a player and manager at Anfield.
The 72-year-old also led Blackburn Rovers to the league title and is Scotland’s most-capped player and joint record goalscorer.
No-one held in a higher regard and who have earned more respect from local people than Sir Kenny and Marina Dalglish.
They have been selfless, determined and energetic in support of people when they needed it the most, whether in pursuit of better cancer diagnosis, services and support, or in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Sir Kenny Dalglish receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony
The Marina Dalglish Appeal has raised over £13 million to improve the lives of people fighting cancer.
Sir Kenny Dalglish has supported wife with her fundraising and cancer awareness campaigns.
He was Manager of Liverpool when the Hillsborough Tragedy took place, and despite the huge toll it took on him personally, he and his family gave huge support to players and supporters affected.
They have attended many funerals of the victims, including four in one day.
Their presence in the aftermath of the disaster has been described as “colossal and heroic”.
Sir Kenny received his BBC Sports Personality of the Year from former Liverpool FC and Scotland team-mate Alan Hansen and was joined on stage by host Gary Lineker, members of his family, and other former footballing legends including Graeme Souness, Alan Shearer, John Barnes and Ian Rush.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Marina Dalglish were honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. It was presented to Marina Dalglish and Neil Gokcen and Stephen Dunne from Birkdale Kitchen Co. They were joined on stage by event hosts Fraser Dainton and Claire Simmo. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
He said: “Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award is truly an honour.
“I have always believed in the importance of team success, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the players I’ve played with, the people I’ve worked for, and the supporters that stood by me, so this is for them.”
Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail, who organised the Pride Of Sefton Awards earlier this year, said: “I would like to congratulate Sir Kenny Dalglish MBE on his BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Very few football players in the world have achieved what he has on the pitch in both his club and his international career; and the same can be said of his immense career in management.
“But it is the impact Sir Kenny and Marina have had off the pitch that marks them out as truly remarkable people.
“They have stood tall when people across the Liverpool region have needed it the most.
“They are such humble, selfless and determined people and what they have achieved is incredible.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is richly deserved and I would like to add my congratulations.”
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Marina Dalglish were honoured wirth the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. It was presented to Marina Dalglish and Neil Gokcen and Stephen Dunne from Birkdale Kitchen Co. They were joined on stage by event hosts Fraser Dainton and Claire Simmo. Marina Dalglish with Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
Speaking about Liverpool, where he is known as ‘King Kenny’, Sir Kenny Dalglish said: “The football club means everything to ourselves as a family.
“Glasgow and Liverpool are very similar. Obviously, they have shipyards with two teams in the city. But for me, the people were fantastic as well. They’ve got a real sense of humour and they take time to talk to you.”
On the international stage, Sir Kenny played 102 times for Scotland, scoring 30 goals.
Fellow football legends Sir Alex Ferguson, George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton and Pele have previously won the Lifetime Achievement award.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year took place on Tuesday, 19th December 2023 at MediaCityUK in Salford.
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