Sir Kenny Dalglish is a former footballer and manager hailing from Scotland. He is a legend of the game, and is a hero for Liverpool FC and Celtic. He is also a member of both the English and Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
Dalglish is a multiple-time league, league cup, and European cup winner. His managerial career was also stellar, and he was knighted in 2018 for his contributions to the game.
Early life and career
Dalglish was born to an engineer in Dalmarnock, a town in the east end of Glasgow. He grew up in Milton, and relocated to Ibrox when he was 14. As a child, Dalglish supported Rangers.
The young boy attended Miltonbank Primary School. He expressed an interest in football, and started out playing as a goalkeeper. During his advanced school years, he won many football tournaments, including the Scottish Cup and Home Nations Victory Shield. He had unsuccessful trials at West Ham and ironically, Liverpool.
Dalglish started out playing for Celtic. By this time, he had made the transition to playing a forward role, and scored 37 goals for the club he was loaned out too. He made his first-team debut for Celtic in the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup, coming as a substitute in a 4-2 win.
He switched to a midfield role after a goal drought, and ended up becoming a revelation. With 19 goals in 31 games, he helped the team win a domestic double. His repeated goalscoring exploits saw him cement his place in the first XI two seasons later, and he helped the club win their seventh consecutive league title.
Dalglish also played a key role in Celtic’s European journey. They reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, playing one of the most notorious ties in history against Atletico Madrid. The Spanish team had three red-carded players by the end of it, and Dalglish was quoted as saying that it was “without doubt the worst game I have ever played in as far as violence is concerned.”
The 1975-76 season saw Dalglish become captain. Under his captaincy, Celtic won a league cup and cup double. 320 appearances later, Dalglish was signed by Liverpool for a then-British transfer fee record of £440,000, which is £2,754,000 today. His transfer was greeted with disbelief and hate by Celtic fans.
Dalglish quickly settled into the Anfield atmosphere, and scored for Liverpool on his league debut. He also scored on his Anfield debut, and quickly became a fan favourite. Goals followed by the bucketful, and Dalglish was running riot despite mixed team fortunes. He scored in important games like the 1978 European Cup final, the FA Cup final over Everton and a 1-0 win away at Chelsea that won Liverpool the league.
His final appearance came as a substitute against Derby, and having turned 39, he was one of the oldest players to ever play for the Reds. Although age had caught up with him, he left behind a glittering legacy.
Personal life
Dalglish is married to Marina, and has four children with her – Kelly, Paul, Lynsey and Lauren. They have been married for 47 years, and are leading a very happy life together.
Marina was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She made a full recovery after undergoing treatment, and set up a charity to fund cancer treatment equipment deliveries for hospitals in the UK.
Dalglish was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1985 for his outstanding contributions in the fields of football and charity. He dedicated his honour to those who shaped his career, including his former football coaches. He was also awarded an honorary degree by the University of Ulster in 2011 for the same reason.
In 2004, Dalglish and Marina started the Marina Dalglish Appeal to aid cancer research in the country. To spread awareness, Dalglish himself has participated in many charity events and fundraisers, including the likes of the 1986 FA Cup final replay. In 2007, their organisation launched a Centre for Oncology at Aintree University Hospital after raising £1.5 million.
In addition to those ventures, Dalglish frequently plays in the Gary Player Invitational Competition. This is a charity golf tournament, where the money collected would fund children’s charities in UK and around the world.
Net worth
Naturally, being someone with the stature, legacy and popularity of Sir Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish MBE should give you a hefty worth. Every career path taken by the 70-year-old has been exceptional, successful and most of all, lucrative.
Everything he has done as had a purpose, and all of his decisions have led to the growth and betterment of his standing and his net worth. Dalglish’s exploits as a player, player-manager, manager, team ambassador, charity worker and humanitarian have all contributed to his standing and his worth in cultural and financial terms.
As of 2021, Dalglish’s net worth is said to be around $11 million. This is around eight million British pounds, and that’s quite a respectable haul for the Celtic and Liverpool legend. Considering the era he came from, his activities over the years and his age, a net worth of $11 million is not bad at all.
Dalglish’s net worth stems mainly from his time as a popular and legendary footballer. Part of it also came from his managerial career and his philanthropy. The acquisition of his MBE also boosted his stock, and it is at a level which is exceptional for someone who is 70 years old.
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