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40 years on: How reluctant genius Paisley conquered Europe

As we remember the moment Liverpool won the European Cup for the first time 40 years ago today, esteemed journalist and author John Keith, who was in the press box that night in Rome, pens this piece about how Bob Paisley helped the Reds conquer Europe.

There was not a drop of champagne in sight in Liverpool’s dressing room in the bowels of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico that balmy Italian night of May 25, 1977 as the newly-won European Cup sat on a bench with warm Coca-Cola in paper cups the celebratory drink.

But the achievement of Bob Paisley in leading Liverpool to become champions of Europe for the first time – and at his first attempt – should be toasted down the Anfield generations as the most significant result in the club’s 125-year history.