Alan Hansen

Alan David Hansen (born 13 June 1955) is a Scottish former footballer and BBC television football pundit.

Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, he played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, for the successful Liverpool team of the late 1970s and 1980s, and for the Scotland national team.

As a football pundit, Hansen became known for his outspoken views, particularly on teams' defensive performances, frequently criticising what he believed was "diabolical" or "shocking" defending.

As a trainee, Hansen attended the 1971 Scottish League Cup Final, seeing a Partick Thistle side that included his brother John create one of the biggest shocks ever in Scottish football by defeating favourites Celtic 4–1 at Hampden Park.

After breaking into the first team at Thistle, Hansen was watched by top clubs, including Bob Paisley's Liverpool.

In 1975–76 season Hansen played 21 times as Thistle won the Scottish First Division championship to gain entry into the Scottish Premier Division.

By the end of the following season Hansen had 35 first team appearances, before moving south of the border to Liverpool on 5 May 1977.

After arriving at Anfield, the nickname which he loathed for years ("Stretch") was forgotten and a new nickname "Jockey" was born.

Hansen cost Liverpool £100,000.

He made his debut on 24 September 1977 in a league match at Anfield.

Derby County were the visitors and were beaten by a single goal scored by Terry McDermott.

Bob Paisley, who signed Hansen for Liverpool in 1977, retired at the end of the 1982–83 season and was replaced as manager by long-serving coach Joe Fagan.

He was not in the side which lost the 1978 League Cup final replay to Nottingham Forest, but he was selected for the Liverpool side which won the 1978 European Cup Final 1–0 over FC Bruges at Wembley, on a goal by Kenny Dalglish.

Hansen managed 18 appearances in the First Division that season, where Liverpool finished runners-up to Nottingham Forest.

In the following season, 1978–79, Hansen was a regular in the team as Liverpool regained the league title.

The team's final points tally of 68 was a record under the two points for a win system, and they conceded only four goals at home at Anfield.

When long-serving club captain Emlyn Hughes was sold to Wolves, Hansen became an automatic first-choice central defender in the team, and Liverpool's domination of English club football continued in the 1979–80 season with another league title.

In the 1980–81 season, Liverpool won two trophies, but did not win a third consecutive league title as Aston Villa finished as English champions.

Liverpool won their first League Cup in 1981, defeating West Ham United 2–1 in a replay at Villa Park.

Hansen also won his second European Cup winners medal in 1981, Liverpool defeating Real Madrid 1–0 at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 27 May.

The league title returned to Anfield in the 1981–82 season, and Liverpool also retained the League Cup in 1982 with a 3–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, although Hansen missed this victory with injury.

Liverpool did not retain the European Cup in 1982, surprisingly losing in the quarter-final to CSKA Sofia 2–1 on aggregate.

In the 1982–83 season, Liverpool once again took the league title and held on to the League Cup in 1983, defeating Manchester United 2–1 after extra-time in the final at Wembley.

In the 1983–84 season, Liverpool completed a treble of trophies in Fagan's first season as manager, winning the league title, League Cup and European Cup.

He co-hosted Match of the Day from 1992 to 2014.

Hansen was born in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and attended Lornshill Academy and supported Rangers growing up.

His paternal grandfather was Danish.

Hansen played his early football (along with his older brother John, a one-club player) at Scottish Junior league club, Sauchie Juniors near Alloa.

At the age of 15, Hansen ran into a plate-glass panel after playing volleyball and was left with a large scar on his forehead.

The glass was in a brand-new youth club which Hansen attended.

During his two-hour hospital stay he had 27 stitches in his head.

He sued the education authority and won the case.

Hansen stopped playing football between the ages of 15 and 17 and concentrated on playing golf, with aspirations of becoming a professional.

His father and brother wanted Hansen to play football, so he accepted the offer of a trial with Hibernian when he was 17.

Hibernian manager Eddie Turnbull offered Hansen a professional contract, but he refused because it would have stopped him from playing golf competitively.

Hansen turned down the opportunity to study at the University of Aberdeen, in order to join his older brother John at Partick Thistle.

During the summer while his application was being processed, he worked for six weeks in the offices of General Accident insurance — which he hated.

He opened the scoring in the 14th minute as Liverpool demolished East German side Dynamo Dresden 5–1.

Hansen was put into the first team sporadically throughout the season.

Hansen hit his first goal the following month on 19 October during a European Cup 2nd round 1st leg tie at Anfield.