Ian St. John


(The Saint)

1938 - 2021

Footballer, football manager and broadcaster, known as The Saint. Born in Motherwell, the son of a steel-worker, St. John began his professional footballing career with his local team in 1958. He still holds the record for the quickest hat-trick in Scottish footballing history; three goals in 2 minutes and 30 seconds against Hibernian in 1959. He moved to Liverpool in 1961 becoming, at £37,500, by far the most expensive player that club had ever bought. However, he earned his fee over the next ten years by serving as one of the most successful members of Bill Shankly's team, helping Liverpool to success in the League Championship (1964 and 1966) and FA Cup (1965), where he scored the winning goal with a spectacular header. On leaving Liverpool he had played in 424 games and scored 118 goals for the club. He spent the last years of his playing career at Coventry City (1971-2), then Tranmere Rovers (1972-73) before entering club management with Coventry City, as Assistant Manager (1973), then Manager at Motherwell (1973-4) and Portsmouth (1974-7). He was capped for Scotland 21 times.

Although he appeared on television from the late 1970s, it was his partnership with another ex-footballer Jimmy Greaves that brought success. Beginning in 1984, ITV's Saint and Greavsie provided football debate and discussion to the nation on Saturday afternoons. St. John has also proved a popular football commentator.

He has also been responsible for encouraging young players through his football academies, the Ian St. John Soccer Camps.

He died at his home in Arrowe Park on Merseyside.


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