01 Jun 2025 09:21:50
Ed1, just curious because I have never seen him play but how good is Alan Hansen during his day? I'm asking because Van Dijk himself said that Hansen is one of the best CB in Liverpool history.
{Ed001's Note - he was truly world class, one of the best defenders of all time.}
01 Jun 2025 09:59:55
Having watched him in his first game v Derby and on many, many more occasions, I would say Dirk is nearly right. I would argue he is the best CB in LFC's history. It's all subjective, but as a player he had it all, in terms of a defender.
If not for the ban in Europe, he would be in the argument with Baresi, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Moore etc. though he is in there imo.
01 Jun 2025 09:59:57
A true rolls Royce defender.
01 Jun 2025 10:03:31
I only saw him in his latter years at Liverpool, was a high quality defender, cultured.
01 Jun 2025 10:15:35
This may be controversial, or maybe it won't, but was lucky to have watched Hansen in his prime and I consider Virgil to be the better of the two. Both make all time greatest LFC team, obviously.
01 Jun 2025 10:18:09
Ed, Would it be fair to say that he is the equivalent of Van Dijk in his era? I googled and he is in same age group with Baresi. Did they play in same era?
{Ed001's Note - Hansen is a few years older. Hansen was not as physical as Virgil but he was better at bringing the ball out from the back. Probably the best ever at that.}
01 Jun 2025 10:45:16
And hansen played when football was football. Hard men back in the day.
01 Jun 2025 11:34:41
Best defender we ever had. Criminal he wasn't picking for Scotland more often.
01 Jun 2025 11:39:02
I agree with Rome. VvD's athleticism edges it, for me.
The European ban was at the backend of his career, too.
I don't think Hansen was as appreciated as he should have been because of the era and where he played.
01 Jun 2025 11:50:02
Jocky was one of those players who never looked flustered, always had that extra second and there was a bit of an aura about him. He was a very good reader of the game and I think it would be fair to say that he had the skill set to be regarded as world class in the modern day game. His partner wasn’t bad either.
01 Jun 2025 11:00:21
Ed001 I would say one thing the season Hansen retired we never win the league again till Virgil came. Hansen was my second favourite player growing up behind King Kenny. He was that good for years and years if you see a player trying to bring the ball out the line was always who does he think he is Alan Hansen. Virgil physical attributes give him an edge over Hansen but for me Hansen was still top he reading of the game was right up there with the very best of all time 3 European cups in about 7 years that he was first choice and we was in Europe says it all. him and Virgil would be one hell of a pair.
01 Jun 2025 12:11:47
He was a Rolls-Royce lad's.
01 Jun 2025 12:16:32
Lawrenson wasn’t far behind IMO. Ed1 what do you think?
{Ed001's Note - he played all over the pitch, not so much at centre back for us, so difficult to compare him there, though he was incredible when there.}
01 Jun 2025 15:03:20
Lawro and Jocky, we were so lucky.
01 Jun 2025 15:28:26
Indeed, I became and LFC fan near the end of Hansen's career and judging by what I read about him and the opinions I read about him on here before this thread, it seems Hansen was VVD before VVD.
01 Jun 2025 16:47:26
I confidently think that Mark Lawrenson played most of his games at centre half for us. It's true that also played a bit at left back and in midfield but he mostly played centre back.