Three in all for United heroes

Kenny can't believe he's not top dog

King Kenny's influence

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Who are football's top-10 most influential post-War British influences?

As Kenny Dalglish celebrates his 60th birthday, it is worth looking back at his outstanding achievements, both as a player and a manager. Dalglish won titles in Scotland and England, played for his country at two World Cups and, if that was not enough, won the double as a manager with Liverpool and then broke Manchester United's dominance of the newly-formed Premier League with Blackburn.

As ever, lists that span generations can be quite futile, but they do generate debate. Here, skysports.com present its own top-10 list of the greatest post-War British footballing influences.

BOBBY MOORE

As a Scot, Dalglish may bridle at this. But in the context of football on these islands, the greatest day and most symbolic victory, came on July 30, 1966. As the man who captained the team, led from the front and collected the Jules Rimet Trophy from The Queen, Moore deserves pride of place.

SIR BOBBY ROBSON

Best remembered for taking England to the brink of a World Cup final in Italy in 1990 he enjoyed a football career spanning six decades. Playing days with Fulham and England were followed by managerial success with Ipswich. He managed England at two World Cups (1986 and 1990) and had held a string of club jobs overseas before returning to his roots to embark on a five-year spell in charge of Newcastle.

GEORGE BEST

Picking the most talented British player is virtually impossible. However, Northern Ireland's most famous son is always amongst the top three or four. He was not only blessed with genius, he captured the attitudes of an entire generation. Football's first superstar laid the path to riches it is now routine to follow.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Ferguson does have rivals to the claim of being Britain's number one manager, from his own club as well as others. But the sheer scale of his achievements, first at Aberdeen, where he split the Old Firm, and now Manchester United, will surely never be matched. Jose Mourinho calls him "The Big Man" for good reason.

KENNY DALGLISH

Multiple title winner as a player with Celtic and Liverpool, won the domestic Double in his first season as player-manager with the Merseysiders then continued their glory years and also lifted the Premier League for Blackburn. Dalglish was also one of the finest strikers of any generation and had to deal with the horrific aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.

SIR BOBBY CHARLTON

If Moore and Hurst were the most significant figures of the 1966 team, Charlton made the greatest all-round impact. One of only two Englishmen - Nobby Stiles is the other - to have won the World Cup and the European Cup, he skippered Manchester United to victory over Benfica in 1968 after surviving the horrors of Munich, when so many of his team-mates lost their lives.

BRIAN CLOUGH

Charismatic manager, whose playing career was cut short by injury. Achieved the remarkable feat of winning the title with two provincial clubs, Derby and Nottingham Forest. That he also won back-to-back European Cups with Forest was just as incredible, all the time retaining an ability to shock and amaze with his non-conformist ways that surely cost him the England job.

STANLEY MATTHEWS

Played in the top flight at 50 and didn't retire from competitive action for two decades after that. Matthews would have been remarkable even without his extraordinary ability. 'The Wizard of Dribble' didn't win many trophies, but the one major honour he did collect, the 1953 FA Cup, featured a performance so brilliant the game is now referred to as 'the Matthews Final'.

RYAN GIGGS

Although most lists tend to be packed with contemporary players, Giggs' career will not be fully appreciated for another 20 years. The Welshman's list of honours is remarkable - 11 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League are just the start. A one-year contract extension takes him into a 21st campaign next season so he will probably reach 900 appearances as well.

JOHN CHARLES

Equally adept at centre forward or centre back with Leeds he joined Juventus in 1957 for a then British-record £65,000 transfer fee. Scored 93 goals in 155 matches in five years with the Italian club, winning the scudetto three times and the Italian Cup twice. In Juve's centenary year in 1997 they voted him the best foreign player to play for the club.

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