Graeme Souness, born 6 May 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a former professional footballer and manager. Known as a midfielder, Souness started his career in the 1970s and was particularly prominent during his time at Liverpool FC. The many league and European Cup titles he won at Liverpool made him one of the most important figures in the history of English football. After his football career, he worked as a technical director. He worked for clubs such as Rangers, Liverpool, and Galatasaray. He also continues to be active in the football world as a television football commentator.

Beginning of Football Career and Clubs

Souness started his professional career at Glasgow Rangers in 1971. Drawing attention with his performance here, he was transferred to Liverpool, one of the strongest clubs in England, in 1974. The years he spent at Liverpool are considered to be the most successful period of his career. He later played for clubs such as Sampdoria in Italy and Newcastle United in Ireland.

Achievements and Awards

6 League Championships (First Division) with Liverpool FC: 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83

FA Cup: 1973-74

League Cup: 1981-82, 1982-83

European Champions Club Cup (now UEFA Champions League): 1976-77, 1980-81

UEFA Super Cup: 1977, 1981

He played 54 matches for the Scotland national team.

Souness attracted attention with his aggressive style of play, technical skills, and leadership on the pitch. He played an important role in the team's European and league successes during his captaincy at Liverpool.

Coaching Career and Achievements

Graeme Souness is a Scottish football player who has achieved significant success as a manager after his career as a footballer. In his coaching career, he worked at big clubs such as Rangers, Liverpool, and Galatasaray and left important traces in the history of these clubs.

Manager of Rangers (1986-1991)

Souness revolutionised Scottish football when he was appointed manager of Rangers in 1986. Souness, who started to work as player-manager at the same time, made radical changes in the club's transfer policy and brought many top players from England and Europe to Rangers.

During this period, Rangers won three consecutive Scottish Premier League titles (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90) and won the Scottish Cup several times. Under Souness, Rangers regained their dominance in Scottish football, and the club's professional structure was modernised.

Achievements

Scottish Premier League Champions: 1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90

Scottish Cup Champions: 1987, 1989

Scottish League Cup Champion: 1987

Liverpool Manager (1991-1994)

Souness, who took charge of Liverpool in 1991, made important changes in the squad. However, Liverpool failed to achieve the expected great successes during Souness' tenure. The biggest success was winning the League Cup in the 1992-93 season. Nevertheless, Liverpool could not win the championships they wanted in the Premier League, and this situation caused Souness' tenure to be criticised.

Although Souness struggled with difficulties in his coaching career, he took important steps to rejuvenate and modernise Liverpool's squad.

Achievements

League Cup Champion: 1991-92, 1993-94

Galatasaray Technical Director (1995-1996)

In 1995, Souness was appointed as the technical director of Galatasaray, one of the biggest clubs in Turkey. He coached the team in a short time and achieved a successful harmony with local and foreign players. Under Souness, Galatasaray struggled for the championship in the Turkish Super League, but finished second in the 1995-96 season.

In this period, especially team discipline and modern football understanding improved under Souness' influence. Galatasaray also showed remarkable performances in the UEFA Cup and Champions League. However, his time in Turkey was a bit short in his coaching career.

Diseases Suffered by Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness has had to deal with various health problems throughout his career. His most well-known condition is heart disease. Especially in 2013, it was reported in the media that he had a problem with his heart valve and underwent emergency surgery. Souness stated that his health condition was stable after this surgery, and his quality of life was at a good level. His heart condition caused him to take a break from his active life and football career, but he completed the recovery process.

Graeme Souness is one of the most important figures in the history of football and has faced important tests both in his health problems and in his career as a manager. While his heart condition affected his personal life, his time at Galatasaray left unforgettable traces on the football pitch. His experiences in these two areas had a profound impact on his career and life.