Ian St John

Ian St John
Eric Koch for Anefo · CC BY-SA 3.0 nl · source
Name	Ian St John
Fullname	John St John
Birth date	1938-06-07
Birth place	Barrhead, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Death date	2021-03-01
Death place	Prescot, Merseyside, England
Position	Forward
Youthclubs	Arniston Rangers; Douglas Water Thistle
Years1	1955–1961
Clubs1	Motherwell F.C.
Caps1	87
Goals1	47
Years2	1961–1971
Clubs2	Liverpool F.C.
Caps2	425
Goals2	118
Years3	1971–1973
Clubs3	Hibernian F.C.
Caps3	32
Nationalyears1	1960–1966
Nationalteam1	Scotland
Nationalcaps1	21
Manageryears1	1971–1973
Managerclubs1	Hibernian F.C.

Ian St John Ian St John was a Scottish professional footballer, manager and television personality best known for a prolific career as a forward with Liverpool F.C., his international appearances for Scotland and later work as a pundit on ITV and Sky Sports. He played a central role in Liverpool F.C.'s rise under Bill Shankly, winning Football League titles and the FA Cup and scoring the winning goal in the 1965 final. After retiring he managed Hibernian F.C. and became a prominent broadcaster during the growth of televised Football League and European Cup coverage.

Early life and youth career

Born in Barrhead to a working-class family, St John grew up in the industrial landscape of Renfrewshire. He began his football development with local junior sides including Arniston Rangers and Douglas Water Thistle before signing professional terms with Motherwell F.C. in the mid-1950s. At Motherwell F.C. he progressed through reserve and first-team football, attracting attention from clubs in England such as Liverpool F.C., Manchester United F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Everton F.C. for his sharp movement, finishing and link-up play.

Professional playing career

St John transferred to Liverpool F.C. in December 1961 for a then-significant fee and was soon integrated into the attack alongside teammates like Roger Hunt, Alf Hanson and later Kevin Keegan. Under manager Bill Shankly and coach Bob Paisley, he helped transform Liverpool F.C. into a dominant force, capturing the Football League Second Division title in 1962–63 and the First Division championships in subsequent seasons. His headed winner in the 1965 FA Cup Final against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium secured Liverpool's first-ever win in that competition, a watershed moment shared with fellow goal-getter Roger Hunt and captain Tommy Smith. St John featured in domestic cup runs and European Cup campaigns, forming attacking partnerships with players such as Ian Callaghan, Emlyn Hughes, Ian St John (subject) and Ray Clemence during different eras. After a decade at Liverpool F.C. he returned to Scotland to join Hibernian F.C. as player-manager, bringing top-flight experience from competitions like the FA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

International career

Eligible for Scotland, St John earned caps between 1960 and 1966, scoring for Scotland against opponents including Northern Ireland, Wales and England in British Home Championship matches. He represented Scotland in qualification fixtures for the FIFA World Cup and faced international teams such as Belgium, Portugal and Hungary. His international tenure overlapped with contemporaries like Denis Law, Jim Baxter, Hughie Gallacher and Kenny Dalglish was an emerging figure later; St John competed for selection amid Scotland's talented forward pool including players from clubs like Celtic F.C., Rangers F.C., Manchester United F.C. and Everton F.C..

Managerial and coaching career

After leaving Liverpool F.C., St John took the managerial role at Hibernian F.C. in 1971, combining playing and coaching duties while overseeing squads featuring players from the Scottish league such as Pat Stanton and Alan Gordon. His tenure involved domestic league campaigns in the Scottish Football League and participation in Scottish cup competitions including the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. Later he coached at lower-division clubs and was linked with coaching roles at institutions like Ipswich Town F.C., Leeds United A.F.C. and county sides during the era when coaches moved between English Football League and Scottish clubs. His managerial approach was influenced by tactical developments introduced by figures such as Bill Shankly, Don Revie and Matt Busby.

Media and broadcasting career

Transitioning from the touchline to television, St John became a familiar face on programmes produced by ITV and later Sky Sports, providing analysis for Match of the Day-style coverage, domestic cup fixtures and European Cup ties. He worked alongside presenters and pundits such as Jimmy Greaves, Brian Moore, Ron Atkinson, Des Lynam and John Motson. St John contributed to post-match analysis, punditry panels for FA Cup finals, and live commentary features during the expansion of televised Football League broadcasting rights in the 1980s and 1990s. He also appeared on regional programmes connected to Liverpool F.C. and Scottish football retrospectives celebrating players like Kenny Dalglish and managers such as Bill Shankly.

Personal life and legacy

Off the field, St John lived in Merseyside for many years and maintained connections with Scottish communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh. He received recognition from former clubs including Liverpool F.C. and Motherwell F.C. and was celebrated in hall-of-fame style tributes alongside legends like Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan and Kevin Keegan. His influence is noted in club histories of Liverpool F.C. and Hibernian F.C., and he is remembered by supporters, contemporaries such as Bill Shankly and pundits including Jimmy Greaves for his aerial ability, goal instincts and later broadcasting work. His death in 2021 prompted tributes from organizations including The Football Association, Scottish Football Association and numerous former teammates and managers.

Category:1938 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Scottish footballers Category:Liverpool F.C. players Category:Motherwell F.C. players Category:Hibernian F.C. managers