Mark Lawrenson

Date of Birth: June 2nd, 1957
Birthplace: Preston

A tall, commanding centre-back with pace, power and no little skill, Mark Lawrenson was part of one of the best defensive duos English football has witnessed, his pairing with Alan Hansen a key factor in Liverpool's success in the Eighties.

Earlier, Lawrenson - like his father before him - had begun his career in his home town club. Soon making a name for himself at Deepdale, in April 1977 he made is debut for the Republic of Ireland versus Poland, while just two months later the 20 year-old stepped up from Division Three to Division Two when Brighton and Hove Albion broke their transfer record paying Preston £100,000 for the newly capped defender. Cementing his place in the national side, during the 1978-79 season Lawrenson helped his club to promotion to Division One. Then transferred from the Goldstone Ground to Anfield in August 1981 for £900,000 - a record fee for both Brighton and Liverpool - Lawrenson was one of just 16 players used in his first season at Anfield as The Reds won 13 and drew 3 of their final 16 games to clinch the club's 13th League Championship. The following season Bob Paisley's side retained the title with ease, and so the pattern was set for the rest of the decade as Liverpool dominated becoming European champions for the fourth time and, in 1985-86, Double winners.

Forced into retirement by injury, at the age of 30 Lawrenson was appointed manager of Oxford United. Proving to be a baptism of fire, after a mere 8 months in charge the rookie manager left the Manor Ground, but a year later he returned to the managerial fray as boss of Fourth Division Peterborough United. Later becoming a respected television pundit, Mark Lawrenson soon recreated on screen his old playing partnership with Alan Hansen.