An Anfield legend, and a Kop favourite, Mark Lawrenson played in defence for the Reds during the 1980s making 356 appearances and scoring 13 goals. After retiring from playing, he managed for a few years, and then went on to forge a hugely successful career as a football pundit, working in the press,on the internet, and on radio and TV, becoming a regular member of the BBC’s Match of the Day team.
Born and raised in Preston, Lawrenson, whose father, Tom, had been a winger for Preston North End, started his playing career at the same club, joining when he was 17-years-old in 1974 under manager and England legend Bobby Charlton. Lawrenson went on to be voted Preston’s Player of the Year for the 1976-77 season. After 73 appearances and 2 goals, he moved to the South coast and joined Brighton & Hove Albion for £100k (who outbid Liverpool for his services) at the start of the 1977-78 season. He remained at the Goldstone Ground until the summer of 1981 when, after 152 appearances and five goals, he finally joined Liverpool for a club record transfer fee of £900k. He went on to have a hugely successful time at Liverpool, forging an incredible defensive partnership with Alan Hansen, and going on to help the side win five First Division titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, a Football League Super Cup, and the 1983-84 European Cup. Injuries began to take their toll, and he left Anfield in 1988, taking on the manager’s job at Oxford United.
He made a brief playing comeback over the winter with non-league Barnet, before travelling in 1989 to the United States to play for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the ASL. In September 1989 he returned to management, running Peterborough United until November 1990. He then played for the non-league clubs Corby Town, and Chesham United, whom he helped win the 1992-93 Isthmian League, before retiring from the game at 36. On the international stage, he turned out for his adopted Republic of Ireland, earning 39 caps between 1977 and 1987. After retiring, Lawrenson began to forge a successful media career, writing and talking about football. He has worked for The Irish Times, HTV West, Liverpool Daily Post, TV3, Today FM, and the BBC. He has also provided co-commentary for the Pro Evolution Soccer and EA Sports’ s FIFA video games.
Lawrenson regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Twitter, posting pictures and videos about his life around football.
