An Audience with Graeme Souness

Souness moved to Boro from Tottenham in 1972, aged just 19. Missing out on promotion to the top flight in his first season, Boro would appoint World Cup winner Charlton as manager and he would guide the club to the Second Division title, with Souness a key player.

Souness would stay another four years before leaving for Liverpool where he would win five League Championships and three European Cups, becoming a legend at Anfield. Despite that, he remembers with fondness his time on Teesside and was back here last week as Charlton's Champions reunited to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of their league title triumph. 

Writing in his Daily Mail column, Souness said: "I caught up with some old friends from Middlesbrough's team of 1973-74 this week as we celebrated 50 years since earning promotion from the old second division as champions by a record 15-point margin. I'm very fond of my time at Middlesbrough. 

"I did a lot of growing up there under Jack Charlton, who was manager. You had to man-up because it was Jack's way or the highway and we had a great blend of aggression and technical ability. It formed an incredible bond between us which remains to this day.

Souness’s managerial career also took him to Galatasaray in Turkey, Torino in Italy and Benfica in Portugal. He also managed Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.

Inducted to the National Football Museum Hall Of Fame as a player in 2007, Souness was presented with his award by Dave Mackay. Mackay, one of the Hall Of Fame’s inaugural inductees, had been Souness’ boyhood hero, with both midfielders having attended the same school in Edinburgh. Inducted at the same time as Dennis Bergkamp, Nobby Stiles and Peter Beardsley, Souness claimed the award would help his son believe his father had “ever played football”. An era of midfield opponents across Europe will struggle to forget Souness’ impact.