A Liverpool icon once shared a payslip on social media, highlighting the stark contrast between past and present football wages.
Over the years, Liverpool has been home to global football stars like Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suárez, and Fernando Torres. In today’s game, top players can earn over £300,000 per week—a far cry from the wages of earlier eras.
During the early days of the old First Division, many players required second or third jobs to supplement their income. Legendary Liverpool striker John Aldridge recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) a squad payslip from August 1960, offering a glimpse into the financial realities of the time.
Back then, Liverpool was in the Second Division, with promotion to the top flight under Bill Shankly still two years away. Despite this, the squad featured notable names like 1966 World Cup winner Roger Hunt and Ian Callaghan, who were among the club’s highest earners.
These players made £23 per week—equivalent to about £663 today. Some received a £4 bonus (around £115 now) for exceptional performances. Meanwhile, coach Bob Paisley, later one of Liverpool’s greatest managers, earned £17 (£490 today), and his future successor Joe Fagan received £16 (£461).
The evolution of football’s financial landscape since those days is nothing short of extraordinary.
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