Kenny Dalglish Documentary Review

Directed by: Asif Kapadia

Written by: N/A

Starring: Kenny Dalglish, Marina Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen

Documentary Film Review by: Chris Olson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kop a load of this, Kapadia has pulled off something special here. A football doc that transcends the beautiful game and captures a true legend. Powerful, moving, and truly respectful to the best bits of football in the UK, which often get tarnished unfairly.

From his upbringing as a wee lad in Scotland, through his time playing for Celtic, then Liverpool, onto his Player/Manager role at the latter, this Kenny Dalglish documentary paints a heartfelt picture of an honourable and very talented footballing icon.

Directed by Asif Kapadia (whose other documentaries include Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona and more), the piece eschews talking heads being awkwardly filmed in a studio for a more authentic approach. Narrated by Kenny himself, we also hear from Manrina (his wife), other footballing heroes like Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen, and the film is presented with copious amounts of archive footage from amazing matches over the span of Kenny Dalglish’s career, mostly in the 1980s. We are also privy to exclusive home footage of Kenny’s family, giving us a true insight into his life as a family man, which we learn is a massive part of his character.

A documentary about one of the best footballers ever is going to get a massive UK audience. Whether (like this film critic) you knew the name from your childhood, or you are a youngster playing FIFA in 2025, this is a fascinating journey that so many young boys and girls across the nation have dreamt of taking. There is a quality to this man’s sporting skill that is jaw-dropping when you see him create goals out of nowhere, whether directly curling the ball like magic around defenders or setting up his partner-in-crime, Ian Rush.

The film also provides an emotional depth that many will not expect from a sporting documentary. Kapadia bravely explores Kenny’s experiences with fan hooliganism, rioting, and the heartbreaking events at Hillsborough. The tragedy of the latter becomes the documentary’s most powerful section, engulfing the viewer in the immense sorrow felt by the communities affected. It’s Dalglish’s profound response, however, that will cement his place as a true great not just in Liverpool (where he is still revered as an idol) but across our country.

Whether you get to see the Kenny Dalglish documentary on its very limited cinema run or on Amazon Prime Video, it’s vital viewing for any football fan, whether you are a Liverpool fan or not.