By the time Jari Litmanen signed for Liverpool in 2001, he was already a European Cup winner with four Eredivisie medals from his time at Ajax, when he established himself as one of the best players in Europe.
The Finn had come a long way from his failed trial at Leeds United almost ten years earlier and despite achieving so much in the game, his move to Anfield saw him fulfil a childhood dream as he signed for the club he grew up supporting.
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Jari Litmanen on his Liverpool spell
Litmanen won a European Cup at Ajax in 1996 (Image credit: Getty Images)
“I was five years old when I started following Liverpool and my first idol was Kevin Keegan,” Litmanen tells FourFourTwo. “When he moved to Hamburg, I couldn’t watch him as often, but I started to admire his replacement, Kenny Dalglish – he was clinical in front of goal, technically gifted and moved so intelligently.
“I grew up watching Liverpool more than any other team, so when I joined the club in 2001, it was special. When they asked what number I wanted, they assumed I’d say 10, but I said, “What about 7?” It was already taken by Vladimir Smicer. “What about 17?” Steven Gerrard had it. “How about 27?” Gregory Vignal.
Kevin Keegan was Litmanen’s first hero (Image credit: Getty Images)
“Then I asked for 37 – actually, I first asked for 77, because I wanted the 7 of Keegan and the 7 of Dalglish, but they told me that was too high and would be the biggest number in the league. So 37 was perfect. Three times seven – Keegan, Dalglish and me.
Litmanen arrived midway through Liverpool’s cup-winning treble season of 2000/01, joining a fearsome frontline.
“I started well, especially as Michael Owen was struggling with hamstring problems and Robbie Fowler was also injured quite often,” he recalls. “In the first months, I was playing well, but then I got injured in a game between England and Finland at Anfield – I broke my wrist.
“That meant I had to miss the last two months of the season and couldn’t play in the three cup finals we reached. I also had to compete for a place with Owen, Fowler and Emile Heskey. All three were regular starters for England, and two of them came through the Liverpool academy.
“They were all playing well – especially Michael, who went on to win the Ballon d’Or. Robbie was considered a god by Liverpool fans, and Emile was the most expensive signing in the club’s history at that time.
Litmanen during his Liverpool unveiling (Image credit: Unknown)
“I was ready and suited the system we used, but didn’t play as much as I expected to. It was a bit frustrating because I was never injured, but it was difficult to earn a place.
So how does the 54-year-old look back now at his time at the club?
“Going to Anfield as a player was special,” he says. “The atmosphere felt so unique. Then, wearing the famous red shirt for the first time in the Premier League at Aston Villa, it was a dream come true.
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