creating even more of a din, but that’s the Liverpool fans for you. The best in the world.
Turning Point
----
Vladimir Smicer had just scored from distance and the momentum was now with us when I screamed at Milan Baros to nudge the ball into my path as I looked to burst into the area. His touch was perfect and Gennaro Gattuso put a hand on my back, pushed me off balance and sent me crashing to the floor. Penalty. I wanted to take the spot-kick and for a large part of that season I was our designated penalty taker. But Rafa had a thing where he named a different penalty taker for different games and he would go off his head – shouting and fining players – if someone disobeyed his orders. He named Xabi as the penalty taker for the final before the game and while I was personally gutted, I knew Xabi was deadly. OK, Dida saved his first attempt but when he fired the rebound into the roof of the net our comeback was complete. 3–3. Amazing.
I’ve Done It For You
----
Here I’m blowing a kiss to my family who were in the crowd. My dad and brother were among a gang of friends who had travelled to Turkey for the game and this was for them. The drama of our penalty shoot-out win gave way to the best celebrations I have ever known and I wanted my family to be a part of it. I owe everything to them, for the support they have given me over the years and the belief they have always had in me. I’m proud to have given them something back. The red wristband I am wearing is in support of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
Champions at Last
----
The scene still takes my breath away. Sometimes I sit and think: ‘How did that team win that trophy?’ We had six or seven players who were up there with the best in Europe, but without being disrespectful to anyone else, there were others who were not quite as good. I knew straight away what a massive achievement this was. It was the best night of my life and I doubt it will ever be bettered. With the amount of money that is in football now with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid, it is going to get a lot harder for Liverpool to win this trophy again. Not least because it is a lot harder for Liverpool to even qualify for the Champions League nowadays.
Happy Scousers
----
I have grown close to Jamie Carragher in recent years, probably since Michael Owen and Danny Murphy both left the club in the summer of 2004. We share a room together on away trips and as captain and vice-captain we feel a lot of responsibility on us. He was magnificent in Istanbul, defying cramp, putting his body on the line, repelling wave after wave of attacks from Milan after we had come back to 3–3. For two homegrown lads to stand shoulder to shoulder on one of the best nights in the club’s history is special. Carra is a Liverpool legend and a good friend.
Planting a Smacker on the Trophy
----
Alex, my wife, says I kissed that Cup more than her. After the joy came relief. I had grown up knowing what European football meant to Liverpool Football Club. I had seen the tapes of Emlyn Hughes, Phil Thompson and Graeme Souness lifting the European Cup and I wanted that for myself. I wanted to deliver that trophy for all the Liverpool fans out there.
The Red Sea
----
You could feel the bus literally rocking as we snaked our way through Liverpool City Centre the night after Istanbul. Police horses were banging into the bus as they tried to hold the fans back. It was mayhem, but glorious, brilliant mayhem. I just don’t think you would see this scene anywhere else in the world. When have you ever seen that before? It is a majestic sight. Wow. Mind-blowing. We crawled through the streets of Liverpool and every player on that bus took away memories that they will never ever forget. Afterwards, we had a party in town. That was a late night!
UP FOR THE CUP AGAIN
Just 49 days after our season had gloriously ended , and with the miracle of Istanbul still
Turning Point
----
Vladimir Smicer had just scored from distance and the momentum was now with us when I screamed at Milan Baros to nudge the ball into my path as I looked to burst into the area. His touch was perfect and Gennaro Gattuso put a hand on my back, pushed me off balance and sent me crashing to the floor. Penalty. I wanted to take the spot-kick and for a large part of that season I was our designated penalty taker. But Rafa had a thing where he named a different penalty taker for different games and he would go off his head – shouting and fining players – if someone disobeyed his orders. He named Xabi as the penalty taker for the final before the game and while I was personally gutted, I knew Xabi was deadly. OK, Dida saved his first attempt but when he fired the rebound into the roof of the net our comeback was complete. 3–3. Amazing.
I’ve Done It For You
----
Here I’m blowing a kiss to my family who were in the crowd. My dad and brother were among a gang of friends who had travelled to Turkey for the game and this was for them. The drama of our penalty shoot-out win gave way to the best celebrations I have ever known and I wanted my family to be a part of it. I owe everything to them, for the support they have given me over the years and the belief they have always had in me. I’m proud to have given them something back. The red wristband I am wearing is in support of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
Champions at Last
----
The scene still takes my breath away. Sometimes I sit and think: ‘How did that team win that trophy?’ We had six or seven players who were up there with the best in Europe, but without being disrespectful to anyone else, there were others who were not quite as good. I knew straight away what a massive achievement this was. It was the best night of my life and I doubt it will ever be bettered. With the amount of money that is in football now with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid, it is going to get a lot harder for Liverpool to win this trophy again. Not least because it is a lot harder for Liverpool to even qualify for the Champions League nowadays.
Happy Scousers
----
I have grown close to Jamie Carragher in recent years, probably since Michael Owen and Danny Murphy both left the club in the summer of 2004. We share a room together on away trips and as captain and vice-captain we feel a lot of responsibility on us. He was magnificent in Istanbul, defying cramp, putting his body on the line, repelling wave after wave of attacks from Milan after we had come back to 3–3. For two homegrown lads to stand shoulder to shoulder on one of the best nights in the club’s history is special. Carra is a Liverpool legend and a good friend.
Planting a Smacker on the Trophy
----
Alex, my wife, says I kissed that Cup more than her. After the joy came relief. I had grown up knowing what European football meant to Liverpool Football Club. I had seen the tapes of Emlyn Hughes, Phil Thompson and Graeme Souness lifting the European Cup and I wanted that for myself. I wanted to deliver that trophy for all the Liverpool fans out there.
The Red Sea
----
You could feel the bus literally rocking as we snaked our way through Liverpool City Centre the night after Istanbul. Police horses were banging into the bus as they tried to hold the fans back. It was mayhem, but glorious, brilliant mayhem. I just don’t think you would see this scene anywhere else in the world. When have you ever seen that before? It is a majestic sight. Wow. Mind-blowing. We crawled through the streets of Liverpool and every player on that bus took away memories that they will never ever forget. Afterwards, we had a party in town. That was a late night!
UP FOR THE CUP AGAIN
Just 49 days after our season had gloriously ended , and with the miracle of Istanbul still
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