[FM 24] Liverpool 98/99: The End of 'The Spice Boys' Era

[Blodyxe]

[FM 24] Liverpool 98/99: The End of 'The Spice Boys' Era

Hello there!

My name is Max, I'm 27 years old, I’m a Liverpool fan and a Football Manager addict.

This love/hate affair with the fascinating game started for me in 2011, back when you could score 20+ goals from near post corners by hoofing it to someone with a big noggin, someone like Younes Kaboul. Actually, near post corner goals have been a thing for so long that it doesn’t pinpoint a particular version of the game... So let’s just say that I’ve been shuffling in the spreadsheets since Jack Robinson was the hottest LB prospect in the whole game! 

Why do I admire FM so much? Well, where else could you spend 10 minutes trying to finetune a low block tactic, only to blow the second leg Champions League semi final 5-0? Where else can you spend hours trying to find ‘The Next Big Regen’ that will be poached by one of the big boys anyway? Where else can you spend weeks and months to complete imaginary challenges, like going invincible in an all-Basque team and losing to Alaves at home in gameweek 31?

What I’m saying is, FM is love, and FM is life! It is a great way to escape reality and lose yourself in an imaginary world where you can take over your favorite team and take it to the next level. Actually, about my favorite team…

My soul was claimed by Liverpool in 2007. Weird year to hop on the train, I know, but that’s the year where I first saw Steven Gerrard hit a screamer in the top bins on my telly in Ukraine. Through the highs of the Klopp era and the lows of Roy’s tenure, I've remained a steadfast supporter of the Reds and I've developed a deep fascination for the rich history of the club. Delving into the archives, immersing myself in the past, and learning about the glory days have become a passion of mine. It is this fervor for the historical narrative that has inspired me to embark on this ‘project’!

I am set to start a diary that delves into the not-so-glorious era of Liverpool in the late nineties, using the Mad Scientist's retro database for the 1998/99 season. Join me as we relive the beautiful moments, reminisce about the ‘Spice Boys’ legends, give first valuable playing minutes to ‘Captain Fantastic’ and fix the controversial period in Liverpool's history. 

It can’t go worse than it did in real life, can it? Well, we’ll talk about that in the next post. Until then, thanks for dropping by and giving me a minute of your time! I’ve never played with a retro database before and I have very little experience writing FM diaries, but there’s a first time for everything and I’m excited to get things going.

Edited February 23 by Blodyxe

[Blodyxe]

Remembering ‘The Lost Years’

Hello again, fellow FM enjoyers.

Today we’re going to talk about the Liverpool team of the late nineties, the era of ‘Spice Boys’ who seemingly had all the talent in the world but had little to show for it. The stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, Armani wearing, wheelin' n' dealin' group of young dudes that didn’t win anything notable. Only one League Cup in 1995… pathetic.

 

“Win, draw or lose, first to the bar for booze,” was the dressing-room mantra at the time, according to Neil Ruddock. 

 

‘Razor’ also shared an anecdote that Liverpool players would play a game during their fixtures where they would pass a pound coin between them in-match, and whoever was left holding it at the final whistle would have to pay for the first round of drinks after the game. Not exactly a ‘model citizen’ mentality, if I dare say so myself. The young guns slept with models, raided night clubs, and featured in music videos, becoming a gold mine for tabloids. 

 

We will talk about ‘The Spice Boys’ in more detail later on, but let’s concentrate on the 1997/98 season, one which precedes the in-game events. 

 

 

1997/98: Michael Owen Arrives On The Scene

 

It was an interesting time, as LFC added tenacious midfielder Paul Ince to their ranks and signed a German striker Karlheinz Riedle to partner the prolific Robbie Fowler. But against the odds, it was an academy product Michael Owen who led the goal scoring while Robbie Fowler nursed an ACL injury.

 

Liverpool fans may dislike Owen today, but at time the boy was simply electric. He scored 18 goals in 36 Premier League games in his first full season! The meteoric rise of the prodigy was the highlight of the season and helped Liverpool finish third, ultimately falling way behind Man United and eventual winners Arsenal.

 

Aside from the Prem, Liverpool failed to put their stamp in cup competitions, suffering embarrassing exits from smaller teams. They lost 3-1 to Coventry in the FA Cup 3rd round, lost 3-2 on aggregate to Middlesbrough in the League Cup semis, and also capitulated to Strasbourg in the UEFA Cup, losing 3-2 over two legs. 

 

Yikes! There were no signs that Liverpool would go on to win an unprecedented cup treble a few years down the line. The change of fortunes had a mastermind behind it...

 

 

Two Heads Are Better Than One?

 

The summer of 1998 saw the club appoint former France national team head coach Gerard Houllier as joint-manager alongside Roy Evans. Yep, you read that right, joint-manager… It was ultimately a decision doomed from the start, an “impossible situation” as players did not know who to call their ‘gaffer’. 

 

Roy and Gerard rarely agreed on the team selection, and in the end, Evans would walk away from the club after just three months. And It’s not like the past season called for a drastic change, as they have finished third. Not great, but not awful. 

 

But we’re talking about the most decorated team in English football that was winning trophies almost every season. Remember what Bill Shankly, the father of Liverpool football, once said?

 

“If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.”

 

Evans had been credited with creating arguably the nation's most exciting and aesthetically pleasing team of the 1990s. They were always watchable but just short of a winning formula, so changes had to be made. Gerard Houlliers’ appointment was a radical effort by the board to reverse that stagnation. Houllier began what he described as a five-year programme to rebuild the team, and restore discipline to a squad. He also brought in a continental approach, both tactically and in terms of personnel. 

 

Interesting fact about Mr. Houllier - he pursued a degree in English, but in the first year his father's serious illness forced him to drop out of full-time study and start work. Eventually as a school teacher, while he completed his degree part-time, he elected to spend a year in 1969–1970 in the city of Liverpool as an assistant at Alsop Comprehensive School. While there he attended his first Liverpool match on 16 September 1969, a 10–0 thrashing of Irish club Dundalk. 

 

Maybe it was all meant to be? 

 

 

How Did The Real Life 98/99 Season Go?

 

Truth be told, it was an embarrassing effort - they finished only 7th in the league, crashed out of three cups in the early stages, making the 97/98 campaign look great in comparison.

 

On the star player front, Fowler had another injury-interrupted season, and had as many hat-tricks as controversial incidents - two. Robbie hit the headlines for abusing Chelsea‘s Graeme Le Saux and then for his ‘snorting’ celebration against Everton, which resulted in a combined six-game suspension to see his season ended prematurely. Things went downhill for Fowler from there.

Michael Owen continued to run circles around defences, and would go on to score another 18 league goals in 30 games and 23 in 40 games across all competitions. By the end of the season though his hamstring gave away and he would suffer from it for the rest of his injury-ridden career.

Finally, the biggest blow was Steve McManaman walking away from the club to join Real Madrid, becoming one of the first high-profile Bosman free transfers. He had announced his imminent departure with five months left on his contract, a less than popular decision amongst Liverpool fans. Some say that McManaman gave his all for Liverpool and did the ‘right thing’. From the career perspective, he certainly did, as he would go on to win the Champions League in just a few seasons.

But despite all that, times were changing at Anfield. For the better!

The Boys Are Alright…

It was not all doom and gloom for ‘The Reds’. 

The transition period saw Jamie Carragher become the ever-present player for the club, notching 44 apps in a season. On November 29th, Liverpool fans would also be given the first glimpse of a future legend in the making – a nervous-looking 18-year-old Steven Gerrard. He would play 12 times in the Premier League that season, laying the foundation for a career which cemented his name among the club’s greats.

Given how the season went on in real life, I decided to make a few critical objectives to achieve in my first year in charge of LFC:

1) Keep Steve McManaman in Liverpool, signing him to a new deal
2) Get Robbie Fowler firing again, targeting more than 20 PL goals a season
3) Protect Michael Owen from injuries by giving him enough rest and care
4) Give Stevie G 15+ games in the Prem to help his development
5) Regularly feature Carra in the first XI
6) Become a disciplinarian, punishing playboys for any sort of misbehavior
7) Prove that ‘The Spice Boys’ can mature and win titles

We’re looking to change the mentality of the team, protect the players from injuries and set all the pieces in the right place to rebuild the image of this squad. And of course, the titles. We need them to fix the image of a team that played attractive football but never got the job done.

While I respect the contributions of Gerard Houllier to the legacy of this great club, in my story things will go in a different direction. Houllier would be the odd man out in the sequence of former Liverpool managers: Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Dalglish, Souness, and Evans. His appointment broke the tradition of promoting ‘Boot Room’ members to the sidelines, and here in LFC traditions mean a lot.

 

That’s why I chose a different person to take the reins over. Can you guess who will be my in-game ‘avatar’?

[Blodyxe]

Bring On Year Number 50!

Ronnie Moran, known as 'Mr Liverpool', ‘The Barking Dog’ and ‘Drill Sergeant’ played a pivotal role in the success of Liverpool Football Club, contributing over 49 years in various capacities.

He had filled every role imaginable at the club from player, to physio, to coach and trainer, through to manager, and kit man! Ronnie was feared by every member of the Liverpool squad at a time when it contained some of British football’s most formidable old-school hardmen. 

In his playing days, Moran was a fiercely competitive left-back, and his discipline was influenced by his first manager, Don Welsh, a big army bloke into discipline. Moran's national service further reinforced the importance of hard work and focus.

"Football is about character and showing balls. The minimum you can ask is to give your best. With that and with the right people around you, you’ve got a chance." - Moran said.

After 379 games for Liverpool, Moran joined the coaching staff in 1966. He continued playing for Fagan's reserve team, being "sometimes harsh" on younger players.

"I was a tough player and reacted well to discipline. I was on the staff for a reason. Everybody was different, and I brought the discipline. I’d bump into a lot of players that moved elsewhere and they’d come up to me and say, ‘Ronnie, you were a b**ard to us. I wish I’d listened because I’m getting chased out of my club for not working hard enough.”

Ronnie knew how to bring players back down to Earth. It was always about the next game for him - nothing else mattered. He had the uncanny knack of delivering a straightforward piece of advice that cut right to the heart of an issue and stuck with players for years afterwards. John Barnes recalled Moran's response to winning the title, highlighting his focus on the next challenge.

"Ronnie Moran came in and had the medals in a plastic bag. He put them on the table and said: ‘Four weeks till pre-season lads.’"

His meticulous approach is reflected in the 'Anfield bibles,' containing details of matches, training sessions, injuries and much more as part of his commitment to achieving the very highest standards. Standards which he drilled into the players every day. 

Why Ronnie Moran Is The Best Fit For The Job

Every game was a big game and he prepared the players to go about their business in exactly the same way, whether they were playing a second round League Cup tie or a European Cup final. 

“We’d won 5-0 on a Saturday, you’d come in on the Monday morning and Ronnie Moran would be shouting: ‘Who’d you think you are? We’ve got a game next week!’” former Reds captain Phil Thompson recalled in 2014. “You got nothing for what you’d just done on a Saturday, he’d be hammering you, and we as players would be going: ‘What’s up with this guy? We’ve just won 5-0.’”

Moran also emphasized the importance of balance between team and individual performance. Liverpool's success stemmed from a flexible approach, as they could adapt accordingly when they needed to. That’s why they were considered the most streetwise team in Europe.

"With football, it’s all about getting the balance right between the team and the individual. You need to have a team where the individual can express himself. You need the clever ones, the ones with it up there. But you also need the ones that will do all the donkey work."

Moran took on the role of caretaker manager twice, in 1991 and 1992. Ronnie was level-headed and had the right balance to be a successful coach; he was straightforward and treated everyone the same. He gave all the players an equal chance, whether it was a young apprentice starting out or one of the 'Bigheads', which was how he referred to the senior players. 

Ronnie taught the players to be fearless and knew that if they were able to survive his intensive and demanding training sessions, they would be prepared to play on a Saturday in front of 50,000 even more demanding fans. In 1998, Moran retired after 49 years with Liverpool when it emerged the club were exploring a new direction…

…but in this game, we will persuade him to go for one more season, year 50, but now as the main man in charge. In my opinion, Moran's stature as a disciplinarian, protector of traditions, and embodiment of Liverpool's spirit is just what the team needed at the time. 

In the next update I will try to go through the active squad and give my 2 cents on it.

Edited February 26 by Blodyxe

[Blodyxe]

1998/99 Squad Under Review: Part One

We have looked over the club as a whole in the last few posts, and now it is time to inspect the cogs of the machine one by one. I’ll split the review in two parts, as I’ll go through every player not only as an FM player, but also as someone who wants to learn more about LFC history. I’ve tried to feature key information only, and splice some interesting facts along the way. 

 

David James 

James joined Liverpool in 1992 from Watford, and his career here had a disastrous start. He conceded twenty goals in eleven matches in the first half of the 1993/94, and was dropped in favor of veteran Bruce Grobbelaar, a player David holds in high regard. 

He made it back to the starting XI by keeping a clean sheet against Arsenal, also parrying a penalty in that match. He’s pretty good at that, as he holds the record for most penalties saved in Premier League history with 13. James' frequent blunders earned him the nickname ‘Calamity James’ and he put down his spate of errors to an overindulgence in playing computer games that in turn affected his concentration. 

I know that feeling, David!

The database reflects his lack of concentration well  - he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, with mental and distribution skills holding him back from being an elite goalkeeper. Still though, his reflexes, agility and positioning must count for something, making him a tremendous shot stopper. His knack for long throws is also recognized here, and I will be sure to tick that box in the tactic screen. He will be our starting goalkeeper this season, and hopefully our defense will protect the Armani underwear model well enough.

98/99 was the last season for James in Liverpool, as he didn’t fancy competing for the position with Brad Freidel. Interestingly enough, David found his next team while being drunk, convincing Aston Villa owner Doug Ellis to sign him. It’s a fun read, I recommend it.

James would carve out a successful career for himself, having played in 572 matches in the Premier League for Aston Villa, West Ham, Man City and Portsmouth, scoring 169 clean sheets. He would go on to be an England national team regular between 1997 and 2010, being the first choice goalkeeper during the team's disappointing Euro 2004 and the 2010 World Cup campaigns. 

Will he stay in this team after the season ends? Only time will tell.

Brad Friedel
 

Brad Friedel faced notable work permit challenges early in his career, being denied from signing for Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle and Peter Reid’s Sunderland. 

 

In between his attempts to enter the English game Brad spent his time in Brondby, Galatasaray and Columbus Crew, while also being a regular in the United States national team. Liverpool took notice and finally, gained a work permit for Friedel on appeal after the first request was denied. They signed him for £1.7 million in 1997.

 

While Friedel had some initial success with the Reds, he soon had a difficult time, managing just over 30 games in almost three years. He only showed his true worth after he left the club due to an ill-fated partnership with Houllier. The American made two mistakes in a match with Manchester United and was immediately dropped, a decision to which he did not take kindly.

‘Peter Schmeichel was dodgy for two months but he came through it with flying colors. A bad 20 minutes wasn't going to devastate the rest of my career. The worst thing was Roy didn't stand by me in the press conference after the United game’ - shared Brad.

Friedel was signed to Blackburn Rovers by former LFC player and manager Graeme Souness on a free transfer in November 2000, and the rest is history. Blackburn would become his home, and he would become the holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310, a feat he achieved during spells at Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

Brad is a resilient and determined character, a safer option to David James with less holes in his mental game. Ultimately, I’m happy to keep Brad as a back up option, ready to call upon his services if James does something stupid.

 

Also, Friedel is a fantasy football legend and he can also score from open play! Liverpool keepers are a menace in the opponent’s six yard box, eh? 

Tony Warner

Tony began his career at Liverpool in 1994. He never played a first team game, but made 120 appearances on the bench which earned him a funny nickname ‘Tony Bonus’ due to receiving many win bonuses.

He had a bunch of loan spells and his career at Anfield never really took off, playing as the permanent understudy to David James. By the time of his departure he was the club's third choice keeper. I won’t beat around the bush - Tony won’t be getting any of the bonuses because I already sold him to Alaves for 2.5K, where he will play for their B team. Maybe we will meet again, in the 2001 UEFA cup final?

Here’s his reaction to arguably the best Premier League match of all time. He did have a great view of that match, didn’t he?

Jorgen Nielsen

 

And another keeper! 

 

Nielsen signed for Liverpool in 1997 after winning ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ honors in the Danish Leagues. He was at Anfield for five years, but he left in 2002 having never playing a competitive game for the club. 

But here’s a funny story - his shirt did taste Premier League action! It’s 1999, September 27th, derby against Everton. In the 77th minute of the game, goalkeeper Sander Westerveld and Everton striker Francis Jeffers got into a scuffle and both got red cards. Having used all of their substitutions, Liverpool was forced to use left back Steve Staunton as a stand-in, and so he borrowed Nielsen's shirt for the remainder of the match. 

I’ll spare him from this embarrassing moment by selling him to Wimbledon for 3.7K. He’s a much better third keeper than Tony, but I don’t think we will need his services. By the way, Nielsen retired in 2007 in order to concentrate on his political science university degree, but made his comeback in March 2008.

Rob Jones

Rob Jones began his football career with Crewe Alexandra in Division Four, catching the eye of Liverpool manager Graeme Souness during the 1991/92 season. 

Liverpool successfully secured his services for £300,000, and Jones made his debut just two days after signing for the club in a standout performance against Manchester United. He quickly became a regular starter, earning his first international cap. He contributed to Liverpool reaching the FA Cup final, winning 2–0 against Sunderland.

He was recognized for his performances by being named in the PFA Team of the Year in 1994/95. Over the next four seasons, Jones played a key role for Liverpool, winning the 1995 League Cup against Bolton and making an appearance in the 1996 FA Cup Final. Later, Liverpool's tactical shift saw Jones playing as a left-sided wingback in a 5–3–2 formation.

Injuries plagued Jones after the 1996 FA Cup Final, and despite a return to action, persistent issues with his left knee led to his last game for Liverpool in April 1998. At the end of the 1998/99 season he was released on a free transfer by Gerard Houllier. Unfortunately, his knee issues persisted, and he retired in August 1999. Although he never scored for LFC, Carra and Macca really admired his skills.

Rob’s injury woes are not reflected in the database, and I fancy him as a bench player. Let’s give him a season and see how it all pans out.

Vegard Heggem

Vegard Heggem began his professional football career with Rosenborg, where he won three league titles and a cup. 

He is particularly remembered for scoring a crucial goal against Milan in the 1996/97 UEFA Champions League, helping Rosenborg advance to the quarter-finals and eliminating Milan from the tournament. Following the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Heggem joined Liverpool for £3.5 million. Despite early success at Anfield and some amazing solo runs, he struggled with hamstring injuries.

Heggem's career took a downturn after being injured in the 2000 European Championship, making only four appearances during Liverpool's treble-winning 2000/01 season. His contract with Liverpool ended in 2003, and he retired from football at the age of 28.

Post-retirement, Heggem ran a salmon fishing business. Additionally, he is an official patron of A.F.C. Liverpool, an independent football club owned by Liverpool supporters, and he continues to be a regular attendee at Liverpool home matches, including the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul.

When it comes to his in-game profile, I really like his physical attributes and think he will do a good job as a right back. Given that both Jones and Heggem suffered from injuries I’ll probably need to look for other options.

Bjorn Tore Kvarme

Bjørn Tore Kvarme began his football career with Rosenborg in 1991, winning the Tippeliga five times during his six seasons with the club. Kvarme impressed at Norway's most successful club, who proved their quality by reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the 1996/97 season.

In 1996, he was set to join Stabæk but was outbid by Liverpool, leading to a three-year stint with the club. 

Kvarme's former teammate, Stig-Inge Bjørnebye, was excited at the prospect of teaming up with "Beto" again. "Bjørn is very quick defensively. I remember training with him at Rosenborg and he was terrible to play against because he's very tough," Bjørnebye said. "I also think he'll be popular among the lads. He also liked to take part in the attacking game. He is positively minded and he is a very good professional."

 

The center-half, who could also feature at right-back, had an impressive start to his Liverpool career. Kvarme was in the starting 11 for the rest of the 1996/97 season only missing European games because he had already featured for Rosenborg in Europe. Kvarme continued to be first choice at the start of the 1997/98 season.

 

The first signs of trouble occurred on 18 October 1997 in a derby match at Goodison Park, where Danny Cadamarteri made Kvarme look like an amateur in a 2-0 defeat. Kvarme kept his place but another well-highlighted mistake against Manchester United made Evans single him out for criticism after the match. Kvarme had another bad game against Coventry in the FA Cup and was never a regular again. He left at the start of the 1999/2000 season after Houllier had bought the central defensive pairing of Hyypia and Henchoz. 

 

In 1999, Kvarme transferred to AS Saint-Étienne in France, where he became the club captain during his two-season tenure. He later played for Real Sociedad in La Liga for three seasons, followed by a brief spell with Bastia in France in 2005. Kvarme announced his retirement after the 2007 season, citing injuries as the primary reason. 

He can play on the right and he’s a pretty good center back, but once again, he’s not a part of my long-term plans. as I shipped him out to Marseille for 100K. The reason is quite simple - I have a lot of options in his position, plus his low determination wouldn’t fly under Ronnie Moran. Sorry, Bjørnebye, but your bezzie is out.

Maybe I will regret this decision, maybe not.

Rigobert Song

Song began his career at Metz and later moved to Liverpool in January 1999 for £2.7 million from Salernitana, making a positive impact during a spell at Anfield. Before he arrived, Song already had the distinction of playing in two World Cups for his country.

He quickly earned the support of Liverpool fans, who appreciated his strength, all-action style and effort. His natural position was center back, but during his time at Anfield, Song operated at right-back and became a popular figure with Liverpool fans, who used to affectionately sing "We've only got one Song!" In the 1999–2000 season, he had a mixed campaign, missing time due to international matches but captaining Cameroon to victory in the 2000 African Nations Cup.

His 2000–01 season with Liverpool saw limited playing time. Song made a total of 38 appearances for the Reds before leaving for West Ham United in November 2000 for £2.5 million. He was signed as a possible replacement for Rio Ferdinand, but things didn’t work out between Song and ‘The Hammers’. He spent the rest of his club career in Turkey, playing for Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, where he also became a fan favorite. 

Rigobert was considered a key player for Cameroon for over a decade, Song played in the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 World Cups. He received a red card in the match against Brazil, becoming the youngest player ever to be sent off in a World Cup. He also has a distinction of becoming the first player ever to be sent off at two different World Cups. Song was in a two-day coma following a stroke in 2016, but he resumed his career not long after that. What a legend!

Personally, I like how he looks in real life and in the game. I think he will be a key player for my defense, just look at those physicals! Sure, he’s not the most composed player ever, and his marking is questionable, but I think he will do a good job here. 
 

Phil Babb

Babb came through the youth ranks of Millwall, before beginning his senior career in 1990 with Bradford City. He moved to Coventry City in July 1992 for a fee of £500,000, where he spent two seasons before moving to Liverpool on 1 September 1994 for £3.6 million, which made him the most expensive defender in Britain at the time.

Babb only scored once during six Premier League years and 170 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, incidentally against his former club, Coventry, in September 1996. In 1998, Babb was involved in an infamous blooper against Chelsea which ended with him sliding into the goalpost with a leg either side, injuring his coccyx. 

In January 2000 he joined Tranmere Rovers on a one-month loan and helped them reach the 2000 Football League Cup Final, however his loan spell ended before the final itself and he was unable to take part. 

He moved to Portugal with Sporting on a free transfer in 2000, appearing in 38 official games in his second season, when the Lions conquered both the league and the domestic cup. Babb ended his career at the age of 33 with Sunderland, suffering top level relegation in 2003, and helping the ‘Black Cats’ to a Football League Championship play-off semi-final.

I see the quality in Babb and consider him to be our strongest candidate to be a regular left-sided center back. 5 in ‘decisions’ scares me a bit, but I hope he will use all the other attributes to make up for it.

Steve Staunton

 

Staunton joined Liverpool in 1986 and quickly established himself as a versatile and reliable player. Primarily a left-back, he demonstrated his adaptability by playing in various positions.

Staunton contributed significantly to Liverpool's success during his two spells at the club. He played a big role in the defense and showcased his ability to deliver accurate crosses and set-pieces. One of the highlights of Staunton's Liverpool career was winning the league title in the 1987-1988 season. He also secured an FA Cup winner's medal in 1992. His dedication and consistency on the field earned him respect from both teammates and supporters.

Despite facing challenges with injuries and competition for places, Staunton's time at Liverpool was marked by his professionalism and commitment. Additionally, he played for Bradford City, Crystal Palace, Coventry City, Walsall, and had two stints at Aston Villa. Internationally, he earned 102 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team, captaining them to the knock-out stage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and earning a place in the FIFA Century Club for accumulating over 100 international appearances. 

Following his retirement as a player, he transitioned to coaching and served as the national team coach for the Republic of Ireland before Giovanni Trapattoni took over the role. For me, he’s a decent squad player and not a first XI regular. He has holes in his defensive game, but also experience and leadership to help the team through the hard times.

By the way, people say he could have been a heck of a Gaelic football player, and that sounds tough. Having only returned to LFC for his second stint, he will remain in the club for now.

Dominic Matteo

Dominic Matteo is a man with a cruel fate. His birth mother, Margaret, was a 17-year-old pupil when she fell pregnant, later making a hard decision to put Dom up for adoption. Matteo's adoptive father, who "wanted his boy to play like Cesare Maldini", was a keen follower of European football.

Matteo was spotted playing for Birkdale United by Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish, who had originally gone to Birkdale United just to watch his son, Paul Dalglish. His versatility counted against him, as he was asked to play several positions in the reserve team and subsequently failed to establish himself in one position. However, he impressed enough to win a one-year professional contract at the age of 18. He then signed a new two-year contract in 1993.

He made his Premier League debut for the Reds on 23 October 1993. He scored two goals for Liverpool, making arguably his biggest impact in the 1999–2000 season. Matteo was expected to become a first team regular, but was instead sold to Leeds United, where he enjoyed a good stint. He joined Leeds United despite failing his medical with the club. He made his team debut against A.C. Milan the following month, in a UEFA Champions League contest. He was one of Leeds' best players through their 2000–01 Champions League campaign, in which they achieved a semi-final place. He is fondly remembered by Leeds fans especially for the goal he scored at the San Siro against Milan, in the first group stage which ensured they would progress through to the next round. 

When Rio Ferdinand moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2002, Matteo was handed team captaincy. Leeds were relegated at the end of 2003–04. Dominic spent the rest of his career in Blackburn Rovers, and Championship side Stoke City, where he played on short-term deals. Matteo played his last game in November 2007.

In his autobiography and interviews associated with its launch, Matteo admitted having run up over £1,000,000 in gambling debts. He recalled betting £200,000 on a single horse race, although that bet won. Matteo was declared bankrupt in 2015. His book also repeatedly referenced Matteo being involved in a culture of heavy drinking. In November 2019, Matteo underwent surgery on a brain tumour, and was declared fully recovered in April the following year.

He didn’t have an easy life, did he? I like his skill set and will keep him as a backup to Phil Babb. The adoration James Milner has for Matteo is real, so he must have been a good professional.

Stig Inge Bjørnebye

Stig Inge Bjørnebye began his professional career in 1987, starting out as a midfielder. 

His versatility was recognized, and later he switched to a left-back position, showcasing his defensive prowess. Bjørnebye made a significant move to Liverpool in 1992 from Rosenborg, when manager Graeme Souness signed him for £600,000. He became the first Norwegian player to join our historic club!

Stig played a crucial role in the 1994/95 season when Liverpool finished fourth in the Premier League. This season also marked Liverpool's return to European competitions after a ban, with Bjørnebye contributing to the UEFA Cup run. Unfortunately, Bjørnebye's time at Liverpool was hampered by injuries, limiting his appearances and affecting his overall impact on the team.

In 2000, he returned to Norway to join his former club, Rosenborg BK, before retiring from professional football in 2003. He earned a total of 75 caps for Norway and played in major tournaments, including the UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup. After retiring from professional football, Bjørnebye stayed involved in the sport. He took up various roles, including administrative positions within the Norwegian Football Association.

Bjørnebye has a nice left foot, and good physical attributes to make him a starting left back for the season. I hope he will avoid his real life injury struggles, and leave his mark in the history of the club.

Jamie Carragher

 

I saved the best for last. Well, last from the first part of the squad introduction, at least.

Although a childhood Everton supporter, he joined Liverpool in 1988, and regularly turned up at Liverpool's School of Excellence wearing a Graeme Sharp Everton kit. Carragher's father was also an Everton supporter, and his two middle names, Lee Duncan, are a tribute to Gordon Lee and Duncan McKenzie.

He made his first team debut for the Reds under Roy Evans in a League Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough on 8 January 1997, coming on as a substitute for Rob Jones 75 minutes into a 2–1 defeat. Three days later he made his Premier League debut as a substitute at Anfield, playing the entire second half of a 0–0 draw with West Ham United.

His first start was marked in fine style by heading in a left-wing corner in front of the Kop to set his team on the way to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield. Goals for Liverpool have come rarely for Carragher and this was one of the highlights of his career. Carragher broke into the first team in the 1997/98 season as the team struggled to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester United. Throughout his early playing career, he was essentially used as a utility player that spent time as a center-half, full-back and defensive midfielder.

Carragher learned to shun the spotlight and focus on football instead and went on to make 44 appearances in the 1998/99 season, and was named as the club's Player of the Year. Carragher's versatility as a defender proved to be absolutely vital for him as he held his ground despite many attempts by newcomers to push him out of the first eleven. He could adapt to any given situation which has proved ultimately the foundation for his long and successful career. He established himself as the team’s regular right-back before moving to the left when Markus Babbel arrived at the club.

From 2002 to 2004, Carragher was hit by two serious injuries, missing the 2002 FIFA World Cup for an operation on his knee, and later receiving a broken leg. Despite this, he was able to win a second League Cup in 2003 with Liverpool, and shortly afterwards was named the club's vice-captain.

The 2004/05 season proved to be a career-defining one for Carragher. New manager Rafael Benítez moved him to center-half, where he would manage 56 appearances all season alongside Sami Hyypiä. Carragher developed a reputation as a strong and positionally astute defender and would remain in the center-half position for the rest of his career. This season saw Carragher prove central to Liverpool's triumph in the UEFA Champions League, in particular when he made two vital last-ditch interceptions in the final whilst suffering from cramp.

Carragher was subsequently awarded the Liverpool Player of the Year Award at the end of the campaign, and went on to captain the team to their UEFA Super Cup victory over CSKA Moscow. Carragher was even nominated for Ballon d'Or in 2005. In May 2006, Carragher played in the FA Cup Final against West Ham United, his tenth final in as many years of club football. Despite scoring an own goal in the 21st minute, Liverpool went on to win the Final 3–1 on penalties after the match finished 3–3 after extra-time, giving Carragher his second FA Cup win. 

Carragher was voted as Liverpool's Player of the Year for a third time after the 2006/07 season by the fans, and immediately agreed a contract extension until 2011. That season also saw Carragher announce his international retirement. On 24 February 2011, Carragher made his 137th European appearance in a match against Sparta Prague at Anfield, setting a new British record. In 2012, Carragher won a third League Cup with Liverpool.

On 7 February 2013, Carragher announced that he would retire at the end of the season, stating "It has been a privilege and honor to represent this great club for as long as I have and I am immensely proud to have done so since I was 9." On 19 May 2013, Carragher played his 737th and final game for Liverpool in a 1–0 win over Queens Park Rangers. Before the match, he was given a guard of honor and was presented with a special trophy commemorating his career by Steven Gerrard and Ian Callaghan. During the match, despite his sparse goal record, Carragher hit Robert Green's post with a 30-yard strike, before being substituted in the 87th minute to a standing ovation from both sets of fans and players.

Jamie is one of the few ‘untouchable’ members of this team for me. He looks incredible for being only 20 years old and can slide into any defensive position with ease. I started working on his speed attributes right away, as this is the only weakness he has as a player. 

 

That wraps up part number one, which took me about a week to complete. See you soon!

Edited February 28 by Blodyxe