‘We just don’t think the time’s right.’
‘Why phone me and ask me to come back if you don’t think the time’s right?’ I was furious. ‘I want to come back to Liverpool. I wouldn’t be sitting here now otherwise. I did a good job the first time. When you gave me the job, the person who came in to help me was Bob Paisley, the most successful manager you will ever see, with six titles in nine years. I wasn’t intimidated by Bob. I was grateful he was on my side. You’ve asked me to come back and now you say the time’s not right. If I’d been bad at my job, would I be sitting here? I don’t think so. If I was a dud, would you be saying the timing was right?’
Liverpool couldn’t give me an answer. Their logic baffled me then, and still does now. Never before in all my life have I felt such anger. My stomach was churning as I got in the car and sped off to Anfield, of all places, because Paul was playing some game for Liverpool reserves. I sat there, fuming, thinking this could have been such a pleasant experience, watching my son play, and looking forward to a return to the dug-out just down there. I’d have quit Blackburn. The pull to Liverpool was always strong, so what was the board playing at? Why lead me up the garden path and then shut the gate in front of me? So I returned to Robert.
‘Chairman, look, I’ll tell you what I’ll do,’ I offered. ‘I’ll sign a contract extension to the end of the season and that’s me finished.’ And that’s what happened.
Leading Rovers to the title was special, and it felt very fitting to lift the trophy at Anfield on the final day of the season. I know all about the history of managers winning the title with two different teams – Herbert Chapman did it with Huddersfield and Arsenal – but wallowing in self-admiration was not my style.
As the years passed, I still thought of Liverpool, still occasionally returned to Anfield for the annual Hillsborough service. When Liverpool brought in Gerard Houllier to work as joint-manager with Roy Evans in 1996, I wished it had been me. Why didn’t they approach me to help Roy? I’d have gone and assisted him, just as the board appointed Bob to give me any guidance I required. If it had worked with me and Bob, why not with me and Roy? Liverpool’s decision to recruit Houllier was a surprise. There were no lines of demarcation. Nobody knew whether Roy picked the side or Gerard did. Nobody knew who was responsible for signing players, Roy or Gerard. Who set the blueprint for training? The players were asking Roy and Gerard the same question and sometimes receiving different answers. Two equals never works in football. Players will always play one off against the other. There could be only one leader, one person making the calls and taking responsibility.
If it had been Roy and me, I’d never have tried to undermine him. Having been manager of Liverpool, knowing the pressures of the job and having enjoyed such support from Roy and Ronnie, I could have made the relationship with Roy work. I’d have kept my counsel, just chipping in when Roy asked. I’d have been loyal, doing anything to make Roy’s time in the job a success. Good players abounded at Melwood, some of whom I’d signed. Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler were all coming on, and Liverpool could have challenged for trophies. Roy’s joint-managership with Gerard was doomed, so I wasn’t totally surprised when it broke down. Roy was incredibly honest, telling the board it wasn’t working, making a brave decision to walk away from the club he loved. Many people would have thought ‘last in, first out’ and waited for Gerard to leave.
After Blackburn, my career took me to Newcastle and Celtic, both fantastic clubs. My CV may be dominated by Liverpool, but my time with them represents much more than the mere passage of employment. I was delighted to be at St James’ Park and back in Glasgow. But I always thought of Liverpool.
17
COMING HOME: LIVERPOOL 2009–10
M
Y RESPECT
for Rafa Benitez will always run deep, partly because he invited me back to my Liverpool home in 2009. It took a strong man to allow a predecessor back into the building. Although the main part of my role keeps me in the Academy at Kirkby, there was the possibility of a shadow being cast, so I admired Rafa for not worrying about the past and simply doing what he felt was best for Liverpool’s future. I’m not sure many managers would have done the same. My job title is Academy Ambassador, which means if anybody on the youth-development side needs any help, I’m there. If it’s advice, I’ll raid the memory bank for any experience that might assist. If the commercial department requires somebody to promote Liverpool Football Club to a sponsor, I’ll put on my smartest suit and best smile and go and meet people. Turning up for home matches is also part of the role, and one I love fulfilling, and I’ve taken in many Liverpool away games as well.
Despite my unequivocal support for Liverpool, I cannot dispute that the 2009–10 season was incredibly disappointing. Back in August 2009 anticipation and confidence, at Anfield were high because the team had just come second, as close as ever to winning the Premier League title, with a fantastic head-to-head record against United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Xabi Alonso was a loss because the previous season the Spanish midfielder had looked a great player, but Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani came in, so we were all right for numbers. The frustration gripping all of us at Anfield was due to the inability to hold on to results, particularly in the Champions League against Lyons and Fiorentina, and then Atletico Madrid in the Europa League. Some Liverpool fans might consider such late lapses unfortunate, but we never considered it lucky when we scored in the dying seconds. We called it persistence.
Rafa was not to blame for Liverpool’s plight. He’s a good coach, very stubborn in his implicit belief that his way is the right way. Rafa’s tactical presentations to the players are famed within football. He tells the team every significant detail about the opposition. When it comes to dodging responsibility, many footballers are the worst offenders and some really needed to look in the mirror. It was always somebody else to blame. Had they done everything correctly? When I look around football, I find it no coincidence that the very best teams accept responsibility for their errors, players and managers, in the bad times as well as plaudits during the good times. Strong characters such as Stevie and Carra show an honesty that others should match.
What I still cannot comprehend about Liverpool’s failure in 2010 is that Rafa’s best players were as good as anybody else’s. When I sat in the Main Stand, watching them line up, admiring the quality of Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Carra and Stevie, I just thought these were top names who’d shine in the Premier League. Take Pepe. What a fantastic goalkeeper he is, as good as anybody in the world, if not better. Liverpool can’t improve in goal, and I don’t think they have had a better defender than Carra for a decade. He’ll put his foot in, head the ball, and it riles me when critics disparage Jamie’s passing. It’s not the worst passing around by a long chalk. Newspapers say the reverse about Glen Johnson, banging on about ‘he’s really good going forward but terrible defending’. Everybody has a weakness but Glen isn’t a bad defender and he’s fantastic at attacking. When Glen pushes on, Carra makes sure the right-back space is covered, another sign of how well he reads the game. As well as being a brilliant defender, Carra’s a great leader who talks to players, encouraging them and criticising them when they deserve it.
Carra’s a real student of football, a bit of an anorak actually, but I never discussed Liverpool games with him when we bumped into each other last season, because that would have been unfair on Rafa. I was brought up to respect the position of Liverpool manager. Even if the manager changes, as it has now with Rafa’s departure and Roy Hodgson’s arrival, my principle of respecting the office has never altered.
When Carra voiced his interest in management, I understood why because he’s just so taken up with the game. I don’t think many of the top players from the modern era would want all the hassle of management, particularly as they are financially secure, but Carra’s different. He’s certainly been a top player but he’s also got the hunger and football brain to do well in management. He’s already taking his coaching badges. When I read Carra’s book, it was creepy because many opinions he had about the Academy system chimed with mine. Some people suggest Carra might step up one day at Liverpool. The appointment from within can work brilliantly but it’s more about the person than the principle. The individual has to be right. Carra will know if management suits when retirement beckons. That’s the day of reckoning.
Stevie Gerrard’s more noticeable than Carra because he scores goals and you can see him driving forward, but I feel Carra’s contribution has been just as important for Liverpool. I hope that Stevie, like Carra, plays for as long as possible at Anfield. He’s a fantastic asset and what I like most about him is his humility. He never, ever chases the limelight. Stevie’s never comfortable being showered with praise but he deserves all the accolades. He fulfils his obligations as Liverpool captain superbly. When I listen to him being interviewed, he comes across as level-headed, intelligent and a responsible ambassador for the club. Stevie’s just a really good footballer who appreciates the money he’s getting and the life he’s leading. He’s not one of those who pushes his fame and fortune in punters’ faces.
As a player, he’s been truly fantastic. So many times Stevie’s lifted Liverpool by the scruff of the neck and dragged them back into games. It brings a smile just thinking about the match against Olympiakos in December 2004, when he rescued Liverpool with that stunning strike in front of the Kop. The punters were magnificent in Istanbul in May 2005, singing their hearts out. Stevie also inspired Liverpool, stirring the players at 3–0 down. When he got the first goal against AC Milan, Liverpool got back in the game. Against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final, Stevie conjured up a wonder-strike. The greatest compliment I can pay him is to say that he’s the man for the big occasion, who treats adversity with contempt. With that commitment and eye for goal, Stevie would have been welcome in any of the teams under Bob, Joe and me. Lawro once described Stevie as ‘Souness with pace’, which I thought was a fantastic tribute. Anybody who gets mentioned in the same breath as Graeme Souness has done well. Stevie certainly has.
Mascherano is far more defensively minded than Stevie, and I wouldn’t rate too many other players around the world higher than Javier for breaking up attacks. Opposing teams know a dog of war guards Liverpool’s back four. Mascherano possesses all the qualities required for a top ball-winner – he’s tough, mobile, quick, reads the game brilliantly and puts his foot in. I love the way the Argentinian puts in a really strong shift every time, getting around the pitch, nicking the ball, never stopping, and competing hard until the final whistle. Nobody can claim to have seen Mascherano play and not give 100 per cent effort for Liverpool. His many other virtues far outweigh his passing, but I’ve also seen how he could send Stevie or Fernando away with a simple ball.
Fernando’s endeared himself to Liverpool supporters, not just because he’s the best centre-forward around, but by making an effort to understand the club’s culture. When I spoke to Fernando, I was impressed by how quickly he assimilated the principles and history of Liverpool Football Club. As a striker, he’s unstoppable when he goes one-on-one, isolating the defender so brutally I almost feel pity for them. Almost. I felt for Fernando last season. It was an unfortunate, stop–start year for him, yet he still bagged 22 goals – that demonstrated his class. One injury after another plagued him, and my long-held belief is that Fernando has been overworked. Spain’s leading striker has not had a break for three years. His summers have been filled up with Euro 2008, the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the World Cup in 2010. Those constant demands have definitely taken their toll. Fernando is a thoroughbred footballer and nobody would exhaust a race-horse like that. All that relentless football caught up with him and Liverpool paid the price in 2010. People say players get a rest when they’re injured but that’s rubbish. Recuperating from his injuries, Fernando was hardly on holiday. He was in rehab, in the gym, in the treatment room hour after hour, day after day and that’s no rest. His unforgiving schedule suggests, I think, that Fernando’s problems will continue and I fear for him this season.
Whenever I take my seat in the Main Stand, I passionately hope Alberto Aquilani will show his true qualities. Liverpool resigned themselves to Alonso leaving for Real Madrid, so Rafa had plenty of time to pick a midfield replacement, and Aquilani was his choice. Unfortunately, he arrived from Roma with an ankle injury, a frustration for him, Rafa and everybody at Liverpool. Whenever I’ve observed Aquilani, he seems quite alert, seeing a pass. I saw his excitement when scoring at the Kop against Portsmouth and Atletico Madrid, a reaction that proves how desperately he wants his transfer to work out. I believe he has a real desire to show people he’s better than they imagine. He cannot complain, though. It’s the nature of football for there to be criticism if somebody arrives for £20 million and struggles to deliver in his first season. Sympathy was always going to be in short supply for Alberto. I heard people whisper, ‘why did Liverpool pay that for him? Look at the state of him.’ I felt that to be unfair because, after all, he was returning to fitness after an operation. Missing pre-season was especially damaging, particularly for a new signing from abroad, unfamiliar with the frenetic pace of English football. So I’ll reserve judgement on Alberto Aquilani until well into this season. If he has an injury-free run, Anfield can judge Aquilani properly.
A squad is only as good as the weakest player and that fact has held Liverpool back. Liverpool don’t have the financial riches of Manchester City or Chelsea, so I knew the thinness of the squad would be exposed. I can understand why Liverpool have failed to land a title in the 21st Century. Rival clubs have poured heavy investment into salaries and transfers, and the competition is stiffer now than when I was managing, but what mystifies me is Liverpool’s lack of League success right through the Nineties. I simply cannot believe that subsequent Liverpool managers did not build on the solid foundation. Blackburn have lifted the title more recently than Liverpool. People said it was Jack Walker’s cold, hard cash that made it possible, but money was no guarantee of success or is it ever. Rovers finished fourth, second and then first, as we slowly shaped a team capable of winning the title.