This is difficult, it’s more difficult than I had imagined. When I started out to do this article, I had a few names in mind but the list kept growing and growing, so I’m sure some of you will disagree with some of my choices.
I had to ask myself what is a “Cult Hero”? I came to the conclusion that it is a player undervalued, underappreciated and most of all ridiculed by opposing fans. Although these players still go down as heroes in my eyes.
So here goes…
Goalkeeper – Jerzy Dudek
I really could not have picked anyone else here, could I? Jerzy was signed from Feyenoord in 2001 and was immediately Liverpool’s first choice. Jerzy had good and bad times at Liverpool.
Unfortunately, he will always be remembered for his awful mistake at Anfield where he let the ball slip through his grasp to gift Diego Forlan a goal for Manchester United.
Thankfully for Dudek he will always be remembered for the good. For me his performance in the league cup final against Manchester United was world class, earning him the man of the match award in the process. (I’ve linked it here check it out). Obviously, it’s got to be Istanbul, Jerzy’s crowning moment. How he saved that effort from Shevchenko I’ll never know? Plus, two penalty saves in the shootout, he’s a hero in my book.
Defender – Djimi Traore
Djimi Traore, what a man. In truth Traore wasn’t great, was he? He spent most of his time at Anfield in the reserves. When Benitez came to the helm, he gave Traore a run of games in the 2004-2005 season. Traore was clumsy, positionally he was poor and he never really attacked, although he always gave 100%.
He gave away more pointless free kicks and penalties than Lucas, think about that for a moment. His worst moment was when he back heeled the ball into his own net against Burnley, nightmare.
Although as it was with Dudek, he’ll always be remembered for Istanbul, from the second half on, he was brilliant. Clearing the ball of the line from a Shevchenko effort. Djimi will always be remember for Istanbul, that’s enough for me.
Defender – Lucas Leiva
The most criticised player to ever play for Liverpool surely? I am going to admit, I’ve always liked Lucas. I love a player who plays for the shirt, who puts in the tackles, who never pulls out of challenges, and that’s what you get from this Brazilian. Yes, at times Lucas is frustrating, he gives away stupid fouls & sometimes in possession he is wasteful. His worst moment in red was getting booed at Anfield when he was taken off as a sub, always the scapegoat was Lucas.
10 years now with Liverpool, a brilliant servant. He can play in holding midfield and now centre back, a testament to him. I will always remember some of the games he played against United when he bossed the midfield, the 2-0 at Anfield in the 2009-10 season always stands out. He always rises in the big games, which is evident by his excellent performance this season in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Should get a testimonial. He deserves it. I for one will be disappointed if he doesn’t get one.
Defender – Igor Biscan
‘Eeeeeeegor’ a player who never looked arsed was Igor. The big Croatian was signed to add some competition for Didi Hamann in the middle of the park and later he was moved to centre back.
Biscan by all accounts was a good centre midfielder, but an awful centre back, when Henchoz was injured the 2002-2003 season Biscan played in the middle of defence, it was a disaster and Liverpool lost out on Champions League qualification in the league. Biscan getting sent off in the UEFA Cup against Marseille was his worst moment, because after Drogba destroyed us.
In midfield, it was a different story, he really was great. In his first season at Liverpool he was dominant against the likes of Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira. In the 2004-2005 season Biscan was key in getting Liverpool to the Champions League final, playing brilliantly against Deportivo & Bayer Leverkusen. In my opinion he was man of the match against Chelsea in the semi-final, superb in the middle of the park, a shame he never played in the final. Solid was Igor.
Midfield – Vladimir Smicer
How many people can say that they scored for Liverpool with their last kick of a football for the club? Valdi can.
Smicer was signed in 1999 and he struggled to come to grips with the pace and the intensity of the Premier League and often struggled with injuries which halted his progress.
Smicer was key in the 2000-2001 treble winning season playing his part in all the finals. Although the Champions League is where Smicer performed his best, great against Dortmund & Roma in the 2001-2002 season. It was his last game for Liverpool which writes him into Anfield folklore. Harry Kewell had to come off injured in the first half and in his LAST appearance for Liverpool Smicer gave it his all, scoring the second in a once in a life time comeback against AC Milan (some strike too).
Finally, as I alluded to earlier, his last kick of the ball, a penalty in the shootout, the 4th penalty, serious stones Vladi. A fist pump and a kiss of the badge shows what it meant to him. Fair play to you Vladi Smicer.
Midfield – Gary McAllister
Imagine if Klopp signed a 35-year-old midfielder? Imagine the meltdown on Twitter? I would have loved Twitter to be around when Liverpool signed the 35 year old Scot in 2000. Gary McAllister lasted 2 years at Anfield playing 87 times and scoring 9 goals.
In the treble winning season, McAllister made a massive impact on Liverpool. Massive. He scored the first penalty in the shootout against Birmingham, he assisted (kind of) Michael Owen’s first goal in the FA Cup Final, finally he scored 1 and played a part in 3 of the goals in the UEFA cup final.
Important goals against Bradford and Coventry in the run in to gain Liverpool Champions League football where incredibly vital. Who can forget his penalty against Barcelona in the semi-final? Quality.
His best moment in a Liverpool shirt, his free kick against Everton. Absolute scenes at Goodison. Magic.
Midfield – Sammy Lee
He is the only player that I have selected who didn’t feature for Liverpool in the Premier League era, though he deserves his place as much as anyone. The workman in a midfield full of class is how I’d describe this man. Really underrated.
A regular in the Liverpool starting line up from 1980-1985, Lee won the lot, including winning 2 Champions League medals. Maybe it’s a little unfair to include Sammy Lee in a list of Cult Heroes considering he is basically an Anfield legend, but I think it’s fair as he doesn’t get the recognition as others do from the 80’s.
My favourite story about Sammy Lee is always in the 1981 European Cup semi-final away to Bayern Munich, Bob Paisley asks him to do a man marking job on Paul Breitner, which Sammy does to perfection. Liverpool go on to win the game 1-0 and win the European Cup in 1981.
Want to know how good Sammy Lee was, just ask Paul Breitner, I’m sure he still has nightmares.
Midfield – Danny Murphy
Recently I’ve been reading “Simon Hughes – Ring of Fire” (check it out brilliant read) and one of the chapters I really enjoyed was the one from Danny Murphy. It brought back some old brilliant memories. So, with that I had to include Danny here.
Murphy was solid for Liverpool, maybe a bit unlucky. He never really got playing in is preferred position in the middle of the park due to Steven Gerrard being Steven Gerrard. Although Murphy still made an impact, being a key figure in the treble winning campaign in 2000-2001.
Scoring the winning goal 3 times at Old Trafford stands out for obvious reasons, superb. His volley against Palace in the Semi Final of the Worthington Cup was a worldie. For me personally, my favourite memory is his 2 goals against Newcastle in 2002 at Anfield. Why you may ask? This was my first Liverpool game, I was 8 years old. Thank for them memories Danny.
Midfield – Maxi Rodriguez
Was excited when he joined Liverpool. Was disappointed when he never got playing. I really did enjoy Maxi playing for Liverpool, he was great, and a great song as well. Should probably have played more games for Liverpool, only playing 57 times in 3 seasons.
Brilliant towards the back end of 2010-11 season, I remember watching Liverpool play and thinking every time the ball fell to Maxi that it was a goal. 7 goals in 3 games are credit to this. Two goals in wins at Stamford Bridge also for the Argentine.
Stand out moment for me is his 3rd goal at Fulham, the confidence he must have been feeling, absolute stunning hit.
Striker – Luis Garcia
One of the most loved ex – Liverpool players in modern times, a true Cult hero. Signed £6m surely that is an absolute bargain? Garcia for all his good was a frustrating player, often dubbed as lazy and not up to the physicality of the English game, I think we only appreciated Garcia when he left Liverpool.
In the 2004-2005 Champions League campaign Garcia was key for Liverpool, scoring 5 goals on the way to glory, including the winning goals against Juventus (an absolute wonder goal) and Chelsea. The next season Garcia wasn’t as effective although a last-minute winner against Arsenal at Anfield and the winner in the Semi Final of the FA Cup again against Chelsea was great.
For me his stand out moment was the “Ghost Goal”. Jose is still raging, isn’t he? hahaha. For me it was in, for millions of reds around the world, it was in. Garcia knew, I knew. Glorious
Striker – Dirk Kuyt
The man for the big occasion and honestly my favourite Liverpool player. I had “Kuyt 18” on the back of 3 of my Liverpool shirts. I loved him. A player who represented everything I wanted in a Liverpool player, hardworking and a constant desire to win. Never really had a “bad” game just wasn’t appreciated as much as Alonso, Gerrard or Torres, but was as effective in my opinion.
Dirk scored a lot of important goals for Liverpool. The winner against City in the 3-2 comeback, the first against Inter Milan at Anfield in a 2-0 win, 2 penalties in the Merseyside derby at Goodison, the winner in a Champions League play off, a hat trick against Manchester United, the winner at Anfield when 10 man Liverpool beat the Ev and the winning penalty in the Semi-final of the Champions League in 2007.
When I sit back and think about everything Dirk Kuyt has done for Liverpool, it really is amazing. So many winning goals, so many important goals. A player I’m sure no Liverpool fan could criticise. I can’t pick out a stand out moment, but if I had too, I’m going for the Merseyside derby winning penalty, absolute nerves of steel.
The man gave 100% for Liverpool and he was my hero.
