You can leave Liverpool but Liverpool never leaves you. Some might say it is the usual Scouse sentimentality thing with old cliches being used over and over again. But meet Phil Thompson, and you know it is not an old cliche. Thommo is just Liverpool through and through who knows that he has been luckly enough to have done it all for Liverpool.
He started in the boys' pen, then the Kop, then moved to the pitch, captained Liverpool, lifted trophies and twice been in the dug out assisting managers, albeit the first one stopped acrimoniously with his old friend Graeme Souness, of the S*n fame. As much as he dislikes his old friend, he shows tremendous respect to the other manager he worked with. 'A certain Merseyside reporter' who thinks Gerard Houllier's time was a failure visibly hurts. 'Don't be like him, Gerard Houllier gave an awful lot to Liverpool Football Club'.
He shows his biasness on Sky Sports and he doesn't care cause when you're a true fan your club means an awful lot more than the viewers.
Our club must be proud to have such a respected red as our Honorary President. The connection between Phil and Malta started back in the summer of 99, when together with Sammy Lee he came to officially open our club. A couple of months later, he visited us again together with the whole squad, for a training camp in January. The next time, he didn't get the whole squad, but as significantly brought the fruit of his squad - the shiny treble, which he promised on his last visit. And true to his word, he brought the real thing.
This week, I have been lucky enough to get an interview with this legend ...
Q: Three years down the line, how much do you miss your role at Liverpool FC ?
I think I missed it ever since I left, ever since I had to walk down from Anfield in 2004. It was a great part of my life, I enjoyed it immensely, some people think that maybe I felt unhappy with the football club because I was sacked, but it wasn't. I had some fantastic times, I enjoyed every minute of it and I was glad and I told Rick Parry and the chairman David Moores thanks for giving me the chance to come back and help Liverpool win trophies.
You have been in touching distance to the Premiership in 2002, where you have also spent a considerable time as acting manager during Gerard Houllier's illness, why did the title prove elusive?
Players. I think we needed a certain calibre of players, and to win the Premiership title you need strikers to score enough goals, but I think the essence is having midfield players who can score goals and we didn't have enough of that. We had some fantastic players, we had some fantastic seasons, but we just never had enough to win the Premiership. We came second when Gerard had his illness, Arsenal had a great season and most other times we would have won the league, Michael and Emile were playing very well but I just don't think we had enough and you make the signings and maybe we just didn't choose the right players.
Talking about your time as part of the coaching staff, what do you feel is the biggest legacy you left behind you?
We brought disclipline back into the football club which we felt was missing and another legacy that we left was the new Melwood. The new training facilities there are absolutely superb and I think even when Rafa came in afterwards has said that is a fantastic building.
The one player you absolutely loved working with?
I can't say one particular player because there were some great ones and you can't really pick one out. Steven Gerrard, to come from a young player to become a world famous star. Michael (Owen) was already a world famous star when I went to Liverpool and the like of Jamie Carragher. Carra was a vital member of our squad and our team at the time and got a lot of criticism and it's amazing now that he's everybody's hero, he's a fantastic player.
The one player you see a lot of yourself into?
Sami Hyypia. Sami was probably more dominant in the air than I ever was. Sami reads the game very well. He was quieter than what I was, but he was ready for every game, he's always at the right position, so a lot of times he didn't even need to make tackles.
And having done it all as a player including winning the European Cup as the captain, how does success from the dug-out compare to actually being on the pitch?
I think it was all good in its own way. I was in a great team in the seventies and eighties, we were the best team in world club football, that's how good we were. To come back though at a time when Liverpool didn't win so many trophies for some time as assitant manager and help Liverpool win back trophies gives me a lot of pride but nothing ever compares to being a player, and certainly being captain.
Do you see any of Gerard Houllier in Rafael Benitez?
No I think they're both their own men, from what I hear the biggest similarity is the big attention they give to the minor details, and it's always the small things that you do and if you pay attention to that you will be very successful. Gerard was like that and I heard that Rafa's just like that as well.
The trophy you cherish most as assistant manager?
We had once the five trophies lined up for a photograph, Gerard Houllier was there and there were Patrik Berger and Markus Babbel and they were asked which one is the best trophy and they went for the UEFA Cup, then Gerard went to Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher and asked them which one you cherish most and they put their arms around the FA Cup and they said it's the FA Cup cause that's the one cup we dreamt about winning when we were growing up, so I say that's the most important cup. I could also say the League Cup because that's the first trophy that we won, we haven't won anything yet but I think the FA Cup's the one.
Talking more about nowadays, regarding the path the club has taken, how much do you approve of two Americans buying in the club and seeing David Moores leaving?
It was a very sad day, I pay extreme compliment to David Moores to say that he's as important as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. He's done it quietly without any spotlight whatsoever. All he wanted was to bring the glory to Liverpool Football Club. He was fantastic. The Americans have got a lot more money than David. Liverpool Football Club needed massive investment and George Gillet and Tom Hicks have come up with the big money. They have to show it now and Rafa deserves their backing and now they need to back their manager and take the team to next level and that is winning the Premiership title.
And talking about the present and future, how do you feel about leaving Anfield? How much of a necessary evil it is? Can the glorious European nights be recreated in the new Anfield?
It is going to be extremely difficult. We always said that when the Kop went, it will have the same people so it will stay the same but it's not the same, it's not the same from when I was standing in the Kop when I was ten or eleven years old - 28,000 people in one end of the ground. I remember when me and Gerard were still there, I spoke to Rick (Parry) that you have to make it the right way, you have to forget about having corporate boxes all way round the stadium.
You have always been very close to the fans and even called yourself a Kopite. How do you reply to the recent mud slinging by UEFA, particularly by Gaillard?
It didn't surprise me one bit. They always try to get out of situations which can go back to Heysel. And it is extremely sad that they can come out and say that we are the worst fans in Europe. These people are supposed to be clever people who have responsible jobs, how can they make such a ridiculous comment is amazing. Gaillard should have paid with his job. He is just getting himself out of any criticism because the buck stops with them. Maybe some of our fans are to blame, maybe we have 10% to blame but UEFA from day one got it wrong, the stadium wasn't fit for such a match and that's first and foremost, the allocation of tickets was totally wrong.
They were told by Liverpool that it is a recipe for disaster. They should know better than that. Liverpool fans have got a fantastic reputation all over the world. How you could say that stuff about Liverpool fans when you see some of the stuff happening all over the last years. Some countries, the hooligan element is absolutely outrageous, racism still happens. When UEFA slaps fines of a couple of thousand pounds will not make racism go away. And the buck stops at the top.
Liverpool Football Club winning the Premiership whilst the city holds the European Capital of Culture title, how sweet does that sound for you?
Fantastic, that's fantastic. I've always said that the fourth year is always the most important year for Rafa. If Rafa gets the backing of the new owners I think we can win the Premiership title this year. If we don't get the right signings and Rafa doesn't get the backing, we will fight for second, third or fourth place I'm afraid. So give Rafa the money, and he will spend it wisely.
He started in the boys' pen, then the Kop, then moved to the pitch, captained Liverpool, lifted trophies and twice been in the dug out assisting managers, albeit the first one stopped acrimoniously with his old friend Graeme Souness, of the S*n fame. As much as he dislikes his old friend, he shows tremendous respect to the other manager he worked with. 'A certain Merseyside reporter' who thinks Gerard Houllier's time was a failure visibly hurts. 'Don't be like him, Gerard Houllier gave an awful lot to Liverpool Football Club'.
He shows his biasness on Sky Sports and he doesn't care cause when you're a true fan your club means an awful lot more than the viewers.
Our club must be proud to have such a respected red as our Honorary President. The connection between Phil and Malta started back in the summer of 99, when together with Sammy Lee he came to officially open our club. A couple of months later, he visited us again together with the whole squad, for a training camp in January. The next time, he didn't get the whole squad, but as significantly brought the fruit of his squad - the shiny treble, which he promised on his last visit. And true to his word, he brought the real thing.
This week, I have been lucky enough to get an interview with this legend ...
Q: Three years down the line, how much do you miss your role at Liverpool FC ?
I think I missed it ever since I left, ever since I had to walk down from Anfield in 2004. It was a great part of my life, I enjoyed it immensely, some people think that maybe I felt unhappy with the football club because I was sacked, but it wasn't. I had some fantastic times, I enjoyed every minute of it and I was glad and I told Rick Parry and the chairman David Moores thanks for giving me the chance to come back and help Liverpool win trophies.
You have been in touching distance to the Premiership in 2002, where you have also spent a considerable time as acting manager during Gerard Houllier's illness, why did the title prove elusive?
Players. I think we needed a certain calibre of players, and to win the Premiership title you need strikers to score enough goals, but I think the essence is having midfield players who can score goals and we didn't have enough of that. We had some fantastic players, we had some fantastic seasons, but we just never had enough to win the Premiership. We came second when Gerard had his illness, Arsenal had a great season and most other times we would have won the league, Michael and Emile were playing very well but I just don't think we had enough and you make the signings and maybe we just didn't choose the right players.
Talking about your time as part of the coaching staff, what do you feel is the biggest legacy you left behind you?
We brought disclipline back into the football club which we felt was missing and another legacy that we left was the new Melwood. The new training facilities there are absolutely superb and I think even when Rafa came in afterwards has said that is a fantastic building.
The one player you absolutely loved working with?
I can't say one particular player because there were some great ones and you can't really pick one out. Steven Gerrard, to come from a young player to become a world famous star. Michael (Owen) was already a world famous star when I went to Liverpool and the like of Jamie Carragher. Carra was a vital member of our squad and our team at the time and got a lot of criticism and it's amazing now that he's everybody's hero, he's a fantastic player.
The one player you see a lot of yourself into?
Sami Hyypia. Sami was probably more dominant in the air than I ever was. Sami reads the game very well. He was quieter than what I was, but he was ready for every game, he's always at the right position, so a lot of times he didn't even need to make tackles.
And having done it all as a player including winning the European Cup as the captain, how does success from the dug-out compare to actually being on the pitch?
I think it was all good in its own way. I was in a great team in the seventies and eighties, we were the best team in world club football, that's how good we were. To come back though at a time when Liverpool didn't win so many trophies for some time as assitant manager and help Liverpool win back trophies gives me a lot of pride but nothing ever compares to being a player, and certainly being captain.
Do you see any of Gerard Houllier in Rafael Benitez?
No I think they're both their own men, from what I hear the biggest similarity is the big attention they give to the minor details, and it's always the small things that you do and if you pay attention to that you will be very successful. Gerard was like that and I heard that Rafa's just like that as well.
The trophy you cherish most as assistant manager?
We had once the five trophies lined up for a photograph, Gerard Houllier was there and there were Patrik Berger and Markus Babbel and they were asked which one is the best trophy and they went for the UEFA Cup, then Gerard went to Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher and asked them which one you cherish most and they put their arms around the FA Cup and they said it's the FA Cup cause that's the one cup we dreamt about winning when we were growing up, so I say that's the most important cup. I could also say the League Cup because that's the first trophy that we won, we haven't won anything yet but I think the FA Cup's the one.
Talking more about nowadays, regarding the path the club has taken, how much do you approve of two Americans buying in the club and seeing David Moores leaving?
It was a very sad day, I pay extreme compliment to David Moores to say that he's as important as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. He's done it quietly without any spotlight whatsoever. All he wanted was to bring the glory to Liverpool Football Club. He was fantastic. The Americans have got a lot more money than David. Liverpool Football Club needed massive investment and George Gillet and Tom Hicks have come up with the big money. They have to show it now and Rafa deserves their backing and now they need to back their manager and take the team to next level and that is winning the Premiership title.
And talking about the present and future, how do you feel about leaving Anfield? How much of a necessary evil it is? Can the glorious European nights be recreated in the new Anfield?
It is going to be extremely difficult. We always said that when the Kop went, it will have the same people so it will stay the same but it's not the same, it's not the same from when I was standing in the Kop when I was ten or eleven years old - 28,000 people in one end of the ground. I remember when me and Gerard were still there, I spoke to Rick (Parry) that you have to make it the right way, you have to forget about having corporate boxes all way round the stadium.
You have always been very close to the fans and even called yourself a Kopite. How do you reply to the recent mud slinging by UEFA, particularly by Gaillard?
It didn't surprise me one bit. They always try to get out of situations which can go back to Heysel. And it is extremely sad that they can come out and say that we are the worst fans in Europe. These people are supposed to be clever people who have responsible jobs, how can they make such a ridiculous comment is amazing. Gaillard should have paid with his job. He is just getting himself out of any criticism because the buck stops with them. Maybe some of our fans are to blame, maybe we have 10% to blame but UEFA from day one got it wrong, the stadium wasn't fit for such a match and that's first and foremost, the allocation of tickets was totally wrong.
They were told by Liverpool that it is a recipe for disaster. They should know better than that. Liverpool fans have got a fantastic reputation all over the world. How you could say that stuff about Liverpool fans when you see some of the stuff happening all over the last years. Some countries, the hooligan element is absolutely outrageous, racism still happens. When UEFA slaps fines of a couple of thousand pounds will not make racism go away. And the buck stops at the top.
Liverpool Football Club winning the Premiership whilst the city holds the European Capital of Culture title, how sweet does that sound for you?
Fantastic, that's fantastic. I've always said that the fourth year is always the most important year for Rafa. If Rafa gets the backing of the new owners I think we can win the Premiership title this year. If we don't get the right signings and Rafa doesn't get the backing, we will fight for second, third or fourth place I'm afraid. So give Rafa the money, and he will spend it wisely.
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