The 'where are they now?' files

[baitman]

dan perkins is u ok hun

[Buzzo]

That looks hurty as ****.

[labourRed]

It looks like something you'd put your cock into. for clarity, the gash, not Skrtel.

[Fosterbloke]

It looks like something you'd put your cock into. for clarity, the gash, not Skrtel.

Quite the head****..

[Buzzo]

An interesting where are they now article on the 2005 team.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/interactives/liverpools-2005-champions-league-winning-12458894

[RedReet]

Finnan.

[Shaggy]

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nashvillesc/2018/05/21/ian-ayre-nashville-mls-team-liverpool-fc-ceo/627433002/

Ian Ayre is the first CEO of Nashville's Major League Soccer club, he confirmed Sunday in an exclusive interview with the Tennessean. And for those who aren't tuned in to the international soccer scene, please understand: This is a major development.

It would have been a laughable concept just a few years ago. It’s a coup for Nashville, team lead owner John Ingram and the MLS. Because Ayre, the 55-year-old former CEO of Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League, is a big deal.

Liverpool, which he left on his terms in 2017, is about to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final. That’s the height of soccer on the planet. And Ayre, who was voted Premier League Chief Executive of the Year in 2017, spent a decade building that club on and off the field and has signed on to do the same for Nashville MLS.

“He’s always been my No. 1 choice, I’m just thrilled that this was attractive to him,” Ingram said. “He’s the kind of guy, there’s a lot of other leagues and clubs that would find him incredibly attractive - just as the ladies do! I’m just glad this opportunity is one that, a bit of the entrepreneurial bug and the ability to build something from scratch, this is a rather unique opportunity. And I feel very fortunate that it was of interest to him.”

To put this into perspective with a Nashville twist, it would be something like Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson leaving to take over an XFL team. The problem with that comparison is that the MLS has worked hard to gain respect in the soccer world and is growing and surging – Atlanta United’s 2016 hire of Argentine coach Gerardo Martino and ensuing success in luring top-notch players a perfect example.

“The MLS has huge ambitions to be one of the biggest and leading leagues in the world, and is on that trajectory,” Ayre said. “Both as a soccer fan and an executive in the industry, it’s something I’ve had my eye on because it’s important. … You talk about MLS and its growth, I think it’s becoming easier and will become easier to attract the right talent to something that’s exciting and developing. And if you have a reputation of being involved in a club like Liverpool, you hope that stands for something when you start to try and attract talent.”

Ayre also cited the lure of Nashville – he’s a native of Liverpool, another rather important music town, and he has the John Lennon accent to prove it – and the aforementioned “entrepreneurial” opportunity on the ground floor of an organization as factors. Ingram clearly made a difference as well, in a pursuit that must have seemed a long shot when a search firm first reached out to Ayre in January.

“Hell, how realistic was our chance when we submitted our (MLS) bid in January of 2017?” Ingram said. “If you don’t aim high, you rarely get there.”

Liverpool ownership tried to convince Ayre to stay when he announced in 2016 his plan to transition out, according to the Daily Mail. He took over TVS 1860 Munich in 2017, but left that job after a few weeks because of what he termed “warring factions” within the ownership group resulting in financial promises unfulfilled. So he returned to Liverpool and waited.

“Through that time I had a number of calls from, let’s just say big clubs,” Ayre said. “But that was never going to be of interest to me, established clubs rather than this, because I’ve kind of done that.”

This is no guarantee of immediate, smashing success for Nashville MLS, which likely will begin play in 2020. Ayre has had his detractors, including Liverpool fans who staged a walkout because of a ticket price hike, and per a quick search on Twitter it seems some Liverpool supporters have blamed him for everything but cloudy days in England. Ayre was mercilessly mocked for riding a Harley Davidson and being seen with a string of significantly younger women on his arm. "Ian loves 'fanny', as he always liked to say, and he likes them young", a source told The Tennessean.

But whether they curse him or not, everyone in soccer knows his name. He has achieved at high levels in the sport. And now, so has Ingram.

[Yozza]

Ian loves fanny...

[rodo]

get your motor runnin
head out on the highway

[Red_Polo]

get your motor runnin
head out on the highway

[Norbs]

Sounds ****ing great to hear 'Liverpool' and 'the height of football on the planet' mentioned in the same sentence

[peekay]

ROME -- Outgoing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been summoned to a hearing at the Italian football federation over his association with people with links to the mafia.

Reina, along with Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica, is to face the FIGC's disciplinary committee after an investigation by Naples' anti-mafia department.
It is reportedly one of the reasons why Napoli decided not to renew Reina's contract, with the former Liverpool goalkeeper set to move to AC Milan on a free transfer.

The FIGC says Reina "has had and continues to have inopportune association and friendship with Gabriele Esposito, Francesco Esposito and Giuseppe Esposito." It adds that that includes holidays and "an exchange of favors."

Cannavaro, who had two spells with Napoli, retired at Sassuolo last year. Aronica also spent several years at the southern club before joining Palermo in 2013.

http://www.espn.com/soccer/napoli/story/3506491/napoli-goalkeeper-pepe-reina-to-face-disciplinary-hearing-over-mafia-links

[Fuzzy]

Great photo of Igor partying in the centre of Ljubljana after winning the Slovenian title with Olimpija in his debut season.

[Snigger]

Great photo of Igor partying in the centre of Ljubljana after winning the Slovenian title with Olimpija in his debut season.

I used to like Biscuit - so **** you couldn't help like him with his sticky up hair and gormless face

[Patricks_Berger]

Great see Igor add this success to his Champions League winners medal.

Let that sink in.

I thought he looked a useful player under Benitez, but Houllier killed him. If you take out the second half of 2000/01 season, and the 01/02 season (where we finished runners up), Houllier was ****ing ****e for the rest of his 4 and a half years. ****e at developing players too, so many never progressed.