How good was Jari Litmanen?

[Parm]

a sublime player, saw him play a few times in the Ajax team of the mid 90's. A footballing genius, lost his way a bit at Barca, but did a sublime job for us. Was gutted to see him leave, if he was 24 now, he'd be perfect for us, slot him behind Torres/in place of Babel or Kuyt and we'd sorted.

[Parm]

The biggest compliment you can pay Jari is that because of him Ajax didn't miss Bergkamp.

[CJ]

was it ajax fans that called him the magician?

[redlancer]

great player - can't remember who it was against but Jari was facing the main stand on the touch line - 2 opo players blocking him - blink of an eye the 2 opo players were just looking at the fans and Jari had turned them to cross for Murphy who went close.

It was the way he skinned them and in a blink of an eye found the pass.

A player you happily pay your money to see.

[smither]

anyone know a way of contacting him?

[Shaggy]

Yeah it's all been said here. A beautiful footballer to watch, the sort I could just watch all day. You could see his majesty for us but still it's a shame we never had him at his peak.

I was lucky enough to witness most of his Anfield performances - that Spurs goal, the Roma pen - but for me his greatest performance came in the 4-2 FA Cup win over Man City (which, if memory serves, took place on the Sunday prior to the Roma game). He was taken off at half-time - much to my horror - but for 45 minutes he ran the show. His sublime, hooked through-ball to Heskey for the 2nd goal will remain in my memory until the day I die. What a player.

[Vermilion]

anyone know a way of contacting him?

His mobile...07433673449.

[Roboklopp]

Yeah it's all been said here. A beautiful footballer to watch, the sort I could just watch all day. You could see his majesty for us but still it's a shame we never had him at his peak.

I was lucky enough to witness most of his Anfield performances - that Spurs goal, the Roma pen - but for me his greatest performance came in the 4-2 FA Cup win over Man City (which, if memory serves, took place on the Sunday prior to the Roma game). He was taken off at half-time - much to my horror - but for 45 minutes he ran the show. His sublime, hooked through-ball to Heskey for the 2nd goal will remain in my memory until the day I die. What a player.

That's the game I was on about, aye.

[Shaggy]

That's the game I was on about, aye.

Hadn't got as far as your post when I eagerly clicked reply

What a pass that was.

Although Ajax and LFC fans adore him, he's terribly underrated by the 'football family' in general.

[Joe King]

Enjoy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HI6unPHHvFc

[felly]

Great player, what a football brain. As already said in this thread, imagine a prime Jari playing for us today, just in behind Torres.

[Nic83]

Litmanen in behind Owen and Fowler would have been devastating under an attack minded manager who liked to pin back the opposition.

[Red Chilli]

anyone know a way of contacting him?

Are you Woy Hodgson?

[rage]

shame houllier didn't believe in him. wasted opportunity

[Lee]

Outstanding player. Could watch him play all day long, he was a joy to watch. Here's an update from BBC Football this morning:

"Jinxed Fulham striker Jari Litmanen has had heart trouble, an ankle injury and a groin strain. Now the Finnish veteran has been denied the chance of making his debut for the club in the relegation scrap against Manchester City after being injured when a ball hit his ear in training".