With a protracted profession in soccer that will not but be over, Sam Millne sat down with two-time European Cup winner Sammy Lee to debate his Liverpool life.
Not many in soccer can match the CV that Lee has constructed over time.
After successful 10 main trophies in 10 years together with his boyhood membership, Liverpool, Lee completed his taking part in profession then went on to have an influential teaching profession.
Since retiring from taking part in, he has labored with legendary managers, together with Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish and Sven-Goran Eriksson, all whereas sustaining his ardour for Liverpool.
We spoke about Lee’s Liverpool life as a participant, coach and supporter.
I began supporting Liverpool as a result of…
On this metropolis you’re both crimson or blue, aren’t you? So it was from beginning.
Are you able to keep in mind your first Liverpool match?
One among my first ones I’d have been six years outdated. We drew with Ajax 2-2 at Anfield – the nice Johan Cruyff was in there.
We acquired beat within the first leg 5-1 and got here again right here, Invoice Shankly was in cost. It was a foggy night time over in Ajax and Shanks, the person he was, blamed the defeat on the fog.
So Liverpool truly wore yellow shirts in opposition to the nice Ajax right here in 1966. It was a foggy night time then as a result of it was one among them nights when the steam was coming off the Kop, the physique warmth generated that.
I used to be taken to Anfield at a really early age by my father after which by my cousins and it was a pleasure, however that’s the one I keep in mind greater than something at the start.
Which one sport would you relive, whether or not that be as a participant, coach or supporter?
I’ve had many. I’ve been very, very lucky to play with some incredible gamers, work below and work with incredible coaches and managers, however the one which sticks in my thoughts of many is my debut.
That’s as a result of there was just one substitute on the time and what occurred on the time was that Liverpool gamers very, very not often acquired injured, as a result of for those who acquired injured you’d lose your house and wrestle to get again in.
I used to be on the subs bench. There’s an image of me within the dugout alone, not for one minute considering I’d get on the pitch.
However a colleague of mine acquired injured, it allowed me to come back onto the pitch and for those who Google Sammy Lee, Sammy Lee and objectives don’t go collectively.
However I got here on in opposition to Leicester and I truly scored a aim on my debut in entrance of the Kop.
So for me as a younger boy rising up being a Liverpool supporter, to really play for Liverpool Soccer Membership, to really play in entrance of the Kop, to really rating in entrance of the Kop on my debut was one thing that I’ll by no means ever neglect.
My favorite Liverpool season has been…
My complete journey has been incredible, whether or not or not it’s as a participant for and in opposition to Liverpool Soccer Membership, or whether or not or not it’s as a coach for and in opposition to Liverpool Soccer Membership.
It’s simply gave me a lot this journey and I’ve acquired an terrible lot to thank this soccer membership for.
What does Liverpool imply to you?
Properly, Liverpool Soccer Membership means the whole lot to me. Every little thing I’m immediately has been fashioned by Liverpool Soccer Membership.
My 3 dinner company from Liverpool’s previous or current could be…
I’m very lucky as a result of we exit for lunch with a bunch of the gamers.
There’s me, there’s Phil Thompson, there’s Ian Callaghan who would positively be one among my dinner company, and Aldo (John Aldridge), Bruce Grobbelaar. We very often exit collectively, and John Barnes.
However one could be Cally. Actually one could be the nice Invoice Shankly and it must be Jurgen Klopp.
So we’re speaking about Shanks, Cally and Jurgen and for me. I’d hope it could be a protracted, lengthy lunch.
* Thanks once more to Sammy Lee for sharing his ‘Liverpool Life’ with us.
You’ll be able to hear extra from him in our documentary, Jurgen Klopp: 10 Defining Moments, right here.
