Luis García, he drinks Sangria!
He came from Barça to bring us joy!
He's five foot seven, he's football heaven
So please don't take our Luis away!
As a young one, I really didn't get to witness the good old days where the Kop roared with velocity at the at the sublime football by legends like Toshack, Keegan, Dalglish, Rush, Barnes and many more but born as a Kopite (thanks Dad) I can remember the Reds from as early as the start of the noughties.
Since then, the highlight of watching the Reds has come in probably the greatest night of my life. May 25th, 2005. Istanbul. And on the road to Istanbul, there was the stern grit and mentality of the team and the tactical prowess of Rafa that got us there, but there was also a certain Spainish attacking midfielder whose goals made it all possible.
When I can talk about my favourite Liverpool players, I speak about those who obvious ones who still play a part of Liverpool FC or have left with their dignity still intact and remain loyal and honest to the club, grasping at the popular choices, but also at Luis Javier García Sanz, who quick endeared himself to the fans
A product of Barcelona's youth academy, Rafa had previously had got the opportunity to manage Luis at Tenerife, so when Benitez came to Liverpool, he decided to chunk a 6m deposit on this fella from sunny Spain as a replacement for El Hadji Diouf, and with the imminent departure of Owen, probably also hoping that Luis could chip in with a few goals.
Garcia was the master of quite a few traits actually - having the ability to hit a fierce shot with both his feet, having a quick, skillful menace to his game, a never die/give up hardworking attitude and popping up with some of the best headers seen by the Kop.
Fuck me though. Those nights would be incredible as the voice of 40,000+ Kopite would roar around Anfield in ultimate joy. Truly unforgettable. As Gerrard's 30 yard volley near ripped the net on the 8th Dec, Liverpool would being heading into the knock-out stages of the competition where Garcia would go on to score 5 goals on our way to the trophy.
The first goal was against the German opposition, Bayer Leverkusen. It was the first leg at Anfield and we really need to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and finish it off. Up popped little Luis beating the offside trap and finding space behind the defence after Igor Biscan's mazy run before sliding the ball through Jorg But's legs and into the back of the net as the stadium erupted and the camera quaked along with the crowd. The goal gave us the upper hand as later on, two free kicks converted by Riise and then Didi ensured we'd go to BayArena with a comfortable lead.
The second goal came away at the BayArena where Luis was at his finest. Gerrard's cross was exquisitely turned in by the deftest of touches after weaving a foot ahead of his marker to increase the aggregate lead to 4-1. The man who had made his mark two weeks prior to ensure Liverpool had got off to a great start had done so again. Later, Liverpool and Garcia would get their second which would be Garcia's third of the knock out stage as Biscan rose to meet a Gerrard corner and Garcia was there again to wrong foot the keeper and tuck the ball in. Baros would go on to hit another as Liverpool would go on to win 3-1.
As fate would have it - next up for Liverpool was Juventus, 20 years on from Heysel. Liverpool displayed in an appropriate manner a kind, warm welcome and friendship but as the game started, the focus was back to football. I nearly cry thinking about it but this was one the greatest fucking nights of my life. Up against a team who had only previously conceded 2 goals in the whole tournament; we were massive underdogs but again, it was a position where we'd been before and had thrived. It was a meant to be a night for us. When Big Sami popped up at the far post to turn the ball which was flicked on by none other than Garcia, everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club went fucking mental and how could you not ? 15 minutes later, as Le Tallec's chip bounced over Baros, Luis Garcia came running, leaving Emerson in his tracks and hit one of the most amazing, technically gifted strikes and best goals I have ever seen as he lobbed 30m+ pound of goalkeeping talent from 28 yards out, leaving Gigi Buffon flapping at thin air. Everything about that goal, the ease and calmness with which he finished with, was perfect. It was a night that really shook the Kop and let the Europe knew we meant fucking business.
And finally, after holding on in Turin, we would go face the incumbent English champions, Chelsea. At that time, it was no rivalry that a rivalry had developed between the clubs. Benitez v Mourinho and Liverpool v Chelsea. No matter, all the millions the London based club had spent, the trophy they (and Abramovich) had craved at that point for was the European Cup. Whilst we were a team clawing our way through with the likes of Djimi 'More Champions League Trophies Than Arsenal' Traore, your Igor Biscans and Smicers; Chelsea had spent excess money securing the likes of Robben, Drogba and Carvalho. We'd just come back from the tie at Stamford Bridge where a weakened team had held them off after a brilliant defensive display by Carragher and Hyypia who held the Chelsea midfield and Drogba off superbly. There was something about that night as Anfield filled up way before kick off and the fans were in full voice. The whole stadium was united in passion and belief. They knew it was going to be a special night, a memorable night, a Red night. Only 4 minutes into the game at Anfield, we heard probably the loudest roar of the Kop that will echo throughout history as this took place ;
''Riise.....Gerrard with space... helped in towards Baros, he's beaten Cech to it, the goalkeeper made contact, Luis Garcia was it across the line!... Gallas hooked it away.....GOAL!!!............ THE FIRST GOAL OF THE SEMI FINAL IS A LIVERPOOL GOAL!!''
Yes, it damn well was fucking over the line by a mile José and all you other plastics. The lead was ours to defend. Many don't realise but through out the whole tournament while Luis hadn't been operating as a consistent goal scorer in the league and was struggling to keep fit as injuries persisted, his part in Europe in 04/05 was priceless. Operating in a trequartista role while poaching the significant goals and stepping up when someone had to gain responsibility. Fearless beyond doubt, Luis Garcia was that man doing this.
As we'd go on to defend for our lives with the backing of our twefth man out in full force and witness miracles greater than the rebirth of Jesus as Gudjohnsen's shot would whistle across the bar and later in Istanbul, Dudek's hand of God, Liverpool would go on to win it 5 times.
Those had to be Luis' finest hours as after that, even though he gave us other iconic images to bear. Despite a low return in the league, he scored the winner against the bitters in the Merseyside Derby in March if I recall correctly and despite being injured and Liverpool having used all their substitutes, played on the whole game while limping and putting in a valiant effort and not rendering his defensive duties. He also scored the winner against the winner against Arsenal in February the following season in the dying minutes to give us the minute in front of the Kop and send me fucking mental. Before signing out of Melwood, he even thanked us and the club for everything we'd done for him. I was glad to see him back for Carra's testimonial too where he also scored a great goal.
Shit. Just going through some of the moments gave me goosebumps. You know what. We've had loads of players through out the last 10 years and dammit most of them have give us something to passionately support about. Whether it was Torres making the Kop bounce or Owen nicking in two goals to snatch a cup final we don't deserve. If there was ever a player who was proud of wearing the red shirt with a liverbird entrusted on the crest and would make the Kop celebrate and cry in tears of joy, then I hope we have one like Luis Garca. Who'd give us nights like he did. He was pretty underrated and unfortunately injury did get the most of him at times. He'd be a conundrum to watch but when he wove his magic, it truly lit a spark. Dynamic, and passionate. He loved us and we loved him. They'll never take our Luis away...
