Author Topic: Patrik Berger Retires (Read 19391 times)

andrew1978 · « **on:** January 6, 2010, 12:53:54 pm »

From Times Online January 6, 2010

Patrik Berger announces retirementGeoff Berkeley

Patrik Berger, the former Liverpool and Czech Republic international, has announced his retirement after losing his long-running battle with injury.

The 36-year-old, who is currently at Sparta Prague, has barely feature this season because of his injury problems. His last appearance came on August 8 last year.

"Patrik told me yesterday 'It's over. My knee can no longer hold up'," Jozef Chovanec, the Sparta Prague manager, said.

Berger started his career as with Sparta Prague before rejoining his hometown club in 2008.

However, the midfielder is best known for his time at Liverpool, where he spent seven successful years between 1996 and 2003. This was followed by spells with Portsmouth, Stoke City and Aston Villa.

Berger was capped 44 times, scoring 18 goals for the Czech Republic between 1993 and 2001

Always liked him as a player thought he brought something different to us when he was here

rednile · « **Reply #1 on:** January 6, 2010, 12:57:53 pm »

Was a really good player , in the days when Fowler , Collymore , Mcmanaman and Berger were all playing well we were great to watch . Good luck to him .

SMD · « **Reply #2 on:** January 6, 2010, 12:59:52 pm »

A very good player who was unlucky with injuries and wasn't played to his strengths for the majority of his career with us. Always remember him for his amazing long range shots and his blistering start to his career with us.

careca · « **Reply #3 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:00:28 pm »

Recall a few crackers scored against Chelsea ~ best wishes to Paddy

itsgunnabebarnes! · « **Reply #4 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:02:44 pm »

did he get a hat trick on debut? leicester?

shaneynwa · « **Reply #5 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:03:54 pm »

Will never forget that free kick he scored against the mancs

Redders1974 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:04:10 pm »

One of my favourite players, you always thought he was capable of pulling one of his long range crackers out anytime. Was a very good servant and never let us down.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Quote from: careca on January 6, 2010, 01:00:28 pm

Recall a few crackers scored against Chelsea ~ best wishes to Paddy

xerxes1 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:04:38 pm »

A fine team player whose injuries stopped him fulfilling his maximum potential.Good luck.

redgriffin73 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:05:21 pm »

Loved Paddy, all the best for the future.

Uhoh AureliOs · « **Reply #9 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:05:46 pm »

Quote from: SMD on January 6, 2010, 12:59:52 pm

A very good player who was unlucky with injuries and wasn't played to his strengths for the majority of his career with us. Always remember him for his amazing long range shots and his blistering start to his career with us.

I'll always remember this one.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/r8CCaW7XukQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&hd=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/r8CCaW7XukQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&hd=1</a>

Jermaine man · « **Reply #10 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:06:07 pm »

Excellent player. recall the incident when O'neill sacked him for telling Barry to sign for liverpool. Just shows he's a true red even after he left.

I always thought he would play well in a deep lying forward role similar to Gerrard's currently but sadly Houllier didnt utilise him correctly. Best goal was the free kick at mould trafford. Liverppolwent with a almost 2nd string team and took the lead with his stunner eventually drawing 1-1 i think

Crosby Nick · « **Reply #11 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:07:16 pm »

it was two on his debut off the bench and another two in his first start a week later. was always going to be tough to keep that form going! scored against all the big teams, loved his trademark skimming strikes into the bottom corner. sexy bastard to boot and all.

Jermaine man · « **Reply #12 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:11:44 pm »

Yeah the derby goal forgot about that for a moment great post 'ohoh aurelio' .

two things from this 1. great how Berger after all the passing just whacks a screamer in

2. Show's how much liverpool's traditions have been squeezed out of the club no more 'pass and move'. but great to see behind the scenes Benitez has hired the ex-Barca youth coach to impliment that philosophy again. Some of the youth players have mentioned they work more on passing and moving this year compared to taking on men the previous years.

Anyway hope we can get Paddy as a scout

itsgunnabebarnes! · « **Reply #13 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:15:19 pm »

Quote from: Jermaine man on January 6, 2010, 01:11:44 pm

Yeah the derby goal forgot about that for a moment great post 'ohoh aurelio' .

two things from this 1. great how Berger after all the passing just whacks a screamer in

2. Show's how much liverpool's traditions have been squeezed out of the club no more 'pass and move'. but great to see behind the scenes Benitez has hired the ex-Barca youth coach to impliment that philosophy again. Some of the youth players have mentioned they work more on passing and moving this year compared to taking on men the previous years.

Anyway hope we can get Paddy as a scout

who is the ex barca coach. sounds promising.

shippers · « **Reply #14 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:16:04 pm »

Quote from: Uhoh AureliOs on January 6, 2010, 01:05:46 pm

I'll always remember this one.

Great goal, very Barca.

Can you imagine these days the majority of our home support having anything like the patience to wait for a decent move like that. As soon as the ball isn't being moved forward as fast as possible you start hearing the moans. Interesting that we scored a goal like that without Michael Owen on the pitch. I wonder if part of our current problem is reverting to just relying on Torres' pace.

The game is about possession, with a decisive strike at the optimum moment.

Paddy was a good player, but I do remember people moaning at him for losing possession too much.

proud_red_norwegian · « **Reply #15 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:16:13 pm »

Fantastic player Paddy.
Remember beiing at Pride Park in 2001 (think so) when he scored with a cracker in a game we won 4-0.

DangerScouse · « **Reply #16 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:20:00 pm »

All the best Paddy in whatever you do. Thanks for the memories.

SmallwoodRed · « **Reply #17 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:25:36 pm »

Really liked him as a player though lost all respect for him for coming out in the Autumn with that garbage about how Rafa should be sacked as hes spent all that money and got nowhere etc etc. Was like he had morfed into collymore

The Nihilists · « **Reply #18 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:26:43 pm »

Loved Paddy the player.

Just hope he doesn't go into punditry, after I read that he thought Rafa should be sacked. Couldn't take another one....

djibril · « **Reply #19 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:30:08 pm »

Remember all the goals mentioned above but also one he scored at Anfield against Leeds that was so good even the referee celebrated it. Riley I think it was, although he later said he was congratulating himself for playing a good advantage to us. Think we won 3-1 and all the goals were top drawer - think Murphy got one too.

Loved Berger like, such a great left foot, hope he stays in the game in some capacity.

sinnermichael · « **Reply #20 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:31:46 pm »

unbelievable left foot. i remember this goal he scored for pompey. i think it won goal of the season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-wk-xrSR8&feature=PlayList&p=D21FBB75B1C5EBD1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

thom · « **Reply #21 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:32:35 pm »

All the best to him. I remember scoring some crackers with him on FIFA

kevindublin · « **Reply #22 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:37:13 pm »

MY favourite player, a few years back.

B9 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:41:36 pm »

terrific player who would have accomplished much more if not for injuries.

would still walk into the current side on the left.

mxracer · « **Reply #24 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:42:10 pm »

with a first class paddy pass...

All the best and good luck paddy!

rossipersempre · « **Reply #25 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:42:45 pm »

One of my favourite players of the time, recall being very excited when we bought him post-Euro 96 (part of that great Czech team - the Mancs getting the higher profile but ultimately useless Poborski). Possessed an intelligence and technical ability head and shoulders above the rest of our squad back then.

Also remember being disappointed Ged let him go so easily and felt he had another couple of good years in him. And so it proved with him continuing his PL career at Pompey and Villa. Pompey I remember that sublime one-touch reverse left foot strike on the turn he scored. And him winding up O'Neill was the one bright spark in that Barry transfer farce.

Good luck with retirement Paddy.

Barney_Rubble · « **Reply #26 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:44:21 pm »

Top left peg. Top goal celebration.

rossipersempre · « **Reply #27 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:46:23 pm »

Quote from: B9 on January 6, 2010, 01:41:36 pm

would still walk into the current side on the left.

Not far wrong, perhaps he has a younger brother/nephew...

SMD · « **Reply #28 on:** January 6, 2010, 01:48:49 pm »

Quote from: B9 on January 6, 2010, 01:41:36 pm

would still walk into the current side on the left.

Would play him behind Torres, he'd be lethal.

beardsley4ever · « **Reply #29 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:08:02 pm »

If I could have any player from the last 10 years (at their peak) in our side right now it would be him. You couldn't design a more perfect player for the 4-2-3-1 formation.

(and yes, the first sentence is a bit of hyperbole for effect, before people start shouting about Hyypia and Fowler, etc)

Captain Gerrard8 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:11:57 pm »

I'll never forget his pass to Owen in the Fa cup 01 final to win us the cup.

rednich85 · « **Reply #31 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:13:52 pm »

First red to wear a hairband?

Loved Berger, great player....

To think, we onlt got him because Poborsky went to OT

conman · « **Reply #32 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:16:09 pm »

RIP Paddy Bergers Knee..

was a good player for us in his day..
who can forget those left peg screamers he scored in his first few games..

Shankly!Shankly! · « **Reply #33 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:20:45 pm »

nice vid uhoh. the passing was great! nice n patient. just like last season if you ask me.
cheers paddy for some great memories!

Shankly!Shankly! · « **Reply #34 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:26:17 pm »

what a player! when football was that much more pure

anfieldpurch · « **Reply #35 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:27:14 pm »

Great player, remember his goal vs Mancs in 99(?) Always liked him. Got the green shirt from that manc goal with his name on

xavidub · « **Reply #36 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:28:01 pm »

Quote from: rednile on January 6, 2010, 12:57:53 pm

Was a really good player , in the days when Fowler , Collymore , Mcmanaman and Berger were all playing well we were great to watch . Good luck to him .

B9 · « **Reply #37 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:32:06 pm »

Obligatory youtube compilation (liverpool time only)

xavidub · « **Reply #38 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:36:41 pm »

The work rate in that video is shocking. All this fancy stuff playing the ball to another red shirt

Thank god we are much more focused on the important stuff these days, like running up and down the pitch waiting for the ball to hit your knee

Gaz123456 · « **Reply #39 on:** January 6, 2010, 02:38:29 pm »

One of our best left footers ever! Happy retirement