You all remember it. 2001 - The year Liverpool won the FA cup, League cup and the UEFA cup.
The first final of the year came at the Millennium stadium, as the reds took on Birmingham. We all thought we had won it, however with minutes left, and into injury time, Birmingham won a penalty, and Darren Purse equalised. The game went on into extra time and eventually penalties. After 6 penalties each Liverpool won 5-4.
Worthington cup winnersNext up, was a return to Cardiff, this time for the FA cup final, this time Arsenal were the opposition. Freddie Ljunberg put Arsenal a goal up with just under 20 minutes remaining, before Michael Owen scored 2 goals to turn the score around and the game ended 2-1 to Liverpool, handing them their second piece of silverware for the season.
Lifting the FA cupThe third final came in the wonderful Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, against the Spanish team Alaves. In one of the most exciting European games of all time, Liverpool took an early lead through defender Marcus Babbel, and Steven Gerrard doubled the lead with just 16 minutes on the clock. Alaves got one back 10 minutes later, but Liverpool took a 3-1 lead into half time after Gary McAllister scored a penalty. Javi Moreno then shocked Liverpool with2 goals in 6 minutes after half time, and Alaves were all square once again. Robbie Fowler came on at the hour mark, and it took him just 13 minutes to leave his mark on the game, scoring to put Liverpool in the lead again. Once again, a late goal in the final stunned Liverpool, this time, Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan, was to get the equaliser in the 89th minute, taking the game into extra time. Extra time was to bring 2 red cards for Alaves players, and 2 disallowed goals (one for either team), before a Gary McAllister freekick in the 117th minute was flicked on by Delfi Geli of Alaves, and an own goal was to be the golden goal that gave Liverpool their 3rd trophy of the year.
Celebrating winning the UEFA cupThis is what happened to the players that took part in the finals....
Sander Westerveld (36) - GKWesterveld left Liverpool the summer of 2001, after 2 new goalies were brought into the club. He moved to Real Sociedad, where he stayed for 4 years, and finished 2nd in la liga in the 02/03 season. He had a loan move to Mallorca, and in 2005 moved back to England to play for Portsmouth. He only spent a season at the club, making just 6 appearances. In 2006, he was allowed a temporarily loan back to Merseyside, this time to Everton, where he was an emergency goalkeeper. In the summer of 2006, he moved back to Spain to Almeria, becoming their first team goalkeeper for a season. He was then sold to Sparta Rotterdam, and once again played a season before signing for his current team, Italian third division team A.C Monza.
Pegguy Arphexad(37) – GKHe was always a substitute at Liverpool, and finally left in 2003 to join Coventry for a season.... where he was used as a substitute. He also had a loan spell at Notts County, as a substitute, and eventually moved to Marseille in 2004, where he was used as a substitute. He retired in 2005, and having made a total of around 40 appearances in his career, he picked up 6 winners medals. Lucky? I think so.
Marcus Babbel(38) – RBDespite being a vital part of the treble winning team, Babbel’s career was put on hold, as he developed Guillain–Barré syndrome, which effects the nerves and can be life threatening. He managed to recover successfully, and in 2003 went on loan to Blackburn Rovers. After a season as the starting right back at Blackburn, he moved to Germany, to play for Stuttgart. He spent 3 seasons at the German club, before he retired in 2007. After his retirement, he became assistant manager at the club, before taking on the full managers role a season later. He was sacked in 2009 after finishing 16th. He currently manages Hertha BSC.
Stéphane Henchoz(36) – CBInjuries plagued the next few years of Henchoz’s career, and when Rafael Benitez took over at the club in 2005, his decision to play Jamie Carragher at centre back saw the end of Stephane on Merseyside. He signed for Celtic on a 6 month contract. At the end of his contract in Scotland, he opted for a move back to England, with Wigan Athletic. A season later, he moved back to Blackburn Rovers, who he was at before Liverpool, where he was used as backup for 2 seasons before his retirement in 2008. He is currently working on obtaining his coaching badges.
Sami Hyypiä(37) – CBThe second most capped Finnish player, Sami is a legend in Liverpool. 2002 saw Sami handed the captains armband on a full time basis. From then on, he was a vital part of the Liverpool team for the next 7 years, and 2005 saw him at the heart of the defence as Liverpool lifted the European Cup for the fifth time in their history. He departed in 2009, in an emotional final game for the club, Anfield showed their love for him, as they sung his name as he was held aloft by the rest of the Liverpool players. He moved to Bayern Leverkusen, where he would become first choice centre back. Upon retirement, Hyypiä plans on going into coaching, with an assistant manager role at Leverkusen looking likely
Jamie Carragher(33) – CB/LBJamie Carragher has been vital for Liverpool, and has stayed at the club for his whole career. He was moved to centre back by Benitez in 2005, and he has kept his starting position since. Winning a champions league in 2005, Jamie has also set many appearance records, including 137 appearances in Europe, a British record. He is currently just 5 games away from becoming Liverpool’s second all time appearance maker. Jamie is also the 3rd top goal scorer
against Liverpool in the premiership , with 7 own goals.
Carragher doing what he does best
Igor Bišćan(32) – CB/MCIgor was never a first team regular at Liverpool, but was part of the 2005 Champions Winning squad. However, he didn't last much longer, his contract was terminated, and he joined Panathinaikos. His contract once again ran down and he was left a free agent. Biscan signed for his youth team Dinamo Zagreb in 2007, and is still playing for them today.
Christian Ziege(39) – LBZiege left Liverpool in 2001, and moved to Spurs, where he spent 3 seasons, before moving back to Germany in 2004, to play a season for Mönchengladbach, before his retirement in 2005. Since then, he has been involved in the backroom at the club, before taking the managers role at Arminia Bielefeld. One win and 7 losses from his first 8 games meant he was sacked, in November 2010.
Gregory Vignal(29) – FBAfter being part of the FA cup final team, Vignal had several loan spells. He went to Bastia, Rennes, Espanyol and Rangers. He left Liverpool at the end of his contract, and signed for Portsmouth on a free in 2005. He spent a season there, before moving to France to go to Lens. During his time at Lens, he went on loan to Kaiserslautern and Southampton. 2009 saw him return to England as he signed for Birmingham as backup for a season. His last club was to be Atromitos in Greece, and is now a free agent.
Dietmar Hamann(37) – DMA legend in Liverpool, and somewhat underrated during his time at Liverpool, Hamann was part of the Liverpool first team until 2006, in that time he came on at half time during the 2005 champions league win, and played a vital part in the comeback. However, in 2006, Didi decided it was time to move on, and signed a pre-contract with Bolton. After spending a day (yes a day) at Bolton, he decided it wasn't for him, and signed for Man City. He was released in 2009, and spent a year unattached until Milton Keynes Dons gave him a player-coach role. He has very recently joined Sven in a coaching role at Leicester City.
Gary McAllister(46) – MFGary Mac brought plenty of experience to the Liverpool team, and was brilliant for them in the treble winning season. He left in 2002 to move onto Coventry. He was applauded off in his final appearance for Liverpool, showing what a huge impact he made in the short time he was there. He went to Coventry as player-manager in 2002, and was there for 2 more years before stepping down to spend more time with his family. In 2008 he took over at Leeds, and after guiding them to the play-off final in his first season, he was sacked after some poor results at the start of his second season. His next job was a coaching role at Middlesbrough, under Gordon Strachan. In 2010, he was hired as assistant manager to Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa, and is still in the role.
Gary Mac alongside former manager Gerard HoullierSteven Gerrard(30) – MCThe current skipper, and the man who is seen as the heart and soul of the football club. Steven has played for Liverpool his whole career, and is still going at the centre of the midfield. I could talk about many moments in Gerrard’s career, but I think you will all remember most of them!
Vladimír Šmicer(37) – AMInjuries plagued Vladi’s time at Liverpool, but he was another that would go on to be part of the champions league winning team. He left Liverpool in 2005, moving to French club Bordeaux where he would make just 30 appearances. He then went to Slavia Prague where he would finish his career. He is currently in charge of the Czech national team alongside Michal Bilek. He will always been known for that second goal in Istanbul, and was recently spotted in a pub with Liverpool fans before the game against Sparta Prague, and still has a soft spot for Liverpool.
Patrick Berger(37) - LWRecurring injuries meant Berger was let go from Liverpool in 2003, and allowed to move to Portsmouth, but he was hampered by injuries once again. After 2 years at Pompey, he moved to Aston Villa, but injuries meant he was never able to get an kind of form, and he was loaned out to Stoke City in 2006 in an attempt to regain fitness. His Villa career was ended in 2008, after he encouraged team-mate Gareth Barry to move to Liverpool. After he was released, he moved back tp Sparta Prague. He retired 2 years later, at the end of his contract, due to ligament injuries.
Paddy and Vladi are still good friendsNicky Barmby(37) – AMIn 2002, Nicky left Liverpool to sign for Leeds United, but never managed to play much in his two years at the club. He went on loan to Nottingham Forest in 2004, before signing for Hull City in 2004. He has since made almost 200 appearances for his hometown team. He still plays for them, but is also running a local junior team, Hessle Sporting F.C, in their Sunday league.
Michael Owen(31) – STOwen left Liverpool in 2004 under controversial circumstances. He signed for Real Madrid but failed to continue his Liverpool form, and when Robinho and Julio Baptista were signed, Owen decided to move back to England. He signed for Newcastle in 2004. Injuries continued, and Owen never had a long spell in the first team. He ran down his contract at Newcastle, and in 2009 signed for Manchester United.
Emile Heskey(33) – STThe 2003/04 season saw Emile leave Liverpool and join Birmingham City. He suffered from injuries, and was never able to get into form. He was disliked by the Birmingham fans, and after their relegation in 2006, he was sold on. His next club were newly promoted Wigan Athletic. He improved at Wigan, and captained the team on many occasions, he was so impressive during his time in Wigan, and he was linked with a move back to Liverpool. This never came about though and 2009 saw him move to Aston Villa. He has made almost 100 appearances for Villa, and was called up to the national team for the world cup in 2010.
Robbie Fowler(35) – STOne word sums up Robbie Fowler. God. During his time at Liverpool Fowler was loved by the fans, and his departure in 2001 was seen as too early for many of the fans. He moved onto Leeds United, where after a few seasons, his injury coupled with Leeds poor finances meant he was sold. In 2002 he moved to Manchester City. He was struggling with injuries for his time in Manchester though, and never managed to keep a first team place. At the end of his contract in 2006, Fowler made a return to Liverpool. He spent his time as back up at Liverpool, and was finally given a good send off from the club. He then signed a 2 year contract at Cardiff City, but was once again hit by injuries and was never more than back up. In 2007, he moved to Blackburn for half a season, once again he was only used as backup. He only had a short term contract at Blackburn, and once this ran out, he went looking for a new club. His next move was to be down south, no, not London, Australia. He signed for North Queensland Fury, as a marquee signing for the new A-League franchise. He moved to Perth Glory in 2010, where he spent a year before retiring. In 2011, Fowler joined MK Dons coaching staff.
God down underManager:
Gérard Houllier(63)Houllier suffered from a heart condition and required surgery in 2001, taking 5 months out as a result. He left Liverpool in 2004 by mutual consent, and in 2005 he took charge at Lyon. He won 2 league titles at the French club in his two seasons there, but resigned after his relationship with the chairman broke down. After 3 years out of the game, Houllier took over at Aston Villa in 2010, and is still their manager, despite unhappy Villa fans wanting him out.