10 Liverpool flops who found success elsewhere

#6. Mikel San Jose - Athletic Bilbao

San Jose was part of Spain's Euro 2016 squad

San Jose is the only player on this list who left Liverpool before the Rodgers era. In fact, San Jose left Liverpool when Rafa Benitez was still in charge.

The Spaniard joined the Liverpool reserves after arriving from Athletic Bilbao in 2007, only for him to return to the same club on loan two years later. He later revealed that his decision to leave Liverpool was because it was difficult for him to get playing time.

"There were four centre-backs who were magnificent - Jamie Carragher, Dani Agger, Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia - so it was difficult to get minutes. I knew returning home would give me more chances. At the beginning it was hard here as well, I didn't get many opportunities, but it was a step I understood I had to take. There was no better place to take that step than back home."

After a year on loan at Bilbao during which he played 30 times and scored three goals, the centre-back, who is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, opted to sign for the Basque club permanently without ever playing for Liverpool.

San Jose has gone on to play 348 games for Bilbao, scoring 36 goals. During this period, he won the U21 Euro with Spain, won the Supercopa de Espana in 2015, finished runners-up three cup competitions with Bilbao and played 7 games for Spain at the senior level. In fact, he was part of the Spain squad for Euro 2016.

A defender of his experience, versatility and ball playing abilities may come in handy under Jurgen Klopp, right?