Forgotten Legends of Football: Ian Rush

Contrary to majority verdict, Rush believed that his only season at Juventus was a success as he went on to score 14 goals against airtight defenses in Serie A. The Italian side were determined to build the team around him and moves for Steve McMahon and Peter Beardsley were made to compliment him in the team. However, Kenny Dalglish turned the offers down from the Turin club as he was more intent on bringing him back to the club than losing any more of his top players to another club.

Rush’s ‘My Italian Diary’ reflects upon the lifestyle he had there and how difficult it was for him to get adjusted to the Italian way of football. However, he later confessed to have improved during his stay as he became defensively more responsible while playing for Juventus.

Liverpool – The comeback

“Rushie is back”, screamed the Anfield faithful as a closely guarded secret was finally revealed to the fans. Despite the Heysel tragedy, the astonishingly good relations between Liverpool and Juventus came to the forefront as the entire deal was wrapped up over phone by Kenny Dalglish. Rush’s departure had seen Liverpool roping in John Aldridge as a replacement. And with John in great goalscoring form, Rush had to find himself on the bench more often than not.

April 15, that season, the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest witnessed perhaps the worst possible stadium disaster in British history as 96 fans died in the crush at the Hilllsborough stadium. When Ian Rush scored an extra time brace, against bitter rivals Everton to win the FA Cup, it was a fitting tribute to the people who lost their lives.

Rush’s final League title came in the 1989-90 season, interestingly Liverpool’s 18^th and they have not won another till date as Manchester United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, established themselves as the ultimate force in the country. Rush, however, continued to score freely even the season after that but despite once again ending with a season tally of 26 goals, Liverpool failed to win any silverware. But with the reinstatement in the European competition after having served a six year ban, Liverpool fans and players quickly pushed aside the disappointment of the previous season.

With every passing season, Rush was starting to lose his goalscoring touch that made him the player he was. He lost out on his speed which affected his goalscoring in turn. Rush started the 1995-96 season as their first choice striker alongside Stan Collymore but eventually surrendered his place to the young, talented Robbie Fowler.

Rush bade farewell to Liverpool in 1996 summer when he left for Leeds United after having scored 346 goals for the club and his record stands till date as the highest ever goal scorer for Liverpool.

Those were the glory days of Liverpool when Ian Rush used to more often than not catapult the side into wins and trophies season after season. But ever since his retirement, Liverpool have failed to produce as good a striker as Rush. Everytime the club bring in a new number nine, he will be compared to him evidently. ‘He is no Ian Rush’ is being heard among the Merseysiders since forever. But the man with a moustache, the man who was referred to as a cross between Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler back in Italy, remains optimistic that the glory days of the club would be back soon.

You Will Never Walk Alone, Ian.