NotizieIl migliore del Liverpool - No.41: Steve Nicol

• Years: 1982-1994

• Appearances: 468

• Goals: 46

• Trophies: First Division (1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1989-90), European Cup (1984), League Cup (1984), FA Cup (1986, 1989, 1992)

Few players have played and excelled in more positions for Liverpool than Steve Nicol.

The Scot was a world-class option in every area of the pitch for more than a decade at Anfield.

He is one of 12 Liverpool players to have been voted Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, having claimed the prestigious award in 1989.

Signed from Ayr United in 1981, Nicol spent the majority of his Reds career as a right-sided full-back but could switch to the other flank due to being two-footed.

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He was also very adept further up the pitch – even being used as a striker at times – and would score 46 goals for the club. Seven of those came in the opening seven fixtures of 1987-88 – including a hat-trick against Newcastle United.

Nicol established himself in the team during the treble-winning season of 1983-84. He made 38 appearances on the way to lifting the First Division title, League Cup and European Cup.

Nicol added to his medal collection when his close pal Kenny Dalglish replaced Joe Fagan as manager, winning the league three more times and two FA Cups.

He remained a starter until midway through the next decade, too, and helped Graeme Souness’ side win the FA Cup in 1992.

The last of his appearances wearing the Liver bird, which totalled almost 500, came more than a dozen years after his debut.

All that Nicol achieved at Liverpool was done with a lifestyle that would not conform with modern standards, as perhaps the title of his 2016 autobiography suggests: 5 League Titles and a Packet of Crisps.

“The biggest thing was that I enjoyed playing,” he said of his success. “I was actually fortunate enough to go to a team that were European champions at the time and full of great players.

“The chances of some of that rubbing off on you are huge if you apply yourself, and obviously you need to have some basic ability yourself.”

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