NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.98: Luis Garcia
- Years: 2004-2007
- Appearances: 121
- Goals: 30
- Trophies: Champions League (2005), UEFA Super Cup (2005), FA Cup (2006)
Luis Garcia scored – yes, scored – one of Anfield’s most famous goals and wrote his name into Liverpool FC history as an Istanbul 2005 hero.
Recruited from Barcelona by new manager Rafael Benitez in 2004, the diminutive Spanish attacker was capable of creating magical, defining moments.
Thirteen goals during his debut season would already have been sufficient to endear him to the Kop – but it was the thrill and significance of them that typically stood him out.
There was a screamer at home to Charlton Athletic early in the campaign, three strikes across a two-legged Champions League knockout tie with Bayer Leverkusen, and a Merseyside derby effort.
A sensational blast in a quarter-final against Juventus was followed by his winning goal in the European Cup semi-final with Chelsea at Anfield that sent the Reds back to the showpiece.
Did it cross the line? Who cares?
Three weeks later, he and his new teammates were lifting Old Big Ears above their heads after coming from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties on a bewildering evening at Ataturk Stadium.
“It’s something nobody can take from us,” he said. “Time passes but our memories are always there – and that one was a special one.”
Fifty appearances and 11 more goals followed as Garcia continued to be crucial in 2005-06, including another marvellous finish versus Chelsea to help Liverpool reach an FA Cup final they would win but he was suspended for.
A serious injury ended Garcia’s third and last year on Merseyside at its halfway point – but he said farewell having certainly lived out the lyrics of the song fans crafted for him: he brought us joy.
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