Liverpool have been eager on including skilled winners to their group in 1997, having picked up only one League Cup for the reason that creation of the Premier League 5 years earlier than.
Boasting a squad containing the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Paul Ince, and a younger Michael Owen, Liverpool nonetheless wished so as to add confirmed high quality as they focused a title tilt.
Supervisor Roy Evans referred to as upon the expertise of Karl-Heinz Riedle, contemporary from successful the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and, at 31, had the expertise and talent to encourage the squad to make that subsequent step within the Premier League . For Riedle, the choice grew to become simple as soon as he realised his days at Dortmund have been numbered beneath new administration.
Liverpool gamers did not get pleasure from Riedle’s initiation…
Riedle celebrates a objective with Owen (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“After successful the Champions League, we went to a coaching camp throughout pre-season, and there had been rumours that Dortmund have been struggling financially and have been on the lookout for cash,” Riedle solely tells FourFourTwo .
“For me, it was time to make a transfer, as I used to be already 31, and perhaps the membership additionally thought that it was the appropriate time to promote me in the event that they wished to get some cash for me. Then my agent referred to as me to ask whether or not I’d be eager to go to Liverpool. It sounded particular and I used to be blissful to go. Additionally, I wasn’t actually getting together with our new coach at Dortmund [Nevio Scala], who had changed Ottmar Hitzfeld after the ultimate.
Riedle (proper) celebrates successful the 1997 Champions League (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“It was fairly unusual from the start, as a result of I had perhaps my greatest pre-season ever in Switzerland – I used to be on hearth – however I constantly ended up within the reserve group.
“There was a striker who had by no means performed earlier than and he was taking part in in my place. That made me suppose that one thing was occurring. In hindsight, the choice was actually good for me: it was an unbelievable expertise to go to Liverpool and later Fulham . I spent the final 4 years of my profession in England , so I by no means regretted it.”
In signing for Liverpool, Riedle grew to become the membership’s first German participant of their historical past. To be able to recognise his nationality, Riedle sung a track from his homeland for his initiation, although it wasn’t best-received.
“It was a convention that each new participant needed to sing on the Christmas social gathering,” Riedle provides. “I don’t bear in mind the track I sang – I believe it was a Bavarian track – nevertheless it didn’t final lengthy, as a result of after not even 30 seconds, I obtained all the beer over my head. That was it!
Riedle taking part in for Liverpool (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“It was a really wild social gathering anyway, the place loads of unusual stuff occurred. I believe that was the final Christmas social gathering Liverpool had at the moment…”
