I wanted to wear 77 at Liverpool to combine my idols Keegan and Dalglish, who were both No.7, but they told me it was too high' Jari Litmanen on what it meant to sign for Liverpool

"By the time Jari Litmanen signed for Liverpool in 2001, he was already a European Cup winner with four Eredivisie medals from his time at Ajax, when he established himself as one of the best players in Europe. The Finn had come a long way from his failed trial at Leeds United almost ten years earlier and despite achieving so much in the game, his move to Anfield saw him fulfil a childhood dream as he signed for the club he grew up supporting."

"I was five years old when I started following Liverpool and my first idol was Kevin Keegan, Litmanen tells FourFourTwo. When he moved to Hamburg, I couldn't watch him as often, but I started to admire his replacement, Kenny Dalglish he was clinical in front of goal, technically gifted and moved so intelligently. I grew up watching Liverpool more than any other team, so when I joined the club in 2001, it was special."

Jari Litmanen joined Liverpool in January 2001 after a decorated spell at Ajax that included a European Cup and four Eredivisie titles. He had previously failed a trial at Leeds United nearly a decade earlier. He grew up supporting Liverpool and fulfilled a childhood dream by signing for the club, choosing number 37 as a tribute combining Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish. He arrived during Liverpool's cup-winning 2000/01 season and linked with a strong frontline, but injuries limited his contributions during an 18-month stay. He remembers the period as special despite physical setbacks.

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