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Gerard Houllier fought off competition from many of Europe's top clubs
to sign Igor Biscan from Dinamo Zagreb for £5.5m in December 2000, and
the new signing made an excellent instant impression alongside Steven
Gerrard in the centre of midfield in pre-Christmas wins over Manchester
United and Arsenal. Igor scored his first Reds goal, after a marauding
run from midfield, in a 5-0 League Cup semi-final win over Crystal
Palace, but his debut season was to see more red cards than goals,
although his dismissals in an FA Cup tie with Rotherham and a Merseyside
derby at Goodison Park didn't affect the results. He started the League
Cup Final with Birmingham City at Cardiff on the left-hand side of the
Reds midfield, but was replaced in extra-time by Christian Ziege, who
duly netted from the spot as Liverpool won their first trophy of the
season on penalties.
Biscan was cup-tied for Liverpool's ultimately
successful UEFA Cup campaign, and despite playing in earlier rounds, he
was left out of the squad that beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, though
he did make 21 appearances in his first campaign. Injuries and a loss of
form saw Igor play just 10 times in 2001/02 as the Reds finished
runners-up in the league. Biscan was beginning to look like a jack of
all trades, and master of none, but in his defence he was never given a
prolonged run in the centre of midfield, his best position. He played 13
times in 2002/03, but wasn't in the squad that won the League Cup Final
against Manchester United at Cardiff. Then, at the beginning of the
following season, an injury to Stephane Henchoz saw Igor suddenly thrust
into action alongside Sami Hyypia in the centre of defence. He never
consistently impressed the fans there though, and many blamed him for
the exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of a Didier Drogba-inspired
Marseille, when he was sent off.
When Houllier left Anfield in the
summer of 2004, many expected Biscan to follow him, but the Croatian got
a new lease of life under Rafa Benitez. Three weeks after his Norwich
tumble, Igor's goal, his first ever in the Premiership, capped an
astonishing Reds comeback from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Fulham, and three
days later he turned in a star performance in a 1-0 Champions League win
at Deportivo. Injuries to Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann and Xabi
Alonso at various stages of the season saw Igor finally given a chance
in the centre of midfield, where he excelled in the Champions League
wins over Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea that took the Reds to
the Final. His 'cult hero' status was confirmed with a late winner for a
vastly under-strength Liverpool side in a league game with Bolton, one
of his 35 appearances over the campaign, and although he watched the
incredible events of Istanbul from the bench, he thoroughly deserved his
medal as a reward for his performances in the competition. Igor's
Liverpool contract was now up, and with Benitez looking to bring in
Valencia's Momo Sissoko, he was allowed to join Greek side Panathinaikos
on a free transfer, but his efforts in his final season will always
ensure he is fondly remembered at Anfield. (Mark Jones)
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