Vladi wants to go to athens

[Wazz]

Nicked from the offal.

 

Istanbul hero Vladimir Smicer believes Liverpool's 'awesome' supporters can help inspire the Reds to more European glory in Athens.

Smicer will forever be regarded as an Anfield legend for the part he played in the Ataturk Stadium two years ago, when he netted the Reds' second goal against AC Milan and then calmly slotted home the fourth penalty in the shoot-out.

 

Thousands of Liverpool fans will descend on the Greek capital over the coming days and Smicer is in no doubts they will have a massive part to play inside the Olympic Stadium.

 

"Liverpool fans are always awesome," the 33 year old told uefa.com. "They are the key. At 3-0 down they were amazing in Istanbul. They lifted us so much. You know that Liverpool fans will be with the players.

 

"The players know you are obligated to give the fans success because they crave it so much. They will make a lot of noise in Athens, for sure! It's the final and they will make it one to remember. The fans deserve it."

 

Smicer spent six seasons at Anfield following a move from Lens in 1999 and although he accepts he wasn't always a favourite with the Kop, he is pleased to have played his role in helping secure a number of trophies for the club.

 

"I am just happy to have been a Liverpool player. I had six great years and if the fans think I did a good job I feel proud. True Liverpool legends are the likes of Gerrard and Carragher. They are unbelievable!

 

"I will remember the pride I felt playing for Liverpool. The fans sometimes did not like the way I played but I accepted it and still loved every minute of it.

 

"Scoring the penalty [in Istanbul] was the biggest test of my whole career. It's easy to say no when you are asked by the manager but I wanted to prove my worth. I was 32 and wanted to show I wasn't afraid to take the responsibility.

 

"I told Rafa I'd love to take one. I sent Dida the wrong way. I told Milan Baros I'd put it right, but Dida kept going left! Milan told me to stick with it and Dida went left again!

 

"It was such an important goal for me. If I'd missed, my last game in a Liverpool shirt might have ended differently. The pressure was big. I felt so proud to score. It was easily the best day of my life.

 

"My other favourite moments for Liverpool came in 2001 when we won five trophies. I played the full season and it was the year I played my best football for Liverpool that season.

 

"Just signing for Liverpool in itself was a dream because I supported them as a kid. It was a dream come true. The year 2001 was my other highlight for sure but nothing will compare to that win in 2005."

 

He added: "I'd love to be in Athens but we have a game that weekend so we might have training the next day. If we are guaranteed second place already I will ask the coach if I can go to Athens but if we still have something to play for, I will have to miss out.

 

"But next year I will go to the final when Liverpool are in it again!"

[crisps]

[McBain]

A succesful ballot

[hels smicer]

i love him

 

i bet he does go to Athens

 

he said he would try his best in the uefa chat

 

[Leo No.8]

Vladi is just so boss. The moral of this story is nice guys don't always finish last.

 

You could actually make a film about the way his Anfield career panned out; villified by even his own fans, the forgotten man of Anfield changed his stars on a last, incredible night at the club when he wrote himself into legend...

 

[IgPig]

Even given his usual miserableness, Gerrard looks pretty unfazed by Vlads goal in that picture.

[Ronnie Whelan]

Top man is Vladi.

[Tones]

Top man is right

[Sion]

Zenden is the new Smicer

[Molby]

I f***ing love Vlad

 

always have done and always will

 

really hope he gets to Athens

 

Zenden is the new Smicer

with a third of the talent, but yes maybe, hopefully

[RafaShanks]

Vladi was a very underated player.

 

If Bolo scores in Athens, I'm gonna go out and get another LFC shirt with Zenden is the b******s on the back.

[hels smicer]

Zenden is the new Smicer

 

no no no

 

 

NO NO NO

 

[Sion]

no no no

 

 

NO NO NO

 

 

Yeah, I'd agree, Zenden is better looking.

[hels smicer]

Yeah, I'd agree, Zenden is better looking.

 

absoloute rudeness!

 

i know your only joking

 

quite frankly mentioning Vladis name in the sentence as him is just not on!

 

[Nerik]

He's Czech, he's great............!

[Benitez]

Even given his usual miserableness, Gerrard looks pretty unfazed by Vlads goal in that picture.

 

 

 

My abiding memory of Vlad's goal, is the shot of the crowd just after, all around people are jumping up and down like crazy, and there is that one man, with his hand to his head, looking utterly utterly gobsmacked and in total disbelief. He looked how I felt at that moment

[Woodsyla]

He's Czech, he's great............!

 

He's Paddy Berger's mate

Vladimir, Vladimir

 

 

I really wish he'd got to grips with the English league and that he'd played in a side that had other options than 'give it to Vlad and let him do something'

 

Top top player. I remember the 3-0 demolition of West Ham at home when Vladi played a 30yd ball along the ground into Gerrard's run that bent and died at his feet perfectly in his stride. It was a thing of beauty.