Michael Laudrup and Graeme Souness in action during the 1986 World Cup
MICHAEL LAUDRUP will take his place in the Anfield dugout tonight – nearly three decades after he came so close to signing for Liverpool FC.
The Swansea City boss was poised to join the Reds from Brondby back in 1983 when the Dane shook hands on a three-year contract.
However, when Liverpool insisted on increasing the length of the deal by an extra 12 months, the transfer collapsed and the attacking midfielder moved to Juventus instead.
It was the Reds’ loss as during a glittering playing career Laudrup went on to win an array of honours with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax.
Remarkably, Laudrup’s only previous visit to Anfield was as a commentator with Spanish television for a European game against Barcelona. But tonight the 48-year-old will be a lot closer to the action.
“Liverpool were my team as a kid,” Laudrup said. “I watched them as a kid on television back home in Denmark.
“I loved the team, the atmosphere. But I never got the chance to play there, partly because Liverpool were banned from Europe for a long time after Heysel.
“They tried to sign me, but that was a long time ago now — back in the good old days. Now I’m looking forward to being involved there, even on the touchline.
“It’s a fantastic ground with a great crowd always.”
