Liverpool transfers: When the Reds signed Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia
On this day in 2004, Liverpool announced the double signing of La Liga stars Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia.
The two players, 22 and 26, respectively, joined the Merseysiders for a combined £16.7million fee from Real Sociedad and Barcelona, as Rafael Benitez looked to bring some Spanish style to Anfield.
And they would both prove to be well worth the outlay as they had a huge impact on the team and their fans.
Alonso’s incredible passing ability was notable from an early age as he took delight in his role as a deep-lying midfielder and with La Real, helping them to a second place finish in La Liga back in 2003, just two points behind Real Madrid.
A year later after continuing to excel and impressing at international level, Benitez swooped, beating Real Madrid to his signature.
His technical brilliance shone immediately at Anfield but a broken ankle received when tackled by Frank Lampard cost him three month of his debut season. He made up for it in style though.
Alonso’s return to the first-team was the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Juventus and his display helped the Reds claim a 0-0 draw and progression to the semi-finals.
Liverpool would only finish the Premier League season in fifth but managed to reach the Champions League final and the Spaniard was a key part of their incredible comeback against AC Milan.
Alonso may have missed his penalty but made the score 3-3 as he hit home the rebound from Dida’s save and he put in a stunning display throughout as the Reds won the trophy. Not a bad way to end your first season.
He would win another trophy in his second campaign as he helped the Reds to triumph in the 2006 FA Cup final, and he furthered his reputation as a superb technician by scoring from his own half against Luton in the third round of the competition.
Alonso’s brilliance in midfield continued but Benitez’s interest in Gareth Barry left the player unsettled at Anfield and after a move failed to materialise in 2008, he reluctantly left the club in 2009 to join Real Madrid in a £30million deal.
For Garcia, his career will be forever defined by Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final in 2005.
He grabbed the winning goal against Juventus and also hit the controversial winner in the semi-finals against Chelsea - the fourth minute goal was cleared by William Gallas but ruled to be a goal by the referee with camera angles of the incident proving inconclusive.
And Garcia would go onto play the full 120 minutes for the Reds as they came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties, as he finished the year with 13 goals in 44 games.
His impact at Anfield would slowly decrease over the following two seasons but another key goal against Chelsea, this time in a 2006 FA Cup semi-final clash, increased his popularity with the club’s fans as the two teams sparked up a bitter rivalry, but his sending off against West Ham in the Premier League meant he missed the final, which the Reds won.
An anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2007 would mean his last match for the club was during their thrilling 3-6 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-final.
Even though both exits were tinged with disappointment, both men are still considered heroes on Merseyside.