Interview: Phil Thompson

20th August 2008

Anfield, Liverpool

Reluctantly, I went to Anfield to speak to Phil Thompson.
Mohammed Bhana of Batley, was launching his new book The Asian LiverBird.

Phil Thompson Games for Liverpool- 459 with 7 sub appearances scoring 12 goals. Honours - 2 European Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 7 League Championships, 2
League Cups, 1 FA Cup.

You won the European Cup twice playing for Liverpool; can it get any bigger for a player than to lift that trophy?

“No it can’t. Being a local boy and winning the European Cup is one of the biggest thrills a player can have. It was wonderful for me as a fan in the late 50s, early 60s during the Bill Shankly era but going on to play for the team as I supported as a young kid, then captaining them and also lifting the biggest trophy in domestic club football was incredible. Going up the steps in Paris in 1981 was a great feeling for me.”

Can you tell us what it was like signing a new book, The Asian LiverBird, as it was a new experience for you?

“It is a new experience and I think to myself, does it amaze you that there is a new book about the Asian supporters of Liverpool and it doesn’t. I have taken it in my stride in signing the book and Ian has done exactly the same.
Over the years, we have had good contact with the Asian fan base and as a player I was out in South East Asia a few times. When I went back to Asia, during my time as
Assistant Manager to Gerard Houllier when we won the treble, the SARS virus
was going around so we had to change our schedule, but that experience was incredible.
I felt humble because I have played in a World Cup where everything is taken care of for you, you’re looked after and there are English fans around but when I went with Gerard I was astonished to see how much the support had grown. I have seen the passion and felt the passion of the Asian fans.”

How important is it for the club to capitalise on this and arrange a trip for the team to somewhere like India?

“India is important and I think another club was talking about travelling to India. This should have been done many, many years ago, probably when this club was dominating.
Economically, they have done well and this area has been missed for so many years and it needs to be tapped into sooner, rather
than later.”

How could the club work this out?

“The climate in Asia is different to ours but pre season games can be played there.
The opportunity is here and we need to keep in contact and communicate properly with them. A club needs to go to a place and spend time there for a few days like we did when we went to Hong Kong and Bangkok and at practise sessions we had 30,000 people watching the team. To go to India and places, I don’t see it as being a difficult task.”

At Oliver Kahn’s testimonial recently, Bayern Munich played the game at a stadium in Calcutta which had a crowd of around 120,000. What does this say about the supporters in India?

“It just shows the passion for European football. If Bayern Munich can get that then the likes of Ajax, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan could as well but their fan base in Asia is not as big as Manchester United and Liverpool have.
Liverpool have retained this support because I feel, as a club, we are more humble than any other club. We still run as a football club and people are able to communicate with that.
We have retained our fan base in Asia even though we haven’t won the league for so many years.”

We have seen the passion of the Asian football fans in this country and at the book
signing today but why do you think there is a lack of British Asian talent in the Premiership?

“In simple terms, they are not good enough and I don’t mean that in a bad way but the English players themselves are not good enough. I’m not trying to knock down Asian footballers but it is a way of life at the moment. Some things are too easy for our youngsters and this is the same for the Asians.
If you are good enough then you will get the chance because everybody is crying out,
doesn’t matter which country you are from.
If you are a talent, then you will get your opportunity because we all want the best players.
If there is an Asian lad out there, it would be fantastic for any English club, not just Liverpool.”

Finally, Rafa Benitez has spent heavily again this summer but do you think they will win the title this season?

“I’ve got a sneaky feeling that they will do it this year. I think something can happen. Over the two legs in the Champions League against Chelsea,
for the millions that they have spent, Liverpool were the better team.
Over the last two years against Manchester United, here at Anfield, there is no way we should have lost the game because it was two teams cancelling each other out and we ended up losing the game.
It’s those minor details which need to be sorted out and I feel they get a little bit nervous at time but I don’t this there is such a big gap between
Manchester United and us. We only lost four games last season whereas they lost five
and that shows there is a thin divide between the clubs.
If we turn the draws into wins, then we have a chance.

Shamoon Hafez