Liverpool hero Vladimir Smicer reflects on leaving the club a champion as Daniel Sturridge posts farewell message

Ahead of the Liverpool FC Legends match against Borussia Dortmund Legends on Saturday in Hong Kong, the Czech midfielder talks about how tough it was to leave the club

Vladimir Smicer, much like Daniel Sturridge, leaves the squad right after winning the Champions League

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Liverpool FC Legend Stephane Henchoz and Vladimir Smicer flank Borussia Dortmund Legend Karl-Heinz Riedle before the charity match on Saturday at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Published: 8:00am, 7 Jun 2019Updated: 8:00am, 7 Jun 2019

As Daniel Sturridge posted a heartfelt farewell to Liverpool and its fans on social media, former player Vladimir Smicer also reflected on leaving the historic club behind himself after winning the Champions League back in 2005.

“My last game for Liverpool was the final, so it was a good goodbye,” said the 46-year-old, who will run out for the Liverpool FC Legends against Borussia Dortmund Legends on Saturday at Hong Kong Stadium. “It’s part of normal life, everything ends in the end and I just wish him all the best in the future.”

As Liverpool fans will know well, Smicer’s last game for the club was during the incredible Uefa Champions League final against AC Milan. The midfielder came on as a substitute in the 23rd minute and scored a decisive goal from outside the box to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead in the 56th minute. Smicer followed that up by scoring the game-winning penalty in the shoot-out, his last touch of the ball for the club.

Sturridge, who did not play in the Champions League final, first started playing for the club in 2013. Last season he was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion for six games before returning to the squad. In a message posted on Facebook and Instagram, Sturridge thanked pretty much everyone associated with Liverpool FC, even the club’s chefs.

“To my teammates old and new thank you for the memories the banter was unreal,” he wrote. “You all played a part in making me the man I am today. This isn’t a good bye cause Lord knows we’ll stay in touch no matter where I am so speak soon.”

Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in a dramatic run that saw them upend Barcelona in the semi-final, and was the club’s sixth title in its storied 127-year history.