Ian Rush 'emotional' as career retrospective opens at Anfield

Liverpool and Wales legend Ian Rush has said he rooted through "bin bags in the loft" to find the memorabilia from his glittering career that forms the basis of a new exhibition at his beloved Anfield.

All You Need Is Rush, which opens at the stadium's museum on 14 August, takes in the trophies, hat-trick balls and Golden Boots won by Rush at Liverpool, as well as other items, such as Juventus shirts from his time in Italy and international caps he earned with Wales.

The 64-year-old remains the Reds' all-time leading goalscorer, with 346 goals in 660 appearances during two spells between 1980 and 1996.

Rush said putting the exhibition had been a chance to reminisce, adding: "When you stop playing, you forget about what you've achieved."

The exhibition takes its name from the terrace anthem the Anfield crowd sang about Rush and includes a hologram of the Welshman which talks visitors through its highlights as they enter.

Born in St Asaph in Denbighshire, Wales, in 1961, Rush began his career across the border with Chester City in 1978.

He moved to Liverpool in 1980, shortly after winning the first of his 73 caps for Wales, and soon became a firm fan favourite, helping the side to four league titles, two European Cups, four league cups and a famous FA Cup final victory over fierce rivals Everton in 1986.

His scoring prowess even saw him become the first British player to win the European Golden Boot in 1984, topping the list of goalscorers across the continent with a mammoth 47 goals.

His abilities were admired across Europe and shortly after the win over Everton, he signed for Juventus, though he was loaned back to the Reds in his first season and only ended up playing for a year in Italy before a permanent move back to Anfield.

He spent another eight years with Liverpool, winning another league title, league cup and two FA Cups, followed by brief spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Wrexham, before a swan song in Australia with Sydney Olympic.

Such were Rush's achievements with the club that a recent poll of supporters to choose the Reds' greatest ever player placed him third behind Sir Kenny Dalglish and Steve Gerrard.

Rush said it felt "tremendous" to see his career laid out across the exhibition and walking round it had left him "quite emotional".

"It was bringing back memories back from a kid to playing from Wales, moving to Liverpool, Juventus and finishing at Liverpool and all that," he said.

"When you stop playing, you forget about what you've achieved.

"I've been in bin bags in the loft... to get them all out, cleaned up and shared with Liverpool."

The items on show include two Golden Boots - an English First Division one for 1984 to match the European award he was given in the same year - and the match balls from the 16 games in which he scored three or more for the Reds.

There are also the shirts he wore in the club's FA Cup final victories in 1986, 1989 and 1992.

Rush said it was that first victory, a 3-1 win over city rivals Everton, that remained a cherished memory.

"My dream as a kid was to score a goal in the FA Cup Final," he said.

"I used to watch at 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 at night and go out to my backyard, pretending I was the one that scored the winning goal in every cup final.

"To get the chance to do it in 1986, against Everton as well... that made my dream come true."

He said the exhibition had also brought back some of his proudest memories of playing for Wales and, in particular, his debut against Scotland.

"I'll never forget making the game... because when I was a kid, I thought I'd never played for my country at whatever level," he said.

"To play at the senior level against Scotland, that was something really special [and] I was only 18 years old."

And while that game ended in defeat, he said his favourite international goal came in a famous Welsh victory.

"The only other one for me is when we beat Germany one-nil at Cardiff Arms Park," he said.

"They were the world champions, they had just won the World Cup... and we beat them, so that'd be my standout goal."

He said he hoped all supporters would enjoy the exhibition and was sure it would bring back great memories for those who saw him play and give a taste of what it was like for those who had not.

He added that he was grateful to have played for a club that treasures its heroes long after they finish playing.

"This is a club where if you do well for this club, they'll remember you for the rest of their lives," he said.

"That's why Liverpool Football Club to me is the best club in the world, because everyone, we're all in it together."

All You Need Is Rush opens at Anfield on 14 August.

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