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| Biscan
Igor: Midfielder in club 2000 - 200... |
 Biscan finally signed for
Liverpool in December 2000 from Dynamo Zagreb for 5.5million pounds - two months after
agreeing personal terms with the Reds.
The Croatian international finished the season with his old club, where he was captain,
before travelling to Anfield for a medical and linking up with his team-mates.
Gerard Houllier first noticed Biscan at the European Under-21 championships and had to
fight off Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and AC Milan for the Croat.
He was ineligible for European competition in the 2000/01 season as he had already played
in the UEFA Cup and the Champions League with Zagreb.
Boss Houllier said of the signing: 'He is a good defensive midfield player, he is very
strong and he can play in a number of positions. He will definitely strengthen our squad.'
The Croatian international made his debut just two days after he signed in the 1-0 defeat
to Ipswich. But he was sent-off twice during his first season with the Reds.
He's a versatile defensive player who can play anywhere across the midfield as well as at
the back.
Biscan fell out of favour in the 2001/02 campaign, featuring in only one game after the
turn of the year. That cost him his place in Croatia's World Cup squad and it's was
difficult to see much of a future for him on Merseyside.
He broke back into the side towards the end of the 2002/03 season, although he continued
to come in for a lot of criticism. However, at the start of the 2003/04 campaign, in the
absence of Stephane Henchoz, Biscan began to impress as a centre-back.
Houllier continued to select Biscan ahead of Henchoz, must to the bemusement of supporter
and pundits alike.
It seems to be a case of not 'if' but 'when' the player will make his next mistake - which
when playing in defence can be disastrous.
Biscan caused a storm in his homeland in January 2004.
Croatian coach Otto Baric confirmed he would not pick the Liverpool defender for his squad
for Euro 2004 after he failed to show up for a qualifier against Bulgaria the previous
October.
Baric said: 'Biscan will not be considered for selection for the Croatia squad for the
Euro 2004 finals - and possibly for the rest of his career - for disciplinary reasons.'
His future appeared in doubt after Houllier's departure in the summer of 2004, but new
boss Rafael Benitez was prepared to give him a chance to earn a place in his squad. |
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