Rush not surprised by Liverpool's popularity in region

Liverpool icon Ian Rush is pleasantly surprised by the support base for the Premier League in general and the Reds in particular in the region.

“I’ve been coming to the Middle and Far East since 2000. It’s only when you come in you realise how big the support is over last three for four years for the English Premier League,” he said speaking at a press conference in Dubai.

This is despite Liverpool not winning the league titles in recent years with Manchester United equaling their record of 19 triumphs last term.

“It’s amazing what support they (Liverpool) have. It’s all about the history of the club. It doesn’t surprise me now. Once you have been out to this part of the world you can feel the football fever. People who have not been to this part of the world don’t realise how big the English Premier League is,” said the Liverpool great who is Dubai to take part in the Soccer Clinic for clients, stakeholders and employee’s children of Standard Chartered Bank.

There are 38 million registered Liverpool football fans around the world, more than half the population of the UK, said a bank official.

“When we decided we wanted to be a sponsor for a football team we were trying to find a partnership that will work for us. We wanted to find a club that would allow us to use legends like Ian (Rush) to come on tour last summer. He came on tour to Asia which is a very important part of the world for us,” said the top official.

“As the conversations went on we found that Liverpool were match to what we wanted to do. The other important thing is the sponsorship for us is about Asia, Africa and the Middle East, it’s not necessarily about the UK,” he explained.

“The following that Liverpool has in many parts of the world is now better than for Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal. We are very happy. It’s been a great deal so far. Having someone like Ian makes it good for the market,” he said of the former Liverpool predator who holds the club record of 346 goals.

However, despite the massive fan following for the sport, Rush was cautious in praising the influx of foreign stars in the UAE Pro-League which has former World Cup winning captain Diego Maradona as coach of Al Wasl club.

“I think the league, they got some great managers who are coaching them. It will be interesting to see how it goes,” he said when asked for an outsider’s perpective of the UAE domestic league.

Rush felt UAE had to focus on grass roots level by setting up academies to produce home-grown talent and qualify for the World Cup.

“The national team (UAE) has dropped. I think they qualified in the 90s and are 145 in world right now. For someone qualifying for the World Cup, you need to get it right to be successful for the national team more than the league. You have to get it right at the academy status level. That’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t happen overnight,” said Rush who heads the international football academies of Liverpool worldwide.

“With Wales 110th in the world, we put in a structure four or five years ago to help youngsters come through. We are now 45th in the world. We are brought up really where the football pitch is a classroom. You woudn’t children to school if there are no good teachers. The UAE league looks to me as people moving out there anyway even if they are not ready,” he said.

The Welshman could not hide his disappointment of playing in the World Cup but being part of winning teams like Liverpool eased this pain somewhat.

“It is a massive disappointment. It’s disappointing we didn’t quality for major tournaments. We are very very lucky that the teams we played for (Liverpool) was very successful and that helped the ease the pain. If I hadn’t been a player and winning trophies with the club like Manchester United, it doubles the pain,” said Rush when asked how players like himself and United legend Ryan Giggs felt missing out on playing in the biggest stage of all.

He was not fully supportive of the decision by Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey to play for a proposed Team GB (Great Britain) at next year’s London Olympics.

“It’s difficult for them because it comes down to politics. Should there be a British team for the Olympics. From a players’ point of view I can understand. To play in the Olympics would be a dream come true,” said Rush who is happy with his role as ambassador of Liverpool and has no managerial ambitions in his former club.

“I just love the club,” said the Anfield legend.

He gave a similar answer when asked what was his favourite goal.

“I have none because it’s my job to score goals. If I scored from one yard or 20 yards, I got the same feeling. I love scoring goals. That’s one thing you can never take away from you. Really for Liverpool I don’t have a favourite goal. For Wales I do get special goals. Liverpool I just have special games,” said Rush who made 660 appearances for the Reds.

He also shrugged off comparisons when asked who would be the next Ian Rush for Liverpool.

“It’s no good comparing people because that was different. Luis Suarez is more similar to Kenny Dalglish. He is a great player. Andy Carroll they are comparing to people like John Toshack. They are great players. There are a few young kids coming up but I don’t think it is right to actually say names because you are putting pressure on that person as well,” he said.

“There is a young lad Raheem Sterling. He is only 17. He is similar to Michael Owen at that age. From my point of view you have to be looking at someone with a better pace,” said Rush.
 

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