Despite being on the books for seven years at Liverpool, Anthony Le Tallec only managed 30 appearances for the Reds.
Signed as a 17-year-old from Le Havre for just over £2m, the now 32-year-old has been playing in Greece’s Super League for Atromitos Athens since 2015.
His time at Liverpool will mostly be remembered by the five different loan spells he was sent on before returning to France on a permanent basis with Le Mans in 2008.
Signed by Gérard Houllier, Le Tallec actually spent more time under Rafael Benitez at Anfield than any other manager, which was actually what caused him to want to leave, something he regretted soon after.
Speaking to Ouest-France, the attacking midfielder had a look back at his time on Merseyside, which included a Champions League trophy during the 2004-2005 season.
Of that win, he said: “I didn’t live it very well because I played all the campaign and the injured players return just for that final, especially Harry Kewell, who played 20 minutes before coming off. I was the 19th man on the list. I was annoyed with Benitez because of that.”
Not only did he hold Benitez responsible for him missing the final when he felt he at least deserved a place in the squad, but Le Tallec also ruined all his chances with the Spanish manager when he asked him if he could go on loan.
He explained: “That’s my biggest regret. I was stupid, and I had an agent who, at the time, was forcing me to leave. I made that error of asking him for a loan, because I was scared, especially since he wasn’t who brought me to Liverpool and was bringing all his Spanish players.
“I didn’t want to spend a second season on the bench. Benitez didn’t take it well, because, in the end, he was counting on me, which I only learnt afterwards. After that, he made me pay for it.”
Wishing he’d been more patient at Liverpool rather than continuously looking for first-team football, Le Tallec believes his career could have been very different.
Now out of contract, Le Tallec is looking for a new challenge, preferably one with a big paycheque.
As for what happens when he calls it a day: “I’m going to stay in the world of football, that’s 100% certain. After that, I don’t exactly know what I’ll do”.
