“Best years of my life” – Player feels Liverpool was ‘prime’ of his career, ‘numbers are there’

Villarreal goalkeeper Pepe Reina has insisted he spent the ‘best years’ of his life with Liverpool between 2005 and 2010.

The 39-year-old has just completed a move to the Spanish side, joining on a free transfer from Lazio after two years with the Serie A side.

It marks something of a homecoming for the Spaniard, whose first serious transfer was to the Estadio de la Cerámica after he spent the formative years of his career with Barcelona.

He went on to establish himself as the number one at the club, making 147 appearances in all competitions before joining Liverpool.

It was at Anfield where he really established himself as a household name, making 394 appearances for Liverpool in a spell that saw him keep 177 clean sheets and win the FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and Super Cup, as well as reaching the Champions League final.

He was a key presence in that team, winning the Premier League Golden Glove three years in a row between 2005 and 2008 and Liverpool’s Player of the Season in 2009/10.

He’s still fondly remembered on the Red side of Merseyside, and it seems the feeling is a mutual one.

“My prime was Liverpool,” he told Marca.

“From 2005 to 2010, on a sporting level, they were the best years of my life when I performed the best, and the numbers are there.

“I have tried to be competitive throughout my career, in one way or another. I’ve stuck to the course, as they say in golf, as long as I can.”