Igor Biscan
Birthdate: 4 May 1978
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
Other clubs: Dinamo Zagreb (1995-2000), Samobor (loan 1997-98), Panathinaikos (2005-07), Dinamo Zagreb (2007-12)
Bought from: Dinamo Zagreb
Signed for LFC: £5.5m, 07.12.2000
International debut: 05.06.1999 vs. Macedonia
International caps: 17/1 (5/0 at LFC) - 05.09.2001
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Liverpool debut: 10.12.2000
Last appearance: 15.05.2005
Debut goal: 24.01.2001
Last goal: 02.04.2005
Contract expiry: 01.07.2005
Win ratio: 55.08% W: 65 D: 25 L: 28
LFC league games/goals: 72 / 2
Total LFC games/goals: 118 / 3
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Player profile
When Houllier saw the opportunity to snap up Biscan from Croatia to challenge Didi Hamann for the defensive midfielder position he grabbed it with both hands. Biscan arrived in the winter break of the Croatian season in December 2000. Biscan initially struggled to make an impression in a red shirt as Liverpool charged on to a dramatic treble in the 2000/01 season. He did score his first goal in the League Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Anfield and featured from the start in the final win over Birmingham. The 2001/02 and the 2002/03 seasons were a nonstarter for Biscan but he started 35 games in 2003/04 as Houllier used his versatility as he promised to do pre-season. "I think he will be playing more this season. He can play at centre midfield and centre-back. He is strong and powerful and quick. Sometimes he loses the ball when he passes, but then who doesn't? I prefer players who try things,'' Houllier said. Biscan had, though, the odd slip-up in the centre of defence as he was paired with Hyypia in the absence of Henchoz who was getting rather injury-prone.
Rafa Benítez took over from Houllier in the summer and he told Biscan to focus on being a midfielder, seemingly to the player's relief: "My confidence suffered playing at the back but that's not an excuse. I'm aware I took some of the brunt of the fans' frustration but that's not a problem. I suppose the fact I'm playing in central midfield is one of the reasons why I'm playing better," Biscan explained. Undoubtedly Biscan's best moments under Benítez came in his last season when he solidified his cult hero status on the Kop. He had been told he had no future at Anfield by Rafa in December and would be allowed to leave in the summer when his contract expired. He played his part in the Champions League run that ended in success in Istanbul, most notably away to Deportivo La Coruna in the group phase when he went on a few galloping runs which were reminiscent of those by absent captain Steven Gerrard. Biscan played from the start against Leverkusen in the last 16, Juventus in the quarter-finals and in the semi-finals against Chelsea but remained on the bench in the final.
LFChistory.net asked Biscan how his routine day as a professional footballer was like. "It’s quite boring to be honest. Every day is almost the same. Wake up in the morning, go to training, have lunch here at Melwood, rest. I watch television or maybe sleep for hour and a half or two. Maybe you do something together with your friends, then you go to sleep and wake up to train again the next morning."
Biscan went to Greece to ply his trade with Panathinaikos and after two and a half years the 29-year-old returned to Zagreb to take over the captaincy of Dinamo Zagreb, being a cult hero back home as in Liverpool. Dinamo were Croatian champions in both 2008 and 2009 as well as lifting the Croatian cup in the same years. Injuries did restrict Biscan to only 61 league games in five seasons in Zagreb and he retired in 2012.
Even today the chants of "Igor, Igor, Igor!" and "Igor Biscan.... He is a giant of man..... He should be playing for Milan...." can be heard echoing in the pubs surrounding Anfield. Biscan values his time at Liverpool: "When you play for big clubs you know you'll have good periods and bad periods. If you come through the bad times then that's what makes you a better person and a better player. The Liverpool fans have been great with me. It gives me a really nice feeling and makes me feel special when they chant my name."