Unsung Heroes: Steve Finnan

When you’re a defender and part of an impressive back four, it is very rare that you actually get the headlines you deserve. That wasn’t necessarily the case for Liverpool’s Champions’ League winning campaign. But among all the plaudits taken by Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia, one man still managed to avoid the heaps of praise.

Throughout last season Steve Finnan was an imperative part of Liverpool’s back-four. And time and again as Liverpool marched to European glory, they knew they could rely on a formidable back-four. Although you can question their performance in leaking three goals in the first half of the final, throughout the competition they were outstanding. And while Carragher and Hyypia grabbed the headlines, the full backs Finnan and Djimi Traore managed to keep a low profile.

In the final Traore had looked out of his depth, while also making one or two clumsy blunders in the domestic campaign. Finnan however, was solid and reliable and hardly put a foot wrong all season. Carragher arguably used to be the ultimate unsung hero, but while he has now rightfully earned the limelight, Finnan has been happy keeping things quiet down Liverpool’s right hand side.

Since Rafa Benitez took over at Anfield, Finnan has gradually made the right-back slot his own. This is an incredible turnaround, given how bleak his Liverpool future was looking at the start of the 2004/5 campaign. A manager’s first signing is often a clear signal of who he wants to get rid of, so Finnan can’t have been too comfortable about his Liverpool future when soon after arriving, Benitez swooped for Spanish right-back Josemi. Finnan was instantly linked with a move away from Liverpool, most notably across Stanley Park to local rivals Everton. But instead of taking the easy route out, Finnan buckled down and vowed to win his place back.

The way in which he did this is proof that the Irishman offers plenty of attacking options to combine with his defensive reliability. With Liverpool lacking a right winger – a problem which is still facing Benitez today – Finnan slotted into the wide midfield role, and impressed Benitez so much that he publicly declared Finnan was not for sale. An injury to Josemi meant that Finnan got an early opportunity to play in his preferred right-back position, a chance that he daren’t throw away.

But the transformation from the Steve Finnan that Liverpool fans had seen the season before was phenomenal. Few could deny being disappointed at the impact Finnan had made since arriving for £3.5million from Fulham in 2003. Under Gerrard Houllier’s management he looked like a shaky full-back who overlapped the midfield well. He certainly didn’t look like the Mr Reliable who kept the likes of Alessandro Del Piero quiet over two legs against Juventus. But as with Carragher, Benitez seemingly rejuvenated Finnan into your typical reliable defender – no major thrills, no back-page headlines, but he gets the job done with aplomb.

Liverpool have a tradition of having a ‘Mr Reliable’ Irishman in the side, as previously displayed by the likes of Ray Houghton, Ronnie Whelan and Steve Staunton, as well as goalscorer John Aldridge. Finnan is looking to continue this legacy, and by lifting the European Cup he has out-done all of his fellow countrymen in from the modern era. Not that the papers would make you believe it. But if your defender isn’t making the headlines, then there certainly isn’t a problem.

It is clear that Rafael Benitez is building his Liverpool team on a solid foundation with a reliable back-four. Despite almost being on his way out of Anfield twelve months ago, the understated Steve Finnan is now a cornerstone upon which Liverpool hope to build a future of trophies to compare to their illustrious past.

Simon Cole
13 October 2005

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