Player Profile

Graeme Souness could have been a more successful manager at Liverpool if he had taken the advice of one Michel Platini, who dropped in at his office after Liverpool’s victory over Auxerre in November 1991. “Michel Platini said he had a player for me, a player who’d had some problems back in France but who would love to come and play for Liverpool," Souness said. "That player was Eric Cantona. But at that time we didn’t really need any more problems, so that was one that got away.” The Frenchman joined Leeds the following February while at the same time Souness was more than ready to take a chance on Istvan Kozma! The Hungarian's ball-juggling skills were not suited to the pace and competitiveness of the English Premiership. His only shining moment came in the second half of the second round of the League Cup when he turned around a 3-0 half-time deficit into a 4-4 draw against third division newcomers Chesterfield. He had two assists against a side that was closer to his level of talent. Completely out of his depth in the top-flight Kozma didn't play enough games to be granted a new work permit and returned to Hungary after only two seasons at Liverpool. Kozma is though considered a Dunfermilne Athletic legend and made 267 league appearances for Újpesti in four different spells at the club when it was known under various names. Kozma also played in Cyprus and after retiring went into coaching in his native Hungary.