Years: 1981-1994
Appearances: 628
Trophies: League Cup (1982, 1983, 1984), First Division (1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1989-90), European Cup (1984), FA Cup (1986, 1989, 1992)
Thirteen major trophies and 628 appearances were the headline figures of a brilliant Liverpool career for goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.
Only eight men in history have played more times for the club. Few have claimed more honours. Perhaps none have ever been quite so eccentric.
The Zimbabwean arrived at Anfield from Canadian outfit Vancouver Whitecaps in 1981, brought in by Bob Paisley – who first spotted him during a loan at Crewe Alexandra – to take on a challenging assignment: replacing the legendary Ray Clemence between the Reds’ posts.
After a shaky start and frank feedback from Paisley, Grobbelaar soon proved himself equal to that task and became the last line of defence for the rest of a decade laden with success.
In fact, following his Liverpool debut in August 1981, Grobbelaar played in more than 300 consecutive matches over five years – an astonishing sequence.
Underneath the bravado that occasionally led to an error was a student of the goalkeeping craft whose athleticism and shot-stopping allowed him to produce remarkable saves when his team needed him and who was his own harshest critic.
Grobbelaar’s philosophy had been shaped by his experiences serving in the Rhodesian Bush War as a teenager.
“It made you grow up a lot quicker and realise life is very, very precious,” he said. “To stay alive is a gift. You have to. If you can stay alive and enjoy life, that’s the whole heart and soul of life.
“That’s why I played with a smile on my face all these years, because in football I was getting paid for a game I loved playing.”
The most iconic moment of Grobbelaar’s 13-year career at Anfield was undoubtedly the 1984 European Cup final, when he deployed a ‘spaghetti legs’ routine in the penalty shootout against AS Roma.