Former Liverpool star Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has candidly admitted he would never have played a game for the Reds during the 1990s had he not drunk alcohol
Oscar Maung-Haley US Sports Reporter
23:29, 26 Jun 2026Updated 23:29, 26 Jun 2026
Neil Ruddock and Jamie Redkanpp with the League Cup in 1995
Neil Ruddock was known for his hard-living life off the pitch(Image: Getty Images)
Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has admitted he would never have played a game for Liverpool during the 1990s had he not drunk alcohol.
Back in July 1993, Ruddock arrived on Merseyside from Tottenham Hotspur as the most expensive defender in the world at the time, having signed for Liverpool for £2.5 million. He would go on to make over 150 appearances for Liverpool during his time at Anfield, which ended in 1998.
While he impressed on the pitch for the Reds, Ruddock's off-field antics also made headlines. The center-back was part of Liverpool's 'Spice Boys', which included Jamie Redknapp, David James, Steve McManaman, and Robbie Fowler, among others. As former Liverpool defender Don Hutchinson, who played for the Reds between 1991 and 1994, recalls, heavy drinking sessions were part of the dressing room culture on Merseyside.
"When I signed for Liverpool, there was a sports bar as close as you can imagine to the training ground, so the routine was [drinking there] every Tuesday afternoon," Hutchinson told ESPN back in 2025.
"It was quite bizarre because everyone used to get taxis to training on a Tuesday morning, knowing they were going to go to this sports bar in the afternoon with a view to having Wednesday off. It was bonkers.
"I was 18 or 19, but the younger lads were all getting sucked in. We hadn't got a clue what we're doing, but the big boys are all drinking pints and you want to be part of the group, so you join in."
Neil Ruddock on the pitch for Liverpool in 1993
Neil Ruddock played for Liverpool from 1993 to 1998(Image: Photo by David Davies/Offside via Getty Images)
Liverpool's '90s drinking culture would not mesh well with the high-performance nature of the Premier League days. However, speaking to former Sky Sports 'Soccer Saturday' host Jeff Stelling on 'The Jeff Stelling Show', Ruddock admits had he not been a big drinker at the time, he would not have been able to play for the Reds.
"A massive one," replied Ruddock when asked about what the drinking culture inside the Liverpool dressing room was like during the 90's.
"Back in the 70s and 80s, if you didn't drink you'd never have played for Liverpool. But never two days before a game - no one could ever say that about me."
Paul Merson and Neil Ruddock
Merson confronted Ruddock on ITV about his drinking habits(Image: YouTube/ITV)
"At Liverpool you weren't even allowed out on a Thursday or Friday, you couldn't even pick the kids up, or it was a big fine. We were very disciplined that way — they wanted us to rest our legs — and when they let us out, we enjoyed ourselves. Every team had one. The big Arsenal team had their Tuesday Club — Tony Adams, Merson, that back four."
Such was the impact of the drinking culture during his playing days, it impacted upon his life heavily after he retired.
"That's when the drinking really snowballed," added Ruddock. "I couldn't wait to retire, but then there's only so much golf you can play, and when the weather changed you couldn't play at all. I knew exactly which pub would be busy on a Monday, a Tuesday, a Wednesday. I had a few bob, and people loved me being around because I'd buy the drinks all day."
Ruddock now leads a much healthier life and has a better relationship with alcohol as a result. That came about as a result of a confrontation with his close friend, former England and Arsenal striker Paul Merson, who himself struggled with severe alcohol addiction, on the ITV reality show 'Harry's Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh', which aired in 2020.
Neil Ruddock in one of the infamous Armani white suits ahead of the 1996 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester United
Neil Ruddock in one of the infamous Armani white suits ahead of the 1996 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester United
On the show, Merson pleaded with Ruddock to cut down on how much he was drinking, telling him "I care for you" to which Ruddock replied "f--- off."
While he was furious at the time, it did force Ruddock to change his ways, as he admitted to Stelling.
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"He told me the truth. I was killing myself and I didn't want to hear it from him, so I reacted. I watch it back now and I'm really embarrassed," said Ruddock. "We're working together tomorrow, actually. I'm grateful, because that show saved my life. The message was: between 45 and 50, go and get yourself checked out - it costs nothing.
"If your car makes a noise, you take it to the mechanic and pay to get it fixed. But if we feel dizzy or out of breath, we won't go to the doctor, in case it's bad news. That was me."