A former Premier League star spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson about a transfer to Manchester United but turned him down and later signed for bitter rivals Liverpool in what he now admits was a "bad move"
09:56, 09 May 2017Updated 09:17, 06 Feb 2026
Christian Ziege's mohawk in the 2002 World Cup wasn't the only big mistake of his career
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Christian Ziege's mohawk in the 2002 World Cup wasn't the only big mistake of his career(Image: GETTY )
An international ace who was once one of the most coveted players in Europe had the chance to play for Manchester United but ended up at their bitter rivals Liverpool - and regretted it.
Christian Ziege was a flying fullback and a dead-ball specialist who was a hot property in the mid-1990s after winning Euro 96 with Germany plus two Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Cup with Bayern Munich. In the summer of 1997, Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Newcastle all slapped down offers for the defender.
Despite speaking with Sir Alex Ferguson about a switch to United, the left-back who could also play left of midfield ended up at Serie A giants AC Milan. Ziege, who turned 54 on Sunday, February 1, previously told Four Four Two magazine: "I was linked with quite a few teams but I wanted to go to Italy.
Christian Ziege at AC Milan
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Christian Ziege at AC Milan(Image: GETTY )
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"I had offers from Barcelona, Juventus, Milan, Atletico Madrid and Newcastle - and I was talking to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United at one stage, but my decision was made. I told him it would have been better if he'd called me earlier, as United were massive at the time, but I was happy to join Milan."
Ziege spent just two years at the San Siro, winning Serie A in 1998/99, but fell out with manager Alberto Zaccheroni, before joining big-spending Middlesbrough and Bryan Robson's assortment of foreign recruits in a £4m swoop by the Smoggies.
He was voted the club's player of the year in his only season in the North East, but then made a highly controversial move to Liverpool.
Christian Ziege (top) and Paul Ince (bottom) pose with Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson after signing for the club
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Christian Ziege (top) and Paul Ince (bottom) pose with Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson after signing for the club(Image: Press Association)
The Merseysiders bid £5.5m for the German, which exactly matched a get-out clause in Ziege's contract. Boro said they had received offers of more than £8m for the star, but were powerless to stop the Reds signing him for a lesser fee.
Liverpool were later fined £20,000 by the Football Association for having made an illegal approach for Ziege, while the player was fined £10,000. And while he made 32 appearances for Gerard Houllier's Reds as they won a famous treble of the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000/01, he struggled for regular starts, with a knee injury hindering his progress.
Ziege came on as an extra time substitute in the League Cup final and scored a penalty in the shootout as Liverpool defeated Birmingham City, but was not part of the match days squads for either the FA Cup or UEFA Cup final. And he told Four Four Two he regretted leaving Middlesbrough.
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier with Christian Ziege
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Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier with Christian Ziege(Image: Daily Mirror)
Ziege said: "Obviously it was to go and sign for Liverpool, a massive club with a massive stadium and history.
"But unfortunately I had some problems there, problems with the manager, and I still don’t know what his problem was with me. He never talked to me.
"I realised it was a bad move because I really enjoyed my time playing for Boro. Liverpool were in the UEFA Cup, which we ended up winning that year.
Christian Ziege's Liverpool move didn't work out
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Christian Ziege's Liverpool move didn't work out(Image: Getty Images)
"We won the FA Cup and League Cup and qualified for the Champions League, so it was a great season. However, it was the wrong decision football-wise. I didn’t play enough."
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Ziege was offloaded to Tottenham at the end of his debut campaign on Merseyside and that summer helping Germany to the World Cup final, which they lost to Brazil.
He spent four seasons at Spurs before moving to Borussia Monchengladbach, where he saw out his career.