Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros departed Anfield for Aston Villa in 2005 and later reflected on his time at the club, admitting it was a mistake to leave and that he should have fought harder for his place
11:51, 15 May 2026
Milan Baros and Xabi Alonso in the 2005 Champions League final
Milan Baros and Xabi Alonso in the 2005 Champions League final(Image: Getty Images)
Ex-Liverpool striker Milan Baros left Anfield in 2005 seeking greater playing time, but subsequently admitted the move was a mistake.
The Czech striker signed for Aston Villa, though he failed to settle and departed within two years. Baros' former sides are due to face each other on Friday, with a top-five finish at stake. Victory for either club would secure Champions League soccer, while defeat could hand Bournemouth or Brighton an opportunity.
Liverpool finished fifth during Baros' last full season at the club, but the team's unforgettable Champions League triumph in Istanbul secured its return to Europe's elite. The forward didn't feature in that campaign, missing three qualifying rounds before his Villa transfer ahead of the group stage.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Bradley Barcola latest, Marcos Senesi announcementREAD MORE: Wataru Endo gets World Cup lifeline after surgery and Liverpool injury absence
"At that age, I wish I had fought a little bit more to stay in Liverpool and try to get fit," he told the Liverpool ECHO in 2022. "At that time, I decided to leave because I wanted to play more. In the end, I know it was a mistake.
"I was told I was going to be the third-choice striker. There are a lot of games and a lot of injuries in a season, so I should have fought more for the place and to stay longer.
"I could have stayed, but I decided to go because I wanted to play more. That was the decision. In the end, you never know what can happen.
Baros of Aston Villa jostles with ex-Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher for the ball
Baros of Aston Villa jostles with ex-Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher for the ball(Image: Getty Images)
"It was strange because after leaving, I was playing against a team I had been part of for four years. It is never easy, but you always find the bigger motivation for the previous club if you play against them.
"I enjoyed those games, but I think I only did it a couple of times."
Baros, who reportedly rejected overtures from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2004, struck the winning goal on his Villa Park bow as the West Midlands team saw off Blackburn.
He managed 12 goals in all competitions throughout his first season with Villa.
However, his playing time became increasingly restricted following Martin O'Neill's appointment in the summer of 2006. Consequently, he moved on in the subsequent January as part of a swap arrangement that brought John Carew to Villa Park.
Article continues below
He secured two league titles with Lyon and also claimed the FA Cup during a temporary stint at Portsmouth in 2008. He then plied his trade in Turkey and back home in the Czech Republic, remaining active at the elite level before retiring in 2020, at the age of 38.
Liverpool did not sign a direct replacement for Baros in August 2005, though the club did bring icon Robbie Fowler back to Anfield the following January.
The English striker's five league goals proved instrumental in securing another season of Champions League soccer under Rafa Benitez, with the club finishing third, while Baros and Villa ended up in 16th place.