Although Luis Garcia acknowledged having one significant “regret” during his time at Anfield, he called it a “honor” to wear the Liverpool jersey.
Over the course of his three seasons with Liverpool, the Spaniard made 121 appearances and scored 30 goals, significantly assisting Rafa Benitez’s squad in reaching the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.
Prior to the final, Garcia scored in each of the three knockout stages, including his infamous “ghost” goal against Chelsea in the semi-final at Anfield.
The next year, he also scored a spectacular long-range goal against the same opposition in the FA Cup semi-final, but he later admitted that missing the final due to suspension was a great “regret.”
The former No. 10 reflected in the club’s “My Liverpool Story” series on the website, “We won the Champions League and afterwards the FA Cup — regrettably I missed the final, which is something that I still regret.
“Getting sent off in the lead-up to that game was a big mistake for me, but if you’re intelligent you learn from your mistakes, and that was a painful experience for me.
“However, I scored against Chelsea once more in the semifinal. So that’s a memory I can cherish in the past.
“I often bring up that event when I give presentations and clinics to young children today. Never lose your composure. It was completely inconsistent with who I am.
Prior to the Cardiff final, the Spaniard was dismissed against West Ham in the league after an altercation with Hayden Mullins.
After leaving the club, Garcia later played for Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander.
Oh, and I do drink sangria, in case you were wondering, Garcia said in jest.
After a brief stay in Australia with Central Coast Mariners, he announced his retirement from football in 2016, calling his experience at Liverpool a “honor” and a “privilege.”
He stated, “Pride and honor are two terms I frequently use to characterize my time at Liverpool FC.
“I was just talking to some friends about it the other day about seeing the fans sing, yell, and cheer their team on while listening to You’ll Never Walk Alone as the players enter the pitch.
“To do that as a player was a privilege. It is something every Liverpool fan should experience at least once in their life.”
