Everton right-back Tony Hibbert has revealed that he snubbed the chance to join Liverpool at the start of his career.
Liverpool-born Hibbert is Everton's longest-serving player, and he's been at Goodison Park for the entirety of manager David Moyes' reign.
In the late 1990s, Gerard Houllier was keen to bring Hibbert to Anfield, but as the defender revealed in a recent interview, Liverpool's Academy facilities were not up to scratch, which influenced his decision to reject the club's advances. He said:
"I was already at the academy here [at Everton] and that was massive for me; Liverpool kept asking me to join them but I said 'no'.
"Liverpool's academy was at a social sports centre. They wore mixed and matched kits and I just didn't get the right feeling from it".
Hibbert has a point; Liverpool's Academy was not of the required standard in the 1990s, but that changed when Houllier arrived, and a new state-of-the-art Academy swiftly replaced the older, outdated system.
Like Steven Gerrard, Hibbert is a rare breed of footballer in the modern game: a genuine one-club man, and at the age of 31, it's likely that he'll spend his entire career at Everton.
Did Liverpool miss out, or did Hibbert make a giant mistake choosing Everton? In terms of success, Hibbert clearly made a mistake, but if he'd joined Liverpool, would he have been a first team regular for 12 straight years?
Jaimie Kanwar
Liverpool-born Hibbert is Everton's longest-serving player, and he's been at Goodison Park for the entirety of manager David Moyes' reign.
In the late 1990s, Gerard Houllier was keen to bring Hibbert to Anfield, but as the defender revealed in a recent interview, Liverpool's Academy facilities were not up to scratch, which influenced his decision to reject the club's advances. He said:
"I was already at the academy here [at Everton] and that was massive for me; Liverpool kept asking me to join them but I said 'no'.
"Liverpool's academy was at a social sports centre. They wore mixed and matched kits and I just didn't get the right feeling from it".
Hibbert has a point; Liverpool's Academy was not of the required standard in the 1990s, but that changed when Houllier arrived, and a new state-of-the-art Academy swiftly replaced the older, outdated system.
Like Steven Gerrard, Hibbert is a rare breed of footballer in the modern game: a genuine one-club man, and at the age of 31, it's likely that he'll spend his entire career at Everton.
Did Liverpool miss out, or did Hibbert make a giant mistake choosing Everton? In terms of success, Hibbert clearly made a mistake, but if he'd joined Liverpool, would he have been a first team regular for 12 straight years?
Jaimie Kanwar
no not really, we have and had better players than him...
ReplyDeleteMiss out? lol no I don't think so. Typical bitter little everton player just like cahill.
ReplyDeleteps your article on suarez was complete bollocks.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we'll miss him in the slightest!
ReplyDeleteYou really come across as an intelligent individual with your comments! lol
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should avoid posting and showing yourself up anymore that you already have.
Jaimie - did he reject the move or *reject* it? I know you like it stylistically, but it looks stupid and is really annoying. If you wish to be taken seriously as a journalist or even as a blogger, it would be advisable to write your articles properly from top to bottom. I'm just trying to help.
ReplyDeleteAnother ridiculous article by you.
ReplyDeleteYou are scraping the bottom of the barrel now.
I mean are you serious? Are you trying to find anything said about liverpool and then try to turn into something negative about the club?
No we didn't miss out on him a bit. He is not good enough for our club and I am glad he is playin for Nevertonl.
Oh dear, what a *miss*. Now I am gonna lose me sleep over ol' boy Hibbert's *rejection*.
ReplyDeleteTIT
ReplyDeleteNever mind (!) I'll be content if we get Drenthe on a free transfer.
ReplyDeleteNah
ReplyDeleteHe's possibly the dirtiest right back in the league, along with Hutton at Villa. No loss whatsoever. Don't think there is anyone who ever got a run of games at right back that i would choose to play after Hibbert.
ReplyDeleteTony Bloody Hibbert! Garbage would have been the next Stephen Wright!!
ReplyDeleteCant imagine what Everton Youth training facilities were like or are like these days as Woodison is a disgrace to the Premier League these days!!!
So many Reds.So much bitterness. I'm sure Hibbert didn't mean to insult anyone, just telling the truth - so why the bile? You're supposed to be the high and mighty Liverpool, yet you constantly get upset over what Everton players say...................Gibson had a go at Utd this week, haven't seen anyone moaning on their forums - y'see it's all about CLASS and you lot have none.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you trolling Everton websites for stories for Jaimie? If a bluenose doing the same we would call them bitter and sad.
ReplyDeletehe is utter poo!!
ReplyDeleteOnly Everton player that Liverpool have missed out on is Baines, he could have been a great player for them, Hibbert is not even good enough for Everton and only reason he is still there is because he is a local lad just like we have Spearing now who's not good enough.
ReplyDeleteWhen times are good, you Pool fans will walk together; however, when times are bad, you criticize one another so badly that you'll never walk again. Typical Pool fans.....
ReplyDeleteHibbert is too good for liverfool
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the Academy of the '90s 'not being of the required standard', Mcmanaman, Fowler, Matteo, Owen, Carragher, Gerrard & David Thompson all graduated from the academy in the 90s. Warnock, Kelly, Guthrie & Spearing are probably the most high profile graduates since the move to Kirkby (Hopefully the likes of Flanagan, Robinson, Sterling et al will go on to have great careers).
ReplyDeleteAlso, not sure if it's what you meant, but, the move to Kirkby was planned prior to Houllier joining the club.
What meds are you on? You're not thinking clearly.
ReplyDeleteFinnan, Arbeloa, Johnson, Kelly ALL better than Hibbert.
ReplyDeleteSome of these comments do make me laugh when you try to accuse US of being bitter? Haha. Fools!
ReplyDeleteI think Hibert is a good player. I don't believe anyone could last as long as he has done under Moyes if they were a bad player. His forward play is atrocious but defensively he is superb. We would love him if he was ours, just like we love Stevie G and carra.
ReplyDeleteEarl Barrett better than any of them.
ReplyDeleteRooney?
ReplyDeleteIf the guy is so bad, why did we want to sign him?
ReplyDeleteTony hibbert is a better defender than any of the shite you have had in years. When he scores we will riot. Tables have turned on the bitter side!! You are now lingering were you should be, below the toffee's. Hope Chelsea twat you in the final. Always the victims never your fault
ReplyDeleteour three right back are better than him !.. why would u think we missed out on him !...
ReplyDeleteJesus, he asked a question- did we miss out? Hardly negative. JK can be negative but you've got enough ammunition elsewhere without having to have a go at him when there is no need.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is obviously no but would you have read the article if it was titled 'Everton's Tony Hibbert rejected Liverpool. We didn't miss out'?
'you criticize one another so badly that you'll never walk again'.
ReplyDeleteStrange, I didn't know criticism could make you paraplegic.
He's talking about the facilities, which did need improving.
ReplyDeleteHibbert who?
ReplyDeleteLiverpool had no chance of signing Rooney but they could have signed Baines before Everton did from Wigan.
ReplyDeleteWasn't he on our books as a young lad but was never offered a contract because he was too small at the time, after which he joined Wigan's academy.
ReplyDeleteDeletr
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
-------- Original message --------
Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Everton star reveals: I *rejected* a move to Anfield. Did LFC miss out...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
THAT IS HILARIOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteCuntwar strikes again.
PS Have you payed that bet of yours yet to HJC?
Lot of classic 'Red' comments on here from typical one eyed supporters... no doubt writing on the blog from their comfy armchairs across the UK (excluding Merseyside). Is it any wonder that Liverpool have been voted as one of the most disliked clubs in the world?
ReplyDeleteDeadwood!
ReplyDeleteHe went to Liverpool for trials and wore his Everton shirt.
ReplyDeleteToday Evertons facitities are by far the best, I have seen both and Liverpool have got a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteUp there with Zindane nearly going to Blackburn
ReplyDeleteMore like we dodged a bullet.
ReplyDeleteif this article was about Pool's inferior facilities, then fine. But, by saying that Hibbert might have made a 'giant mistake' in joining Everton, you have crossed the line. Good fan sites would discourage or even delete such posts, especially when it seems to focus on other teams rather than their own. I have respect for Liverpool fans but this is bad....the same for those of you Pool fans who join in this 'discussion'. Please, keep your comments to just Liverpool, as Liverpool too have has got its own issues (and every club out there has their own issues). Look at yourselves before you criticize others.
ReplyDeleteFinnan and Kelly?? I watch park footballers better than them excuses? Arbeloa was an expensive stop gap and Johnson was just expensive but has the odd good game. Hibbo is no Barcelona candidate but to say finnan and kelly are better than him is just utter sh1te
ReplyDeleteI think it was the way LFC kept trying to nick him time after time could be the reason??
ReplyDeleteCan you read?? LFC was begging him to go but he said No not the other way round!
ReplyDeleteLiverpool need to realise that they have a lot of average players, who knows what will happen to them when suarez goes and gerrard retires. They can no longer attract top level replacements. They are light years behind the top 4.
ReplyDeleteWell said Andy
ReplyDeleteHe didn't want to play for the dirty reds
ReplyDeleterather buy hesky and play him at right back loool
ReplyDeleteHeskey is still better than most of the liverpool squad
ReplyDeleteChi Bai lu, you are nothing Hibitt ! My Puki Mak for you if you make it to your national squard. Dont waste our time !
ReplyDeleteFOLKS, is this the guy that had a fight with Sander Westerveld in a derby some years ago after a scruffle or was it David Wier ? These are all Chi Bai players not worth my pantat.
ReplyDelete