Brought to you by Carlsberg.
It’s easy to forget just how good John Aldridge was.
Nerves of steel, clinical finishing and a dapper moustache all helped to make him a stone cold killer in front of goal. Add to that excellent link-up play and an unrelenting will to win and he had everything he needed to be a goalscoring beast.
To celebrate Carlsberg’s 25th anniversary as the official beer of Liverpool, we’re looking back at some of their Irish legends’ finest moments. Aldridge is up there with the best of them.
Aldo bagged 63 goals in 104 appearances for Liverpool, 382 goals in 707 matches in English football and 40 goals in 75 matches as Real Sociedad’s first non-Basque player. Plus a respectable 19 goals in 69 international appearances, in case anyone forgets.
Picking out just five career highlights in a storied career was tricky but these are our top five John Aldridge career highlights.
5. Leading Tranmere Rovers to a League Cup Final
Aldridge managed Tranmere Rovers to their first cup final in 2000. When they equalised with 13 minutes remaining, the dream was impossibly close and Aldridge was on the verge of becoming an even bigger club legend than he already was. A 10-man Rovers would eventually lose 2-1 to Leicester but it was a tremendous achievement to get them there.
4. His vital goals against Malta
Clip via sp1873
It took Aldridge longer than expected to find his goalscoring touch with Ireland but it was worth the wait. He finally bagged his first competitive goals when he scored a brace in the 2-0 win over Malta in the World Cup Qualifiers. The win secured qualification for Italy 90 and was the start of what would be the biggest adventure in Irish football.
3. Making Liverpool fans forget about Rush
Aldridge was brought in to Liverpool to replace Ian Rush and he wasted no time in scoring a silly amount of goals once the Welshman had left. Aldridge went on to score 26 goals in his first full season. He also scored in each of the first nine consecutive games in the 87/88 season, achieving a record of scoring in 10 consecutive top flight games in the process.
2. The 88 FA Cup Final
Clip via Dave Waller
Securing his reputation as a big game player, Aldridge got both Liverpool’s goals in their 2-1 cup final win over Nottingham Forest. His first goal was a coolly dispatched penalty. His winning goal was an acrobatic volleyed finish to a classic team move, earning him a Goal of the Season award for good measure.
1. That argument in USA 94
Clip via Chimpanzeethat
For anyone who ever questioned Aldridge’s passion for Ireland, we refer you to the ill-fated match against Mexico in World Cup 94. Ireland had made a double substitution in the sweltering Orlando heat but a FIFA official prevented Aldridge from going on, leaving Ireland with just 10 men on the pitch.
That’s when Aldo went nuclear and a nation cheered him on against the “twat” in the yellow hat. When he did get on, he duly scored a consolation goal. Legend.
Please drink responsibly.
Brought to you by Carlsberg.
