Former Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky has admitted that he “regrets” his move to Anfield— but he added that such a transfer was impossible to turn down.
Konchesky, who turns 44 today, made a $4.7 million (£3.5 million) move to Liverpool from Fulham in 2010, following Roy Hodgson in arriving from Craven Cottage. However, he made just 18 appearances for the Reds before being deemed surplus to requirements.
The Hodgson era at Liverpool was a complete mess, and he was quickly fired. But even in that short time, Konchesky proved controversial. His relationship with Liverpool supporters had already soured after his mum went viral on social media for an X-rated Facebook post in which she branded them ‘Scouse Scum’.
“Listen, I don’t regret many things in my career,” he told the Liverpool ECHO. “You look at it now, do I regret it?
“Only because of what happened. But I was 29 and going to one of the biggest clubs with a massive history. You can’t turn that down.
“I knew the club was trying to change hands with the owners, but obviously not as much as it probably was behind the scenes. So I knew it was going to be difficult.
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“It was a difficult time for the club. It was a difficult time for me, you know, and probably wouldn’t happen now.
“And I think at the time, looking back now like they didn’t really want Roy Hodgson as the manager. I was one of Roy’s signings. So it was always going to be hard, you know?
“But if someone comes to you at 29 years old and it’s a club like Liverpool with that massive history, I think everyone will bite their hands off. And it was a dream come true.”
Konchesky has moved into management since retiring from playing.
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He was assistant coach at Billericay Town for a spell before moving to West Ham United Women, where he spent a season as head coach.
“I learned loads from [playing at Liverpool],” Konchesky continued. “I played with some fantastic players and I met some fantastic people along the way.
“Obviously I knew Stevie (Gerrard) was a fantastic player, but he sets standards and he reaches them every day. He makes everyone train properly, recover properly, eat properly.
“He was like the manager really if you like, because his standards, everyone has to do it. And if you don’t, he’d soon tell you and you wouldn’t be around and you wouldn’t be liked at the club.”
