Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE,is a retired Welsh professional footballer. At club level Rush played for Liverpool F.C. from 1980-1987 and 1988-1996, and is the club's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored a total of 346 goals in all competitions during his two spells at the club. At international level he made 73 appearances for the Wales national football team and remains the record goalscorer for his country with 28 goals between 1980 and 1996...
NationalityWelsh
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth20 October 1961
CitySt Asaph, Wales
I just wanted to play as long as I could. When you stop playing, you're not going to get it back. When you don't enjoy it, that's the time to pack it in.
You can enjoy yourself, but you need to look after yourself as well.
It's different from Liverpool. Boston seems to be a friendly place.
I think great players can play in any year, that's why they're great. A lot of it is down to the mental approach.
This is why cup finals are so special because on the day anyone can beat anyone. That's what it's all about and that's why for me the FA Cup and the Carling Cup are the best cups in the world. That's the beauty of the cup.
I've done my coaching badges, I've got my Pro Licence, but I enjoy what I'm doing now. I'm also the elite performance director of the Welsh FA. The main thing for me was always Liverpool Football Club and my country, Wales - and I'm lucky enough to still be involved with both of them.
In India, kids need someone to look up to. They've got it in cricket: they have Tendulkar and others.
I like the Stereophonics. I know the lead singer, Kelly Jones, and there's the Welsh connection.
The only thing I can cook is Welsh rarebit.
I realised I'd been spoiled at Liverpool. We were used to winning. In Italy I grew up as a person. I didn't enjoy the football, mind. It was very defensive, but I became a better player because of the work I had to do around the box. Off the pitch, I learned about what to eat and what to drink to be successful, and I learned about life.
There are a lot of famous comedians from Liverpool, then obviously the Beatles, and the football club. That's what people in Liverpool are passionate about.
I love horse racing, I play golf, and I love travelling.
Mainly it's the parents who remember me. But the kids today, what they do is go and Google you. A lot of them turn up and they know everything about me. They say: 'You scored 346 goals' or 'You wore the No9 shirt for Liverpool.'
I've got a place in Portugal, which I like very much, but I've just been working in Malaysia for five weeks. My family had a chance to come over and we really loved it, particularly the island of Pangkor.