Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, who reached the pinnacle of European football with his club, recently shared a rather amusing tale about confronting a childhood bully.
After Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League victory in 2005, where they came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan, Riise found himself on top of the world – and decided to give a little payback to someone who’d made his childhood miserable.
The Norwegian known for his powerful left foot, recounted how he saw his former tormentor while on a trip back to his hometown to Aalesund. But where did he spot his bully? Working in McDonald’s, no less. Riise could not resist the opportunity to remind the guy just how far he’d come – and to let him take his fast-food order for good measure.
“I went back to my old city, Aalesund, because my brother’s child was doing something there which I wanted to go and support. Anyway, I parked my car up and I recognised a guy, walking towards me… it was one of the kids who used to bully me.”
Riise said when speaking to Ladbrokes, the official betting partner of Liverpool FC.
Not just any car, but a brand-new red Ferrari!
“I could see he was wearing a McDonald’s shirt, and there was a McDonald’s about 100 yards away from where I’d parked. I just thought to myself ‘I have to do this’.”
Not just any car, mind you – Riise was rolling up in a brand-new red Ferrari. He’d treated himself the car after the Istanbul triumph. Riise admitted that it might’ve been a little flashy. But he did not seem too concerned about coming across as modest.
“I bought myself a red Ferrari, which got delivered just a couple of days before our summer break. I decided to bring it back to Norway with me, because I’d just got it, and I wanted to use it for the month during my break.”
He explained.
”In Norway, the rule seems to be that you shouldn’t believe you’re something which you’re not, but I was really proud of what I’d achieved that year, and it was always a dream of mine to own that car, so if ever I got the chance, I was going to buy it.”
However, despite his humble ethos, he shared how he could not resist approaching his former bully to hammer home the comparison in their lifestyles. Riise continued:
“There’s nothing wrong with working in McDonald’s, by the way. But, you know, the comparison was that this guy was there, and I was here – that was my first thought.”
Former Liverpool Star Riise confronts childhood bully in McDonald’s
“So, I walked into the McDonald’s and went over to his counter. He was looking down, taking orders, and so he called me over and looked up. You know when you have to double-take someone? That’s what he did, and that’s when I knew he knew who I was.
“He knew I’d just won the Champions League. He knew the Ferrari was mine, and I knew what he was doing now – again, there’s nothing wrong with it, but the comparison was so big.”
Riise then revealed his final insult. And he claimed, despite not making a big scene, he felt satisfied with the outcome of the subtle, yet striking reunion.
He added:
“He took my order, I got my McDonald’s, thanked him very much and walked away.
“Obviously, I threw the McDonald’s into the bin, but the feeling I got when I walked out of there, just made everything worth it for me. You don’t need to do anything crazy, or say anything stupid, but in that moment, just going up to order from him, for me that was enough. He knew, and I knew.”
A decorated career for Riise
Riise made 234 appearances for Liverpool, netting 21 goals during his time at Anfield. His tenure with the Reds was filled with success. As he collected several major trophies, including the FA Cup, League Cup, two Community Shields, two UEFA Super Cups. In 2008, he moved on to Roma, ending a seven-year stint at Anfield.
Though he famously played in the remarkable 2005 Champions League final, Riise also featured in another final two years later in 2007. Unfortunately, he couldn’t recreate the magic of Istanbul, as Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan, who avenged their earlier defeat.
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