Lee Bowyer was in the middle of a medical at Liverpool, before rejecting a move to the PL giants, a decision that he states is his biggest regret in football.
Former Leeds United star has admitted that he rejected a move to Liverpool despite being halfway through a medical to join the club.
The 46-year-old is currently the manager of the Montserrat national team and played majorly in the Premier League.
He has opened up about his decision to turn down a move to Anfield. Furthermore, he labeled it his ‘biggest regret in football’.
The former midfielder was pursued by the then-Liverpool boss, Gerard Houllier in 2002. Moreover, Jamie Carragher admitted that the manager loved the way Lee played.
Lee Bowyer regrets not joining Liverpool
“I was very close [to joining Liverpool] – I was halfway through a medical but it just didn’t feel right for me at the time.
That is my biggest regret in football not going to Liverpool at that time. If I could’ve turned the clock back I would’ve gone. Looking back, I made the wrong decision. I knew my time was coming to an end at Leeds due to a few things behind the scenes that didn’t sit well with me so I knew it was my time to go.”
The ex-England international pointed out that the distance from his family played a key role in his decision.
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In fact, he ended up signing for his boyhood club West Ham on a six-month deal. Later he joined Newcastle on a free transfer in 2003.
“I thought doing another five years up north being a long way away from my family after doing six years at Leeds didn’t sit right but after all that I ended up going to Newcastle which is even further away, so it makes no sense!”
During his appearance on MNF Retro where he was alongside both Gary Neville and Carragher, the punditry duo agreed that Leeds should have won silverware during Bowyer’s stint with the club
“We were a good side that a lot of teams underestimated. We didn’t have as much technical ability as some other teams but there wasn’t much in it when we played the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.
I think we did so well was because we surprised teams with our energy and hunger. Having a young side was key to why we did so well. We didn’t win things as we ran out of steam – we didn’t have a massive squad.”
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