Ian James Rush, MBE, is a former Welsh international footballer who used to feature prominently during the 1980s and 1990s. He played as a striker and is considered a Liverpool legend.
Ian Rush commenced his professional club football at Football League Third Division side Chester City in 1978 and went onto feature for them in 34 league matches, scoring 14 goals. He made his debut for Chester in April 1979 against Sheffield Wednesday in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. He scored his first league goal for Chester against Gillingham on September 15,1979.
In April 1980, Ian Rush was signed by Liverpool for 300,000 for what still remains Chester’s record sale. Rush was immensely delighted to be wearing the colours of the club that he supported as a boy.
Position | Forward |
Born | 20 Oct 1961 |
Nationality |
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Nickname | Rushie |
Team History | |
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1999 - 2000 |
Wrexham A.F.C. | 1998 - 1999 |
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1998 (loan) |
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1997 - 1998 |
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1996 - 1997 |
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1988 - 1996 |
Juventus FC | 1986 - 1988 |
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1986 - 1987 (loan) |
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1980 - 1986 |
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1978 - 1980 |
Ian Rush made his debut for Liverpool on December 13,1980 in a First Division match against Ipswich Town. He scored his first goal for the club on September 30,1981 in a European Cup match against Oulun Palloseura.
He gradually came to form at Anfield and became an absolute legend for them. He went onto score 139 goals in 224 league matches and won a number of titles with Liverpool, including the league and the European Cup. Rush was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1983 and the PFA Player of the Year in 1984.
Ian Rush was then signed by Italian and European powerhouse Juventus in July 1987 for 3 million pounds but he miserably failed to weave his Red magic in Italy. He managed only 12 goals in 29 league matches and returned to Liverpool at the end of the 1987-1988 season.
Ian Rush’s second spell at Anfield though was not as successful as his first one. He played for the Reds until 1996, scoring 90 goals in 245 league matches. Rush subsequently played for Leeds United,Newcastle United,Wrexham and Sydney Olympic.
Ian Rush made his international debut for Wales on May 21,1980 against Scotland and went onto feature in 73 international matches for his nation, scoring 28 goals. But he could never manage to play in a major international competition with his nation.