Aldo: Why I couldn't swap my shirt at the end
John Aldridge has revealed the reason why he just couldn’t swap his red shirt after netting for the Liverpool Legends team in Sydney on Thursday.
The legendary forward rolled back the years when he came on to score during the 4-0 win over the Australian Legends at the ANZ Stadium.
With a certain Steven Gerrard captaining the Gerard Houllier managed team, Aldo had to give up his beloved No.8 jersey, but was given one with 08 on instead.
As a proud Scouser, 2008 was the year when the city of Liverpool was awarded capital of culture and there was no way the legendary forward was going to part with this treasured jersey.
“I couldn’t swap the shirt [after the game],” said Aldridge.
“I couldn’t have the No.8 shirt [as Steven Gerrard had that one] but I went for 08 which of course was the year when Liverpool was the Capital of Culture, so it is a special shirt for me.”
Reflecting on wearing the liverbird on his chest once again, he added: “Whenever you play with the ex-players you always think this might be one of my last times I run onto the pitch in a red shirt, so you just try to take it all in as best you can, and whether you play 90 minutes or 15 minutes, it doesn’t matter.
“I really enjoyed that I have to say. I was only on the field for about 15 or so minutes but it was a pleasure and a privilege to put the red shirt on again.
“40,000 people turned up to see the old men plus Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and it was fantastic, and to see Rushie get a goal again was brilliant.”
Aldo’s goal was created by John Arne Riise and it was a real moment of pride for the man who used to stand on the Kop as a youngster and went on to fire 63 goals in just 104 appearances for the club.
He said: “I was just waiting for the opportunity. Stevie nearly made one for me but I just couldn’t quite get there and I was just hoping something might come my way.
“Thankfully John set me up and I put the ball away from one yard out!”
“This really has been a great trip. They are all brilliant lads. I met a few of them for the first time on this trip and they are humble lads.
“Whatever they have done in the past goes out of the window and we have mixed really well and it has been absolutely fantastic.”