Legendary Liverpool Marksman Ian Rush Was Born 50 Years Ago on Oct. 20 (Video)

Liverpool’s all-time leading goal scorer Ian Rush celebrates his 50th birthday on Oct. 20. The Welsh marksman starred for the Reds from 1980–1996 and became an Anfield legend for his goal-scoring prowess.

His dominance of English soccer in the 1980s coincided with that of Liverpool’s. He formed a forward tandem with current manager Kenny Dalglish that produced goals and trophies galore.

The boyhood Everton fan was signed from Chester in 1980 and his Liverpool career got off to a discouraging start. He saw little playing time in his first season and it was nine games before he scored his first goal for the Reds.

Rush became a first team regular in 1981 and the goals began to flow. He bagged an amazing 47 in the 1983-84 season.

His sensational 1987 move to Italian club Juventus was met with tears, protests and letter writing campaigns in Liverpool. His stay in Italy would only last a year, as he failed to settle in Turin. “It was like living in a foreign country,” he reportedly joked about his time in Italy.

He returned to Liverpool the following year and — after a transitional season -– the goals and trophies followed. He lost little of the pace, positional sense, durability, anticipation and awareness that made him an Andfield hero.

Rush’s Liverpool career ended in 1996, when he joined Leeds. In total he made 660 appearances for the Reds and scored a club-record 346 goals.

Liverpool won numerous trophies behind Ian Rush’s Heroics, including:

League Champions: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990
FA Cup: 1986, 1989, 1992
League Cup: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995
Charity Shield: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1991
European Cup: 1984

Watch a video tribute to Ian Rush below (courtesy of Liverpoolfc.TV)

Photo courtesy of Flickr/JoniMetal