- The Liverpool legend was a fan favourite during his seven-year Anfield career
- John Arne Riise has revealed why he no longer recognised a specific fan chant
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John Arne Riise has revealed the surprising reason why he stopped clapping for Liverpool fans who sang about him during his prestigious career at Anfield.
The defender spent seven seasons at Liverpool after joining the club from AS Monaco in 2001 and was a key player in helping the Reds to the magical Champions League title.
Riise’s performances made him a popular figure among Liverpool fans, who quickly embraced the former Norway international and even blessed him with a unique song.
Riise was known for his lightning-quick left-footed strikes and had a song dedicated to him after he scored a stunning volley against rivals Manchester United in his debut Premier League season.
The chant, sung to the tune of “Hey Baby,” was an instant hit, but a change in the lyrics failed to impress Riise, who no longer recognized the song, which praised his performances.
John Arne Riise has revealed the surprising reason why he stopped clapping for Liverpool fans who sang about him
The full-back played seven seasons at Liverpool after joining the club from Monaco in 2001
Riise, who is known for his pinpoint left-foot strikes, had a song dedicated to him after he scored a stunning volley against rivals Manchester United
The former Red has now revealed how the song has been tweaked to include lyrics referencing Alan Smith’s horrific broken leg, which he suffered when the former United striker attempted to block one of Riise’s rocket attacks.
“As far as I can remember, the Liverpool fans changed my song that day from ‘I want to know how you scored that goal’ to ‘I want to know how you broke his leg’. I couldn’t clap or thank the fans that day,” Riise told Ladbrokes, the official betting partner of Liverpool FC.
‘Yes, there certainly has to be rivalry between teams, but there comes a point where the human being and his career becomes more important.
Riise revealed how the lyrics in his song had been changed to reference former Manchester United striker Alan Smith’s broken leg, leaving him unable to recognise the fan chant
When I went to Alan [Smith] and saw his ankle, just hanging there, loose, it was sickening. Nobody wants to see that on the field,” he added.
“I wouldn’t thank the fans for singing that song after they changed the lyrics so much. I couldn’t and wouldn’t thank them because it was very, very hard on Alan.”
Smith had to undergo a long rehabilitation from the serious injury and was sidelined for seven months. He later struggled to perform in Manchester United’s star team.
Meanwhile, Riise left Anfield for AS Roma in 2008, but later returned to the English top division with Fulham.
