Ian Rush
Ian James Rush MBE (born 20 October 1961) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and one of the best Welsh players in the history of the sport. At club level Rush played for Liverpool from 1980–1987 and 1988–1996. Additionally, he is the club's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored a total of 346 goals in all competitions at the club. He also holds the records for being the highest goalscorer in the history of the EFL Cup and the finals of the FA Cup. At international level, Rush made 73 appearances for the Wales national football team and remained the record goalscorer with 28 goals between 1980 and 1996, until the record was broken by Gareth Bale in 2018.
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Rush in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ian James Rush | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | St Asaph, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1980 | Chester City | 34 | (14) |
| 1980–1986 | Liverpool | 182 | (109) |
| 1986–1988 | Juventus | 29 | (7) |
| 1986–1987 | → Liverpool (loan) | 42 | (30) |
| 1988–1996 | Liverpool | 245 | (90) |
| 1996–1997 | Leeds United | 36 | (3) |
| 1997–1998 | Newcastle United | 10 | (0) |
| 1998 | → Sheffield United (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Wrexham | 17 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Sydney Olympic | 3 | (1) |
| Total | 602 | (254) | |
| International career | |||
| 1980–1996 | Wales | 73 | (28) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Chester City | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, Rush came 3rd among Liverpool players in an official Liverpool fan poll, 100 Players Who Shook The Kop. He also had short spells with Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham and Sydney Olympic. Since retiring as a player in 2000, Rush has had a stint as manager of Chester City (2004–05), and has worked as a television football pundit.
Rush was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1996 New Year Honours for services to association football.