Posted:
Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:40 am
by Lando_Griffin
Best player in his position in the Premiership.
F*ck Makelele - Didi - you're the best.
Posted:
Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:19 am
by The Manhattan Project
Thankyou for your service Didi.
Respect.
Best of luck in the future.
Posted:
Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:53 am
by joko
Didi paid £375,000 for a city makeover
By PETER FERGUSON 10:03am 13th July 2006
Dietmar Hamann completed the summer's most bizarre transfer yesterday — Liverpool to Manchester City via Bolton Wanderers — then admitted: "I made a mistake, but we all make them."
The veteran midfielder's clanger, he insisted, was to sign for Bolton so soon after taking the momentous decision to quit Liverpool after seven years and a famous Champions League victory.
When the 32-year-old German changed his mind, Bolton were furious but eventually gave Hamann his freedom, and Manchester City won the race ahead of Everton for his services.
City have paid Bolton a token £300,000 fee, even though he was a Wanderer for barely a few hours.
Bolton had paid a similar amount to Liverpool, where Hamann had a year to go on his contract, while the player himself is also thought to have paid Bolton around £375,000 to cancel their agreement.
Senior City figures insisted that the club had not turned Hamann's head with a higher offer to induce him to sign the two-year deal he hopes will not be his final playing contract in football.
Manager Stuart Pearce also pointed out that he had sought and received the blessing of Bolton boss Sam Allardyce before launching any transfer talks.
Nevertheless, Hamann could not quite explain the U-turn that became an unexpected drama on Tuesday when Liverpool suddenly announced that the player had left to join Bolton.
He revealed: "It sounds like I made the decision yesterday, but I signed for Bolton four or five weeks ago and realised a few days later I had made a mistake, the wrong decision.
"Just the day before I decided to leave Liverpool, the manager told me that I would be playing even fewer games than I had last season. I maybe made the decision to go too quickly.
"I informed Bolton a few days later I'd made a mistake and would like to go somewhere else. After a week they told me I was welcome to speak to other clubs — City was one of them.
"At the time I thought it was the right thing to do, but after going on holiday and thinking about it I knew it wasn't the right decision.
"We've found a solution that I think everybody can live with. I regret making that mistake, but you make mistakes in life. I'm happy to be here now."
Hamann will not have endeared himself to his new club's fans by asserting that 'getting City into Europe would be the same as winning the league or a cup with Liverpool — they have different expectations here'.
But Pearce, who recalled Hamann as Nobby Solano's horseracing pal in their days together at Newcastle, is satisfied that he has landed a football thoroughbred to enhance City's prospects.
Pearce said: "He's a leader, and the more of those you have in the dressing room the more matches you win. I told him he could take it easy on his first training run. He didn't, just as I knew he wouldn't.
"That's the mark of the man. Look at his record — he's won everything. He will be there fighting for a place and helping the youngsters around him."
Pearce's latest meeting with contract rebel Joey Barton — a £3million target for Middlesbrough — could achieve a breakthrough soon. Barton believes the chances of reaching an agreement on a new deal "are now about 60-40".
Posted:
Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:59 am
by anfieldadorer
as written by city official site
Top 10 Didi facts
13/07/2006 11:05
City have completed the capture of Dietmar Hamann, and here are a few intersting facts that you might like to know about the experienced German international midfielder.
1. Broke a toe after coming on in the 2005 Champions League finals win with a broken toe. However, this did not stop him from taking and scoring the vital first penalty with that broken toe.
2. Holds the record for the number of completed passes in the English Premiership.
3. Part of a Bayern Munich side that won two Bundesligas and the UEFA Cup in his time there.
4. Runners-up medal from the 2002 World Cup.
5. Last player to score at the old Wembley Stadium.
6. His introduction as a second-half substitute in the 2005 Champions League final and this year's FA Cup final steadied the Liverpool midfield and inspired two great comebacks.
7. An ever-present in the German team at France 98, Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
8. Was Liverpool's record signing when Gerard Houllier bought him from Newcastle United for £8million in 1999.
Posted:
Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:05 pm
by bornagainred
didi hamman should still be at liverpool i believe this was a rafa mistake that willcome back to haunt us.we could have got 3 more years from didi anfield legend. we know you loved us cos you kept winking at us.god bless hope you get everthing you dream of.
Posted:
Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:27 pm
by Mark 23
Maybe another season but not 3
Posted:
Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:30 pm
by coddy
Yeah and they beat ManUre in a friendly............ ooooops wrong kaizers