A former Greek international, who was part of the team that stunned world football by winning Euro 2004, has reveal how he resisted the temptation to join Liverpool.
Stelios Giannakopoulos eventually spent five seasons with Bolton Wanderers under Sam Allardyce but regularly received phone calls from Rafa Benitez after the Spaniard had led the Reds to Champions League glory in 2005.
The winger moved from Olympiacos to the North West in 2003, to be part of a progressive Wanderers team that including the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Fernando Hierro, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Kevin Davies. But as the team consolidated its standing in the Premier League by qualifying for Europe, Giannakopoulos was courted by both Manchester City - who lodged a £1million bid - and the Reds.
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Speaking to the BBC Wanderers podcast, he said: "It was not speculation. It was reality. Man City, I wouldn't consider myself to join Man City in those days because it wasn't the Man City that it is today. It was a completely different team and we were competing in the same position in the table with Man City.
"Liverpool is a different story. Liverpool in 2005 I was very, very flattered because Rafa Benitez, he was calling me every single day and he knew that I had a buyout clause of £1m in my contract. For Liverpool, £1m or £2m or this kind of price are very low prices and very good money to sign a player like me for this kind of money. Obviously that was a big temptation for me in those days in 2005.
"But at the same time, Big Sam really wanted me to stay in the club and he managed to convince me in his office to renew my contract for three more years and besides the situation that Liverpool was a big club and it was a big dream for every player to play in such a club, I was convinced by Big Sam to renew my contract for three more years and stay with the club and commit my future to the club.
"I played my football with Bolton in the Premier League, I play with Bolton in Europe and despite the size and history of Liverpool, Bolton has its own history and I haven't regretted that I renewed my contract with the club. I have very big feelings for the club, not only me but my family as well, my two kids are playing for the academy so we love it here."
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