Ex-Liverpool star reveals massive bonuses players received for Champions League win
Former Liverpool and England full-back Stephen Warnock has revealed just how much the Reds stood to make for beating AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final
The 2005 Champions League final is both one of the happiest and worst memories of Stephen Warnock's Liverpool career.
A combination of incompetence and confusion meant the academy graduate played no role in the famous comeback victory over AC Milan in Istanbul all those years ago. Missing out on such a famous victory alone is reason enough for heartbreak, but Warnock has lifted the lid on another aspect of the result that left a sour taste in his mouth.
That's after the twice-capped former England international revealed just how much Rafa Benitez 's squad stood to make for winning and losing in the Turkish capital. And it wasn't anything to be sniffed at, win or lose.
Warnock, 42, was led to believe he'd be featuring against the Rossoneri in some capacity and would therefore get a sniff of the bonus earnings. However, he opened up about how a miscommunication from boss Benitez saw him sidelined altogether and shattered his relationship with the Spaniard.
Appearing on the Undr the Cosh podcast, Warnock said: "I remember thinking at the time - it shouldn't come into it, but it did - it was one of the biggest games of football's year, but our bonus was massive either way.
"It was £100,000 to lose it and £200,000 to win it. And I was thinking, 'F***ing hell, that's a massive amount of money.' Because I wasn't on much money at the time. [That's for] whoever's in the [matchday] 18, it doesn't go pro rata across the squad. Literally, if you're in the 18, you get it."
Warnock made his senior debut in 2002 but spent the first two seasons of his career on loan with Bradford City and Coventry, timing his break into Liverpool's senior setup to perfection. However, he still wasn't braced for the vast sums on offer for a Champions League final.
He continued: "So, the other part of that is me thinking, 'F***ing hell, that's a nice, lovely bonus, that, either way. . .but you're a young lad, do you know what I mean? I've come from thinking [the] last year thinking I'm gonna be playing in the Championship with Coventry, being on decent-ish money, but nowhere near that sum of money."
The retired full-back went on to say Steven Gerrard attempted to console him on the field in Istanbul and assured him he'd "get him his money," because he didn't feel what happened with Benitez's selection was just. However, Warnock still hasn't seen a cent of those Champions League winnings.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
