Ian Rush

Ian James Rush (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 greatest Welsh players ever. Rush played for Liverpool from 1980 to 1987 and 1988 to 1996. He is the club's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 346 goals in all competitions. He also holds the records for being the highest goalscorer in the history of the EFL Cup and in FA Cup finals. At international level, Rush made 73 appearances for Wales and remained their record goalscorer with 28 goals, until 2018.

Known for his speed and clinical finishing, Rush is regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players. In 2006 he came 3rd among Liverpool players in an official Liverpool fan poll, 100 Players Who Shook The Kop. Ranked the club's 3rd greatest player in another official poll in 2026, his defensive work from the front was also singled out, with the club stating "he was a relentless pressing machine all rolled into one iconic forward."

At Liverpool he won five English league championships, three FA Cups, five League Cups and two European Cups. He was also the PFA Players' Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year and received the European Golden Boot in 1984. Rush also had short spells with Chester, 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.

Club career Early life and career Born in St Asaph, Denbighshire, Rush's reputation was enhanced by scoring for Chester (later Chester City) in a 2–0 FA Cup third round win away to Second Division team Newcastle United in January 1980, with Chester equalling their best run by reaching the last 16 where they narrowly lost to Ipswich Town. His last game for Chester was a 2–1 win over Southend United at Sealand Road on 26 April 1980. It remained Chester's record sale until they went bankrupt in March 2010. Rush was managed throughout his time at Chester by Alan Oakes, although much of the credit for his development is given to youth manager Cliff Sear. Nearly 20 years later, Rush and Sear worked together on the coaching staff at Wrexham.

Liverpool: 1980–1987 quote="I stood looking up at the deserted steps of the Kop, trying to imagine what it would be like when this famous terrace was full of supporters. I did wonder if the day would ever come when they might chant my name and was immediately consumed by excitement at the mere thought." — —Rush prior to signing for Liverpool in his autobiography For the League Cup triumph Rush only made one appearance during the cup run but it was a crucial one; starting the replay in the final where they beat West Ham United. For the European Cup campaign Rush also made one appearance; in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, but he was left out of the squad for the final.

During his first season at Liverpool the young Rush mostly played reserve team football, rather than the first team. His first goal for the club came on 30 September 1981 during a European Cup first round second leg tie at Anfield against Oulun Palloseura. Liverpool had already won the first leg at the Raatti Stadium 1–0. They won the second leg 7–0, with Rush scoring in the 67th minute after coming on three minutes earlier for David Johnson.

His first two league goals came on 10 October 1981 in a 3–0 home win over Leeds United, and a month later he scored in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in a 3–1 win. After Christmas, Rush and Liverpool moved from tenth up to the top of the league. He scored a hat-trick in the 4–0 away league win over Notts County on 26 January 1982, and scored in both of the next two games. He managed eight goals in the League Cup (one of them in the final win over Tottenham Hotspur) and three in the FA Cup campaign which ended in a fifth round defeat by Chelsea. He ended the season as the club's top scorer, scoring 30 times in 49 appearances in all competitions, a ratio of 1 goal every 1.6 games. 17 of these goals came in the League as he helped Liverpool reclaim the League championship from Aston Villa. He also scored a goal to help Liverpool win the 1982 Football League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur.

Rush was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1983 after helping Liverpool to a second successive First Division/League Cup double, though once again success eluded them in the European Cup. He scored 24 League goals as Liverpool finished 11 points clear of runners-up Watford. On 6 November 1982 Rush scored four goals against Everton in a 5–0 victory at Goodison Park, a post-war record for goals by a single player in a Merseyside derby.

Liverpool's third successive League Cup triumph was added through a 2–1 win over Manchester United after extra time at Wembley. Rush was voted PFA Player of the Year and BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1984 as Liverpool retained both the League and the League Cup and won the European Cup. Rush also added the Football Writers Footballer of the Year to the PFA award he had already claimed – the same feat that his strike partner Kenny Dalglish had achieved a year earlier. Calling Rush "the predator supreme", journalist John Keith regarded the Rush-Dalglish strike partnership as the best he had seen.

Rush scored 47 goals in 65 games (making him the highest goalscorer in all competitions for any professional club that season), a goal every 1.4 matches, as Liverpool finished three points clear of closest rivals Southampton in the League. They beat rivals Everton 1–0 in the replayed final of the League Cup (after a draw in the first ever all-Merseyside final). The club also won their fourth European Cup by defeating AS Roma 4–2 on penalties, with Rush (who was not a regular penalty taker) scoring Liverpool's fourth, in the final following a 1–1 draw after extra time. He also contested the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo against Club Atlético Independiente, but this time he was on the losing side, defeated by 1–0.

The 1984–85 season was Liverpool's first trophyless season in ten years, though they did reach a fifth European Cup final, facing Juventus in the game of the Heysel Stadium disaster. Before the match kicked off rioting hooligans caused a retaining wall to collapse, killing 39 Juventus supporters. The game ended in a 1–0 win for Juventus. Liverpool were beaten to the title by neighbours Everton, who were crowned champions with four matches to spare. The sequel to the Heysel disaster was an indefinite ban on all English clubs in European competition, with Liverpool set to serve an extra season once the ban was lifted on other English clubs. This meant that Rush and Liverpool were unable to compete in the 1985–86 UEFA Cup.

The 1992–93 season was Liverpool's hardest since beginning their current top flight tenure in 1962. They failed to mount a challenge for the new Premier League title, and as late as March they stood 15th in the table. The highlight for Rush occurred against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 1992 when he scored his 287th goal for Liverpool, overtaking Roger Hunt to become the club's all-time record goalscorer. He topped the goalscoring charts once again in 1993–94 with 19 goals, beginning the season with Nigel Clough as his strike partner until the brilliant young Robbie Fowler broke into the first team. It was another disappointing season for Liverpool as they continued to perform unremarkably in the Premier League and Souness was fired in late January following a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol City. Long-serving coach Roy Evans took over as manager. Liverpool finished eighth in the league, missing out on European competition for the second year in succession.

Rush picked up his fifth League Cup winner's medal in 1995, when two goals from Steve McManaman saw off a spirited challenge from outsiders Bolton Wanderers, as Liverpool triumphed 2–1. Earlier in the competition Rush scored both goals in a 2–1 win against Stoke City in the 3rd round, a hat-trick in a 3–1 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, the team who would go on to win the Premier League that season, in the 4th round, and the winner against Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Liverpool themselves achieved their best league finish since 1991, as they finished fourth in the Premier League. The 1995 close season saw Liverpool pay a national record fee of £8.4 million for Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore, putting Rush's future at Anfield in doubt. He began the season as Liverpool's first choice striker alongside Collymore, only to be replaced by Robbie Fowler as Collymore's regular partner after a few games. His loss of a regular place in the first team sparked rumours of a transfer during the season. Peter Reid made an offer to sign Rush on loan for Division One promotion challengers Sunderland in January 1996, but Liverpool manager Roy Evans rejected this offer, despite having not fielded Rush in his first eleven for two months, saying that he needed Rush as cover for Fowler and Collymore, as Liverpool began their quest for the FA Cup and sitting in third place were distant challengers in the league title race.

In late February 1996, it was announced that Rush, aged 34, would be leaving Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expired on 1 June. Numerous clubs were quick to express an interest in signing him. These included Everton, Sunderland, Oldham Athletic, Swansea City, Leeds United and Tranmere Rovers. Rush made one of his final league appearances for Liverpool on 3 April, coming on with five minutes remaining in their 4–3 win against Newcastle at Anfield, a game considered as arguably the greatest in Premier League history, and with the game tied at 3–3 in injury time he played two one-twos with Barnes who then passed to Collymore who scored the winner — Martin Tyler's commentary: "Barnes, Rush, Barnes, still John Barnes... Collymore closing in!!!" The win put Liverpool within five points of the top of the league but ultimately the club would finish third. His long association with Liverpool ended with a substitute appearance in the 1996 FA Cup final against Manchester United. A hugely disappointing game looked to be heading for extra time and even a replay until Eric Cantona scored a late winner to give Manchester United a 1–0 victory. The winning goal came from a corner that Liverpool goalkeeper David James failed to clear, with the ball deflecting off Rush into Cantona's path.

Later career: 1996–2000 Rush bid farewell to Anfield on 20 May 1996 when he agreed to sign for Leeds United. Rush spent a season with Leeds and scored three times in 36 Premier League games and was given a free transfer at the end of the 1996–97 campaign. He had been brought to Elland Road by manager Howard Wilkinson, who was sacked only a month into the season to be replaced by George Graham.

He went on loan to Sheffield United later in the season, before leaving St James's Park in the summer of the year 1998 to sign, amid much fanfare, for Wrexham. The 37-year-old less athletic Rush failed to score in 17 Division Two starts for the North Wales club, and was moved into midfield near the end of the season. He made a brief playing comeback with Sydney Olympic in Australia, scoring one goal in two games, before finally retiring, aged 38, in 2000 ending an illustrious career.

International career Rush made his Welsh debut before he had been handed his first start for Liverpool, playing his first match on 21 May 1980 against Scotland in Glasgow, a 0–1 loss. He played his last international match on 24 January 1996 – a friendly match against Italy in Terni which Wales lost 3–0. He played regularly for the Welsh national team for more than 15 years, scoring 28 goals in 73 games.

He scored in a friendly against Italy in Brescia on 4 June 1988, the only goal in a shock win. During his career the team never qualified for a major tournament, although in 1991 he scored the winning goal in a memorable Euro 1992 qualifier against Germany on 5 June 1991. On 9 October 1992, he netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over the Faroe Islands at Cardiff Arms Park in 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, the first Welsh hat-trick in over 13 years, and one of only 14 in the nation's history. Rush was Wales' record goalscorer until 2018 when his record of 28 goals was surpassed by Gareth Bale.

Management and coaching career After working as a part-time striker's coach for Liverpool under Gerard Houllier in 2003, he was appointed manager of his first professional club, Chester City (by this time in Football League Two), in August 2004. Chester had made a dreadful start to their first season back in the Football League and Rush had a hard time at the helm. After losing 3–1 at Boston United in their first game in charge, they strung together a two-month unbeaten run and he led the club to the FA Cup third round. Rush seemed to be answering his critics, including former Liverpool teammate Mark Lawrenson, who doubted whether his tactical and coaching abilities could match his striking history.

But after Rush ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Welsh manager's job on 1 November 2004 things never seemed to go as well. Several heavy defeats were inflicted and Rush was criticised for long-ball tactics his managerial team opted to use. Despite pressure from chairman Stephen Vaughan, Rush refused to resign after a humiliating 5–0 loss to neighbours Shrewsbury Town in February 2005. But when Vaughan sacked Rush's assistant Mark Aizlewood in April, after a 1–0 defeat at Darlington, without his knowledge, Rush resigned on principle. By the point of his resignation, Chester were virtually safe from relegation. His spell in charge saw youngsters such as Robbie Booth, Michael Walsh and Shaun Whalley all given their Football League debuts, while players including Michael Brown, George Elokobi and Robbie Foy all spent time on loan at the club.

Rush was interviewed for the Peterborough United manager's job shortly after this but lost out to Mark Wright, who had played in the same Liverpool team as Rush from 1991 to 1996, and had preceded Rush as Chester manager.

Media career and other activities, 2005 to present

In 2005, at the age of 43, Rush considered coming out of retirement to play for Total Network Solutions, after the Welsh side were drawn against Liverpool for their opening round UEFA Champions League qualifying match, but later decided against this. Since November 2005, Rush has been involved in media work within the game, including a stint as an analyst with ESPN. He also appears as a pundit and reporter for Sky Sports and Sky Sports News. He has also done work on Liverpool's official club channel LFC TV.

On 27 April 2006, Rush was involved in the Marina Dalglish charity match, which pitted the 1986 FA Cup final teams of Liverpool and Everton against each other in aid of Breast Cancer Research, as Kenny Dalglish's wife Marina had been suffering from breast cancer and the proceeds from the match were being donated to the charity.

Rush was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006 due to his achievements in the game. On 7 September 2007 it was announced that Rush had been appointed Elite Performance Director for the Welsh Football Trust, a part-time role in which he would help develop the next generation of players for Wales' national teams. Rush released his autobiography on 21 August 2008, Rush: The Autobiography, through Ebury Press.

A Liverpool F.C. ambassador, Rush (second from left) with former Liverpool players Fowler, Dowie and Thompson with comedian and Liverpool fan John Oliver (middle) in New York in July 2026 On 26 April 2010, it was announced that Rush had returned to work with Liverpool FC, becoming the club's new Soccer Schools Ambassador and it was announced he would also work with the club's commercial team to help develop and support partnerships with other global sponsors and brands. Rush can still be seen wearing the red of Liverpool as he is one of Liverpool's ambassadors on public relations tours for the club.

In summer 2010, as part of an outdoor installation in Chester that featured seventy life sized fibreglass rhinos each with unique artwork, one rhino was in honour of Ian Rush. The rhino was painted with a black moustache and wearing a Chester City football kit and boots.

In August 2014, Rush was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. Rush was one of the pundits in first season (2014) of Indian Super League. In August 2016, Rush was named as ambassador for the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, which took place in Cardiff, Wales.

In May 2022 a mural of Rush was officially unveiled opposite the Main stand outside Anfield. The artwork was created by MurWalls to commemorate Liverpool's all-time top goalscorer, with Rush commenting "To be so close to Anfield is absolutely amazing, it's a great honour for me to have my face on the wall".

In popular culture

Rush is referenced in the Milk Marketing Board television advert Accrington Stanley, Who Are They?, which ran in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1982, Rush became the first ever football player to sign a sponsorship deal with sportswear brand Nike. In 1985 he appeared in a Nike lab-themed television advert. On winning a pair of Nike boots from Rush at age 13, the future Ballon d'Or winner and AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko commented:

Rush made a brief cameo appearance as himself in the BBC drama series Hustle.

Personal life Ian Rush was the ninth of ten children born to Francis and Doris Rush, who lived in Flint, North Wales. Francis Rush, who worked in the steel industry for many years, died in July 2003 at the age of 78. Doris Rush died almost seven years later at the age of 82. He is of partial Irish descent.

Rush married Tracy in 1987. The marriage ended in 2015. They had two sons together: Jonathan and Daniel. He is the great-uncle of footballer Owen Beck, who made his debut for Liverpool in 2021. Rush was appointed an MBE in the 1996 New Year Honours for services to association football.

Career statistics Club

International

Manager

Honours Source:

Liverpool Football League First Division: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90 FA Cup: 1985–86, 1988–89, 1991–92; runner-up: 1995–96 Football League Cup: 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1994–95 Football League Super Cup: 1985–86 FA Charity Shield: 1982, 1986 (shared), 1989, 1990 (shared) European Cup: 1980–81, 1983–84

Individual Liverpool Top Goalscorer: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94 PFA Young Player of the Year: 1982–83 PFA Team of the Year: 1982–83 First Division, 1983–84 First Division, 1984–85 First Division, 1986–87 First Division, 1990–91 First Division PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1983–84 FWA Footballer of the Year: 1983–84 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1984 European Golden Boot: 1984 Football League First Division Golden Boot: 1984 Guerin Sportivo All-Star Team: 1984 PFA Team of the Century (1977–1996): 2007 FAI International Football Awards – International Personality: 2010