10 Underwhelming Liverpool Signings Who Became Cult Heroes

1. Sami Hyypia

A stalwart at the heart of the Liverpool defence for ten years, there was very rarely anything that could breach his rearguard. An ever-present in the Anfield side, he made over 450 appearances during his decade-long spell, earning the love, adoration but above all, respect, of the Liverpool faithful. Ten trophies were raised aloft, including an unprecedented 'treble' in 2001, and the hallowed Champions League four years later, meaning that the Finnish centre-half had something to show for his years of hard work and dedication to the Liverpool cause. However, not everybody was too enamoured with his signature in 1999, purely for the fact that he was a relative unknown. Recommended to former chief executive Peter Robinson by a TV cameraman didn't exactly inspire confidence in the £2.6 million rated defender from Willem II, and many decreed that he simply was not cut out for the Premier League and wouldn't live up to expectations. These perceptions proved erroneous, however, as he struck up a rock-solid partnership with partner Stephane Henchoz, before assuming the role of captain for an interim period of one season between Jamie Redknapp and Steven Gerrard in 2002. Upon his final game for the Reds in 2009, the emotional Finn received a standing ovations from all corners of Anfield, as they paid tribute to one of the greatest servants to have ever plied his trade for the club. So there it is - the assortment of underwhelming Anfield signings who shrugged off the preconceptions of others to establish themselves as fan favourites. Do you agree with the entries on the list? Were there any other players that were worthy of a mention, or those already on the list who simply don't merit a place alongside other so-called 'cult heroes'? Football is a world of opinions - feel free to let us know some of yours in the comment section below.