bbc--2020-12-14--Former Liverpool manager Houllier dies aged 73

Last updated on .From the section Football Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died at the age of 73 .
Prior to Liverpool , Houllier managed Lens , Paris St-Germain and the French national team , and after leaving the Reds won two Ligue 1 titles at Lyon .
His last managerial job was at Aston Villa , but he left in 2011 after nine months , following heart problems .
In a statement , Liverpool said they were `` deeply saddened '' by Houllier 's death .
`` We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager , Gerard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard 's family and many friends . ''
Aston Villa said : `` All at Aston Villa are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gerard Houllier , our manager during the 2010-11 season .
`` Our thoughts are with Gerard 's loved ones at this incredibly difficult time . ''
• None 'He brought the good times back ' - how fans reacted Houllier made his managerial name with Lens and PSG in the 1980s before taking over the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Les Bleus failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals - with Houllier blaming a mistake from winger David Ginola for their exit - he resigned from the role .
In 1998 , he moved to England and took charge of Liverpool as joint manager alongside Roy Evans .
Evans resigned three months later and Houllier took sole charge , rebuilding the Reds and leading them to the unprecedented treble in the 2000-01 season .
In October 2001 , he had open heart surgery after suffering from chest pains during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the dugout at Anfield and remained there for another three years before leaving in May 2004 .
After leaving Liverpool , he led Lyon to two French titles before joining the French Football Federation in 2007 , but he was enticed back into management by Villa in September 2010 , signing a three-year deal .
But the following April Houllier was admitted to hospital with chest pains and Gary McAllister stepped in to help steer Villa away from relegation trouble .
He stepped down from the role at the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the dugout could cause further health issues .
He has since held the head of football role at Red Bull , and in November became technical director of women 's football clubs Lyon and OL Reign .
Many of Liverpool 's treble-winning squad from 2000-01 were quick to pay tribute to their former boss .
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp wrote on Instagram : `` Incredibly sad news to hear of the passing of Gerard Houllier .
A man that did an amazing job for Liverpool football club and for football as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to his family .
I will never forget the day he gave me the Liverpool captaincy , the greatest honour of my career . ''
Dietmar Hamann said : `` Devastated to hear the news that our former manager Gerard Houllier passed away .
Great manager and an even better man .
You 'll never walk alone Gerard . ''
Phil Thompson , Houllier 's assistant manager at Liverpool , said he was `` absolutely devastated and heartbroken '' .
The rest of the football world also paid tribute to Houllier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condolences , including Tottenham , West Ham , Manchester United and Liverpool 's Merseyside rivals Everton .
Current and former Liverpool players also paid tribute , with Djibril Cisse , tweeting : `` Today I am very sad .
Thanks to you , I was able to play in this wonderful @ LFC .
Many thanks for everything you have done for me . ''
Neil Mellor said : `` Thank you for believing in me & giving me my professional debut . ''
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live , former Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Houllier in 2001 , said : `` I 've always been a Liverpool fan , my first game was when I was seven in 1988 and then he made my dreams come true by signing me .
`` He was a special man , it was n't just about football , it was about a human being too .
His door was always open .
he had this warm feeling about him which , when you were talking to him , made you feel a million dollars .
He will be really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamics at Liverpool , he changed it all , and the way they went forward .
`` His team talks were so special , especially when you needed to get a result in Champions League nights and huge Premier League games .
He had you on the edge of your seat listening to every word .
`` He was so calm .
Some managers rant and rave but he always used to take a couple of minutes , he always used to compose himself before he came into the changing room .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dressing room went quiet and everyone was hanging onto his words .
`` He had a calmness about him , if you were losing he would say he backed you and told you to trust each other .
You had to be there to appreciate how special his team talks were and nine of 10 times they worked . ''
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish tweeted : `` Very sad news about Gerard Houllier .
He was a gentleman and a great footballing person ; I enjoyed his company many times .
His legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respected and never forgotten . ''
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live , Houllier 's former co-manager Roy Evans said : `` The passing of Gerard Houllier is a real sad day for all Liverpool fans .
On the difficulty of trying to work as joint managers he added : `` It was more or less impossible , you have got two people trying to do one job .
Football is all about opinions and different things and that is why I walked away at the time .
`` But I never held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a job and he did a good one .
`` The last time I saw him was about 12 months ago in Ireland and we had a good chat .
It is another Liverpool legend who has passed away . ''
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said : `` The news has come as a total shock this morning .
Gerard Houllier was still a young man at the age of 73 .
`` Gerard became a really good friend during his time at Liverpool .
We remained great friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great ally to have .
`` He had fantastic football knowledge which he gained during his extensive and varied career .
When we saw each other at Uefa meetings or other events , we would often enjoy a chat , he was always great company and I will miss him dearly .
He was a true gentleman .
`` It is a sad day for the football world and my thoughts are with his family at this desperately sad time . ''
Nasser Al-Khelaifi , chairman of PSG - who won their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - said the club felt `` profound sadness '' .
Former England full-back Ashley Young , now at Inter Milan , played under Houllier at Aston Villa .

Last updated on .From the section Football
Gerard Houllier celebrates Liverpool's cup treble in 2001 on an open-top bus parade with Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has died at the age of 73.
The Frenchman managed the Reds from 1998-2004 and led them to five major trophies, including the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup treble in 2000-01.
Prior to Liverpool, Houllier managed Lens, Paris St-Germain and the French national team, and after leaving the Reds won two Ligue 1 titles at Lyon.
His last managerial job was at Aston Villa, but he left in 2011 after nine months, following heart problems.
Gerard Houllier reflects on Liverpool's iconic win in Istanbul
In a statement, Liverpool said they were "deeply saddened" by Houllier's death.
"We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier," the club said.
"The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard's family and many friends."
Aston Villa said: "All at Aston Villa are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gerard Houllier, our manager during the 2010-11 season.
"Our thoughts are with Gerard's loved ones at this incredibly difficult time."
Houllier made his managerial name with Lens and PSG in the 1980s before taking over the French national side in 1992.
However, after Les Bleus failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals - with Houllier blaming a mistake from winger David Ginola for their exit - he resigned from the role.
In 1998, he moved to England and took charge of Liverpool as joint manager alongside Roy Evans.
Evans resigned three months later and Houllier took sole charge, rebuilding the Reds and leading them to the unprecedented treble in the 2000-01 season.
2001: Owen scores two late goals for Liverpool to win FA Cup
In October 2001, he had open heart surgery after suffering from chest pains during a home match against Leeds, but returned to the dugout at Anfield and remained there for another three years before leaving in May 2004.
After leaving Liverpool, he led Lyon to two French titles before joining the French Football Federation in 2007, but he was enticed back into management by Villa in September 2010, signing a three-year deal.
But the following April Houllier was admitted to hospital with chest pains and Gary McAllister stepped in to help steer Villa away from relegation trouble.
He stepped down from the role at the end of the 2010-11 season with concerns that a return to the dugout could cause further health issues.
He has since held the head of football role at Red Bull, and in November became technical director of women's football clubs Lyon and OL Reign.
Houllier's record at Liverpool (games as sole manager only) Matches 307 Wins 160 Draws 73 Losses 74 Goals scored 516 Goals conceded 298
Treble winners pay tribute
Many of Liverpool's treble-winning squad from 2000-01 were quick to pay tribute to their former boss.
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp wrote on Instagram external-link : "Incredibly sad news to hear of the passing of Gerard Houllier. A man that did an amazing job for Liverpool football club and for football as a whole. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I will never forget the day he gave me the Liverpool captaincy, the greatest honour of my career."
Dietmar Hamann said: "Devastated to hear the news that our former manager Gerard Houllier passed away. Great manager and an even better man. You'll never walk alone Gerard."
Murphy tribute to 'father figure' Houllier
Phil Thompson, Houllier's assistant manager at Liverpool, said he was "absolutely devastated and heartbroken".
Football world pays tribute
The rest of the football world also paid tribute to Houllier, with many Premier League teams tweeting their condolences, including Tottenham, West Ham, Manchester United and Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton.
Current and former Liverpool players also paid tribute, with Djibril Cisse, tweeting: "Today I am very sad. Thanks to you, I was able to play in this wonderful @LFC. Many thanks for everything you have done for me."
Neil Mellor said: "Thank you for believing in me & giving me my professional debut."
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who was signed by Houllier in 2001, said: "I've always been a Liverpool fan, my first game was when I was seven in 1988 and then he made my dreams come true by signing me.
"He was a special man, it wasn't just about football, it was about a human being too. His door was always open. he had this warm feeling about him which, when you were talking to him, made you feel a million dollars. He will be really sadly missed.
"He changed the dynamics at Liverpool, he changed it all, and the way they went forward.
"His team talks were so special, especially when you needed to get a result in Champions League nights and huge Premier League games. He had you on the edge of your seat listening to every word.
"He was so calm. Some managers rant and rave but he always used to take a couple of minutes, he always used to compose himself before he came into the changing room. As soon as he came in, the dressing room went quiet and everyone was hanging onto his words.
"He had a calmness about him, if you were losing he would say he backed you and told you to trust each other. You had to be there to appreciate how special his team talks were and nine of 10 times they worked."
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish tweeted: "Very sad news about Gerard Houllier. He was a gentleman and a great footballing person; I enjoyed his company many times. His legacy at LFC will forever be appreciated, respected and never forgotten."
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Houllier's former co-manager Roy Evans said: "The passing of Gerard Houllier is a real sad day for all Liverpool fans.
On the difficulty of trying to work as joint managers he added: "It was more or less impossible, you have got two people trying to do one job. Football is all about opinions and different things and that is why I walked away at the time.
"But I never held that against Gerard, he came to do a job and he did a good one.
"The last time I saw him was about 12 months ago in Ireland and we had a good chat. It is another Liverpool legend who has passed away."
Houllier's first game in charge of the Reds came alongside Evans in a 2-1 win at Southampton, although the partnership only lasted a further 17 games before Evans resigned
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "The news has come as a total shock this morning. Gerard Houllier was still a young man at the age of 73.
"Gerard became a really good friend during his time at Liverpool. We remained great friends after he left and he was always a great ally to have.
"He had fantastic football knowledge which he gained during his extensive and varied career. When we saw each other at Uefa meetings or other events, we would often enjoy a chat, he was always great company and I will miss him dearly. He was a true gentleman.
"It is a sad day for the football world and my thoughts are with his family at this desperately sad time."
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of PSG - who won their first French title in 1986 under Houllier - said the club felt "profound sadness".
Former England full-back Ashley Young, now at Inter Milan, played under Houllier at Aston Villa.


bbc--2020-12-14--'The phone rang, it was Gerard. He was asking my partner’s view on a substitution'

Gerard Houllier , who has died aged 73 , may just have been destined to manage his beloved Liverpool Football Club .
He deserves to be remembered as the man who had the strength of character and talent to revolutionise Liverpool , making them successful once more when he took sole control after the inevitably unworkable arranged marriage with Evans came to an end four months later .
• None Former Liverpool boss Houllier dies at the age of 73 • None 'He brought the good times back ' - how fans reacted Houllier 's arrival at Liverpool was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive Peter Robinson , through a friendship established over many years .
Robinson immediately thought of Houllier when it was decided to revamp the club 's coaching structure .
The man known to all at Anfield as 'PBR ' admitted he was on `` a fishing expedition '' when he contacted Houllier , who had been heavily linked with Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday after working with France 's World Cup-winning team in 1998 .
He rang , ostensibly to congratulate him on a job he had not even taken , while insisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving anywhere other than Anfield .
Houllier , not realising such a vacancy existed , jumped at the opportunity and it is not stretching the point to say he subsequently worked a brilliant transformation from the flaky 'Spice Boys ' era into the development of a fiercely disciplined , winning team .
I was fortunate enough to be the first journalist to meet Houllier after his arrival at Anfield and it was the start of a personal friendship that revealed him to be not only a perfectionist and driven football obsessive but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man .
Robinson rang the Liverpool Echo offices that morning in July 1998 and said : `` There is someone in my office I think you might like to meet . ''
No hints were given but when Robinson issued the summons you acted and after a short drive to Anfield the office door opened to reveal a beaming , clearly overjoyed Gerard Houllier .
He was Liverpool 's new `` joint manager '' and poured out his emotion at coming to Liverpool before saying : `` I must go now .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my new family . ''
And that is how he treated Liverpool Football Club .
It was his family .
He defended it passionately and wanted the best for it at all times .
As this is a very personal recollection , there are many stories that confirm his humour and all-consuming desire to be a winner at Liverpool , something which eventually took its toll on his health .
Shortly after his arrival , the Liverpool Echo was running a somewhat heavy-handed promotional campaign which involved plastering large images of journalists on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences and insults .
Houllier once greeted me at Anfield with a smile and the words : `` I pulled up behind your face at a set of traffic lights yesterday .
It is not a good sight in real life but at that size and while I am driving… are you trying to damage Liverpool Football Club ? ''
He set about removing overbearing influences such as Paul Ince and Neil Ruddock from Liverpool 's dressing room in search of a team in his own image and likeness .
Houllier formed what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee '' with his ally Robinson which resulted in discussions that regularly went into the early hours .
Officials from other clubs were often startled to receive calls at midnight and beyond inquiring about players .
The decision had been taken on a signing and the manager , along with one of the finest administrators the game has known , wanted the ball to start rolling .
In came Sami Hyypia , Stephane Henchoz and Dietmar Hamann , to be followed later by superb acquisitions such as Markus Babbel and Gary McAllister .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more professionalism and focus into the veins of outstanding youngsters such as Jamie Carragher , Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen .
If anyone doubts the influence Houllier had on Liverpool when he was there and also afterwards , just ask those iconic figures how highly they regarded him .
It took some time to get it right and there were occasions when his 24/7 approach to Liverpool reared its head .
When Liverpool drew at Manchester United in March 2000 , Houllier had agonised over replacing the injured Hyypia moments before half-time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United equalised and the game ended 1-1 .
The phone rang at my flat at 7am the following morning and I heard my future wife Lynne - who Houllier knew to be a fanatical Liverpool fan - involved in a lengthy discussion about the non-substitution and its implications .
Mistakenly assuming it to be a family member , it was a shock to hear the caller was Houllier who had been up all night at Melwood fretting over what he regarded as a poor decision that had cost Liverpool a landmark win .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the journalist 's , as befitted a man who chose to live in the Sefton Park area of the city as he wanted to be in among supporters so he could see and hear what they felt .
When Euro 2000 was looming , I was asked if Houllier would do a tournament preview piece for the new BBC Sport website - which I assumed would be traditional fare tipping the winners and dark horses .
Houllier jumped at the chance but insisted it could not be done over the phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Melwood at 7pm .
On arrival , Houllier produced a handwritten preview inches thick going into fine detail about each team , key players and potential weaknesses .
Patrice Bergues , Houllier 's friend , assistant and a calming presence who often talked down some of his more outlandish ideas , stood behind Liverpool 's manager out of his eyeline smiling with his arms outstretched .
He knew there were no half-measures when it came to asking Gerard Houllier to talk football .
Sadly , restraints on space meant so much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fitting that Houllier was in his element inside Liverpool 's Melwood training headquarters .
He not only rebuilt Liverpool 's team but rebuilt the bricks and mortar of the ramshackle old training ground .
Houllier carried on the process started by Graeme Souness in modernising the facilities , taking an almost paternal pride in giving a guided tour , some areas designed to his specific demands , including a lack of pillars so no players could hide behind them .
Attention to detail .
Everywhere .
No margin too fine .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the treble-winning season of 2000-01 when Liverpool beat Birmingham City on penalties to win the League Cup , Arsenal to win the FA Cup and Alaves 5-4 via a 'Golden Goal ' to win the Uefa Cup .
It was just reward for the endless hours Houllier spent at Melwood and around the globe seeking ideas , potential new players , driving those he called his `` family '' on .
He was at the top of his game , a high-class side was emerging but he paid the price when he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leeds United at Anfield in October 2001 and required 11 hours of heart surgery .
He was , under doctors ' orders , told to stay away from football and turn his thoughts away from the game .
Two things he found impossible .
The phone calls were heavily rationed as he recovered at home but when they were made the pleasantries soon turned to talk of Liverpool and football .
And sometimes the reporters understandably asked to steer clear of contacting him found themselves on the receiving end of calls asking why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He retained the personal touches even in convalescence , special occasions for journalists and associates such as the birth of a child still being greeted by a large bouquet of flowers and a card .
Houllier insisted on a professional relationship with all those he dealt with but never forgot the personal side .
He accepted himself that he came back too soon from his serious illness as Liverpool manager , returning in March 2002 on a tide of Anfield emotion for a 2-0 Champions League win against Roma .
The sure touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of substituting the anchor Hamann with the forward Vladimir Smicer with Liverpool on course for qualification in the quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen contributing to a late elimination .
Houllier 's signings also started to go awry , particularly when passing on Nicolas Anelka , who had excelled in a loan spell at Liverpool , and signing El-Hadji Diouf .
He won the League Cup once more against Manchester United in Cardiff in 2003 but Houllier 's time at Liverpool was running out of steam despite the same Herculean efforts and tireless work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houllier had his flaws , particularly an oversensitivity to some justified criticism from former players , but this was perhaps driven by his own frustration that the great successes , and the Premier League title he wanted so badly , were not in sight .
He was sacked at the end of the 2003-04 season but it was with sadness all round .
He left Liverpool in fourth place and in the Champions League .
It remained a source of great pride that Liverpool won the trophy against AC Milan in Istanbul in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left behind and who he had guided so carefully .
Even after his departure , he remained fiercely loyal to Liverpool and their supporters despite facing criticism for his style of football in his closing days .
Houllier 's time at Aston Villa , where he was appointed in 2010 , was also curtailed by health problems but he was once again a hugely popular figure with those who dealt with him .
It was , however , his time and successes at Liverpool for which he will be best remembered .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater credit he merits for work that stretched way beyond silverware to actually changing a culture .
Houllier was still seen at Anfield , often on European nights .
The respect and affection in which he was held still obvious , the bear-hug greeting still as warm and friendly .
Gerard Houllier was an outstanding manager and a fine , decent man who will be very sadly missed .

Gerard Houllier won a treble of cups with Liverpool in 2001
Gerard Houllier, who has died aged 73, may just have been destined to manage his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
Houllier came to Anfield on a joint-management ticket with incumbent Roy Evans on 16 July 1998 - but the seeds of his arrival were sown 30 years earlier when he stood on the Kop watching Bill Shankly's great Liverpool side while teaching French at the nearby Alsop Comprehensive School.
He deserves to be remembered as the man who had the strength of character and talent to revolutionise Liverpool, making them successful once more when he took sole control after the inevitably unworkable arranged marriage with Evans came to an end four months later.
Houllier's arrival at Liverpool was the brainchild of the great Anfield administrator and chief executive Peter Robinson, through a friendship established over many years.
Robinson immediately thought of Houllier when it was decided to revamp the club's coaching structure.
The man known to all at Anfield as 'PBR' admitted he was on "a fishing expedition" when he contacted Houllier, who had been heavily linked with Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday after working with France's World Cup-winning team in 1998.
He rang, ostensibly to congratulate him on a job he had not even taken, while insisting it would be a mistake to consider moving anywhere other than Anfield.
Houllier, not realising such a vacancy existed, jumped at the opportunity and it is not stretching the point to say he subsequently worked a brilliant transformation from the flaky 'Spice Boys' era into the development of a fiercely disciplined, winning team.
I was fortunate enough to be the first journalist to meet Houllier after his arrival at Anfield and it was the start of a personal friendship that revealed him to be not only a perfectionist and driven football obsessive but also a warm, generous, thoroughly decent man.
Robinson rang the Liverpool Echo offices that morning in July 1998 and said: "There is someone in my office I think you might like to meet."
No hints were given but when Robinson issued the summons you acted and after a short drive to Anfield the office door opened to reveal a beaming, clearly overjoyed Gerard Houllier.
He was Liverpool's new "joint manager" and poured out his emotion at coming to Liverpool before saying: "I must go now. I want to get to Melwood to meet my new family."
And that is how he treated Liverpool Football Club. It was his family. He defended it passionately and wanted the best for it at all times.
The footballing world was fascinated by Houllier's partnership with co-manager Roy Evans
As this is a very personal recollection, there are many stories that confirm his humour and all-consuming desire to be a winner at Liverpool, something which eventually took its toll on his health.
Shortly after his arrival, the Liverpool Echo was running a somewhat heavy-handed promotional campaign which involved plastering large images of journalists on the back of buses, with inevitable consequences and insults.
Houllier once greeted me at Anfield with a smile and the words: "I pulled up behind your face at a set of traffic lights yesterday. It is not a good sight in real life but at that size and while I am driving… are you trying to damage Liverpool Football Club?"
He set about removing overbearing influences such as Paul Ince and Neil Ruddock from Liverpool's dressing room in search of a team in his own image and likeness.
Houllier formed what might be termed a two-man "transfer committee" with his ally Robinson which resulted in discussions that regularly went into the early hours.
Officials from other clubs were often startled to receive calls at midnight and beyond inquiring about players. The decision had been taken on a signing and the manager, along with one of the finest administrators the game has known, wanted the ball to start rolling.
In came Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz and Dietmar Hamann, to be followed later by superb acquisitions such as Markus Babbel and Gary McAllister.
Houllier was also instrumental in injecting even more professionalism and focus into the veins of outstanding youngsters such as Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
Murphy tribute to 'father figure' Houllier
If anyone doubts the influence Houllier had on Liverpool when he was there and also afterwards, just ask those iconic figures how highly they regarded him.
It took some time to get it right and there were occasions when his 24/7 approach to Liverpool reared its head.
When Liverpool drew at Manchester United in March 2000, Houllier had agonised over replacing the injured Hyypia moments before half-time with Liverpool leading. He waited, Manchester United equalised and the game ended 1-1.
The phone rang at my flat at 7am the following morning and I heard my future wife Lynne - who Houllier knew to be a fanatical Liverpool fan - involved in a lengthy discussion about the non-substitution and its implications.
Mistakenly assuming it to be a family member, it was a shock to hear the caller was Houllier who had been up all night at Melwood fretting over what he regarded as a poor decision that had cost Liverpool a landmark win.
He wanted the fan's perspective as well as the journalist's, as befitted a man who chose to live in the Sefton Park area of the city as he wanted to be in among supporters so he could see and hear what they felt.
Houllier had a spell in charge of the France national team but failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup
When Euro 2000 was looming, I was asked if Houllier would do a tournament preview piece for the new BBC Sport website - which I assumed would be traditional fare tipping the winners and dark horses.
Houllier jumped at the chance but insisted it could not be done over the phone. We had to meet in person at Melwood at 7pm.
On arrival, Houllier produced a handwritten preview inches thick going into fine detail about each team, key players and potential weaknesses.
Patrice Bergues, Houllier's friend, assistant and a calming presence who often talked down some of his more outlandish ideas, stood behind Liverpool's manager out of his eyeline smiling with his arms outstretched.
He knew there were no half-measures when it came to asking Gerard Houllier to talk football. Sadly, restraints on space meant so much of his meticulous dossier went unseen.
It was fitting that Houllier was in his element inside Liverpool's Melwood training headquarters. He not only rebuilt Liverpool's team but rebuilt the bricks and mortar of the ramshackle old training ground.
Houllier carried on the process started by Graeme Souness in modernising the facilities, taking an almost paternal pride in giving a guided tour, some areas designed to his specific demands, including a lack of pillars so no players could hide behind them.
Attention to detail. Everywhere. No margin too fine.
2001: Owen scores two late goals for Liverpool to win FA Cup
And it all came to glorious fruition in the treble-winning season of 2000-01 when Liverpool beat Birmingham City on penalties to win the League Cup, Arsenal to win the FA Cup and Alaves 5-4 via a 'Golden Goal' to win the Uefa Cup.
It was just reward for the endless hours Houllier spent at Melwood and around the globe seeking ideas, potential new players, driving those he called his "family" on.
Houllier's Liverpool were at a peak.
He was at the top of his game, a high-class side was emerging but he paid the price when he was taken seriously ill during a game against Leeds United at Anfield in October 2001 and required 11 hours of heart surgery.
He was, under doctors' orders, told to stay away from football and turn his thoughts away from the game. Two things he found impossible.
The phone calls were heavily rationed as he recovered at home but when they were made the pleasantries soon turned to talk of Liverpool and football.
And sometimes the reporters understandably asked to steer clear of contacting him found themselves on the receiving end of calls asking why they had not been in touch.
He retained the personal touches even in convalescence, special occasions for journalists and associates such as the birth of a child still being greeted by a large bouquet of flowers and a card.
Houllier insisted on a professional relationship with all those he dealt with but never forgot the personal side.
He accepted himself that he came back too soon from his serious illness as Liverpool manager, returning in March 2002 on a tide of Anfield emotion for a 2-0 Champions League win against Roma.
The sure touch was not quite there, an uncharacteristic error of substituting the anchor Hamann with the forward Vladimir Smicer with Liverpool on course for qualification in the quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen contributing to a late elimination.
Houllier's signings also started to go awry, particularly when passing on Nicolas Anelka, who had excelled in a loan spell at Liverpool, and signing El-Hadji Diouf.
He won the League Cup once more against Manchester United in Cardiff in 2003 but Houllier's time at Liverpool was running out of steam despite the same Herculean efforts and tireless work ethic that was in his DNA.
Houllier had his flaws, particularly an oversensitivity to some justified criticism from former players, but this was perhaps driven by his own frustration that the great successes, and the Premier League title he wanted so badly, were not in sight.
Gerard Houllier reflects on Liverpool's iconic win in Istanbul
He was sacked at the end of the 2003-04 season but it was with sadness all round. He left Liverpool in fourth place and in the Champions League.
It remained a source of great pride that Liverpool won the trophy against AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005 with many of the players he left behind and who he had guided so carefully.
Even after his departure, he remained fiercely loyal to Liverpool and their supporters despite facing criticism for his style of football in his closing days.
Houllier's time at Aston Villa, where he was appointed in 2010, was also curtailed by health problems but he was once again a hugely popular figure with those who dealt with him.
Houllier returned for a second crack at the Premier League with Aston Villa in 2010
It was, however, his time and successes at Liverpool for which he will be best remembered.
The passing years have seen Houllier get the greater credit he merits for work that stretched way beyond silverware to actually changing a culture.
Houllier was still seen at Anfield, often on European nights. The respect and affection in which he was held still obvious, the bear-hug greeting still as warm and friendly.
Gerard Houllier was an outstanding manager and a fine, decent man who will be very sadly missed.


bbc--2020-12-14--'For three rounds he gave me a beating' - the last time Fury and Joshua shared the ring

The sporting world longs for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to throw punches at one another in the boxing ring .
They already have .
On his way back from the gym , Fury - who was 22 at the time and a professional - called Steve Bunce at BBC Radio London and explained what Joshua - who was 20 and chasing amateur honours - was like .
Now that the Joshua-Fury rivalry has reached a new level , BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes Fury 's words from a decade earlier as `` gold dust '' .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fury : The history and the future '' I just went down to Finchley Boxing Club and sparred the ABA champion Anthony Joshua .
He 's red hot him , very good .
`` To be honest with you I thought ' I 'll only take it easy because he 's only an amateur and he probably wo n't spar me again if I go mad ' .
`` He rushed out at me , he threw a one-two and left hook and bash , he hit me with an uppercut right on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If I 'd had a weak chin like David Price I 'd have been knocked out for a month .
He 's very , very , very good and he 's only young .
Watch out for that name , Anthony Joshua , he is one prospect for the future .
`` I 'm a good prospect , I rate myself as one of the top heavyweights in the world and he came at me for three rounds and he gave me a beating .
I am not going to deny it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leather .
I thought 'an amateur is killing me ' .
`` I slowed him down with a few good body shots .
The kid is only 20 .
I 'm a handful myself , so for him to put up a good performance like that against a top prospect in me , I think he 's one for the future .
`` But sparring is n't fighting and fighting with a head guard is not professional boxing . ''
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Sparring is indeed very different to the kind of pressure and occasion the pair would face should they meet for real , with all four heavyweight world titles potentially on the line .
Their promoters have already raised the prospect of a May contest - possibly in the Middle East - but there are a number of issues to resolve first , ranging from bypassing other potential opponents to securing a suitable venue during the Covid-19 pandemic .
For this proposed fight , I see boxing problems , not so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a WBO problem and Joshua being mandated to fight Oleksandr Usyk .
Then there 's the Deontay Wilder third fight for Fury .
Wilder invoked that clause and they were meant to fight for a third time last July .
The other problem is the straight forward normal boxing chaos like people getting involved and getting busy .
It will take a lot of nerve and skill to get this from a plan into a reality - an awful lot of skill from some seasoned personnel .
So , Mike , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen by May or June ?
Yes .
Because of the sentiments of Eddie Hearn , Bob Arum and the fact there 's nothing veiled in the comments of Joshua and Fury .
I am as close to certain as I can be that this happens if there are no impediments from governing bodies or a legal situation .
I think there 's a time issue .
If this fight is to be staged in the Middle East , Ramadan is mid April to mid May .
So it 's then the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be held .
If you look at the temperatures there at that time of year , it 's going to be very difficult to hold those kind of events then .
That could be a factor .
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: BBC Three hears from students in need

Joshua and Fury hold all four major heavyweight titles between them
The sporting world longs for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to throw punches at one another in the boxing ring. They already have.
For while Joshua's win over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday intensified calls for him to face Fury in 2021, the pair actually tussled in 2010.
On his way back from the gym, Fury - who was 22 at the time and a professional - called Steve Bunce at BBC Radio London and explained what Joshua - who was 20 and chasing amateur honours - was like.
Now that the Joshua-Fury rivalry has reached a new level, BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes Fury's words from a decade earlier as "gold dust". Here they are.
'He's red hot him...'
"I just went down to Finchley Boxing Club and sparred the ABA champion Anthony Joshua. He's red hot him, very good.
"To be honest with you I thought 'I'll only take it easy because he's only an amateur and he probably won't spar me again if I go mad'.
"He rushed out at me, he threw a one-two and left hook and bash, he hit me with an uppercut right on the point of the chin.
"If I'd had a weak chin like David Price I'd have been knocked out for a month. He's very, very, very good and he's only young. Watch out for that name, Anthony Joshua, he is one prospect for the future.
"I'm a good prospect, I rate myself as one of the top heavyweights in the world and he came at me for three rounds and he gave me a beating. I am not going to deny it. He gave what for, hell for leather. I thought 'an amateur is killing me'.
"I slowed him down with a few good body shots. The kid is only 20. I'm a handful myself, so for him to put up a good performance like that against a top prospect in me, I think he's one for the future.
"But sparring isn't fighting and fighting with a head guard is not professional boxing."
Want all the goals and talking points from Sunday's Premier League games? MOTD2 is streaming now
Will they fight for real?
Sparring is indeed very different to the kind of pressure and occasion the pair would face should they meet for real, with all four heavyweight world titles potentially on the line.
Their promoters have already raised the prospect of a May contest - possibly in the Middle East - but there are a number of issues to resolve first, ranging from bypassing other potential opponents to securing a suitable venue during the Covid-19 pandemic.
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce:
For this proposed fight, I see boxing problems, not so much problems with things like broadcasters.
There's a WBO problem and Joshua being mandated to fight Oleksandr Usyk. Then there's the Deontay Wilder third fight for Fury. Wilder invoked that clause and they were meant to fight for a third time last July.
The other problem is the straight forward normal boxing chaos like people getting involved and getting busy. It will take a lot of nerve and skill to get this from a plan into a reality - an awful lot of skill from some seasoned personnel.
So, Mike, is your gut feeling telling you it will happen by May or June?
BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello:
Yes. Because of the sentiments of Eddie Hearn, Bob Arum and the fact there's nothing veiled in the comments of Joshua and Fury. I am as close to certain as I can be that this happens if there are no impediments from governing bodies or a legal situation.
I think there's a time issue. If this fight is to be staged in the Middle East, Ramadan is mid April to mid May. So it's then the end of May into June for any fight to be held.
If you look at the temperatures there at that time of year, it's going to be very difficult to hold those kind of events then. That could be a factor.


bbc--2020-12-14--US Women's Open: A-Lim Kim wins first major title after stunning finish

Last updated on .From the section Golf World number 94 A-Lim Kim claimed her first major title with a stunning final round at the US Women 's Open .
The South Korean was making her US Women 's Open debut in Houston and this is only her third professional victory .
World number one Ko Jin-young and American Amy Olson tied for second , one shot back , with Japan 's Shibuno fourth .
The tournament was completed on Monday after rain forced play to be abandoned on Sunday .
Kim tied the record for the biggest final-round comeback at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seventh player to rally from five strokes down and first since Annika Sorenstam in 1995 .
`` I 'm really glad - it was a great win , '' she said .
`` I 'd been eyeing the leaderboard throughout the round and I knew how many shots I was back .
`` That 's probably the reason why I tried to be more aggressive , tried to more attack the pins . ''
She hit three birdies on the front nine to reach two under but bogeyed the 10th and 11th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started one stroke behind Shibuno , held the outright lead by two shots .
Yet Kim , who wore a face mask while playing , responded with birdies on the 16th and 17th to tie for the lead with Olson , who had five holes left to play at that stage .
Another birdie to finish gave Kim the clubhouse lead , and a bogey at the 16th left Olson , whose father-in-law died suddenly on Saturday , needing two birdies to force a play-off .
She could only make par at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card a one-over 72 and claim second alongside Ko , who hit four birdies and a bogey in a three-under 68 .
Shibuno had led since the second round on Friday but struggled in the conditions , making four bogeys in the first 11 holes to fall back to level par .
There was a further bogey on the 17th , but she also made two birdies on the back nine to card a three-over 74 and finish on one under .
The tournament , which has a $ 1m winner 's cheque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take place in June but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
American Kaitlyn Papp finished as the highest-placed amateur , in a tie for ninth on three over .
England 's Charley Hull , who had been in contention after round one , hit a one-over 72 to close on eight over , in a 10-way share of 30th place , including compatriot Bronte Law .
Fellow Englishwoman Jodi Ewart Shadoff finished on 17 over after a final round of 80 .
Kim 's victory means South Korean players won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be played this year , with Mirim Lee winning the ANA Inspiration and Kim Sei-young claiming the PGA Championship .
Germany 's Sophia Popov won the Women 's Open , and the Evian Championship was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
This is A-Lim Kim's first professional win outside South Korea
US Women's Open final leaderboard -3 A-Lim Kim (Kor); -2 Ko Jin-young (Kor), A Olson (US); -1 H Shibuno (Jpn); +1 M Khang (US); +2 Jeong-eun Lee, Inbee Park (both Kor), M Jutanugarn (Tha) Selected others: +8 C Hull, B Law (both Eng); +17 J Ewart Shadoff (Eng) Full leaderboard
World number 94 A-Lim Kim claimed her first major title with a stunning final round at the US Women's Open.
Kim, 25, started five strokes behind leader Hinako Shibuno but closed with three straight birdies in a four-under 67 to finish three under overall.
The South Korean was making her US Women's Open debut in Houston and this is only her third professional victory.
World number one Ko Jin-young and American Amy Olson tied for second, one shot back, with Japan's Shibuno fourth.
The tournament was completed on Monday after rain forced play to be abandoned on Sunday.
Kim tied the record for the biggest final-round comeback at the US Women's Open, becoming the seventh player to rally from five strokes down and first since Annika Sorenstam in 1995.
"I'm really glad - it was a great win," she said.
"I'd been eyeing the leaderboard throughout the round and I knew how many shots I was back.
"That's probably the reason why I tried to be more aggressive, tried to more attack the pins."
She hit three birdies on the front nine to reach two under but bogeyed the 10th and 11th to slip back as Olson, who started one stroke behind Shibuno, held the outright lead by two shots.
Yet Kim, who wore a face mask while playing, responded with birdies on the 16th and 17th to tie for the lead with Olson, who had five holes left to play at that stage.
Another birdie to finish gave Kim the clubhouse lead, and a bogey at the 16th left Olson, whose father-in-law died suddenly on Saturday, needing two birdies to force a play-off.
She could only make par at the 17th before a closing birdie saw her card a one-over 72 and claim second alongside Ko, who hit four birdies and a bogey in a three-under 68.
Shibuno had led since the second round on Friday but struggled in the conditions, making four bogeys in the first 11 holes to fall back to level par.
There was a further bogey on the 17th, but she also made two birdies on the back nine to card a three-over 74 and finish on one under.
The tournament, which has a $1m winner's cheque (about £744,000), was scheduled to take place in June but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
American Kaitlyn Papp finished as the highest-placed amateur, in a tie for ninth on three over.
England's Charley Hull, who had been in contention after round one, hit a one-over 72 to close on eight over, in a 10-way share of 30th place, including compatriot Bronte Law.
Fellow Englishwoman Jodi Ewart Shadoff finished on 17 over after a final round of 80.
Kim's victory means South Korean players won three of the four women's majors to be played this year, with Mirim Lee winning the ANA Inspiration and Kim Sei-young claiming the PGA Championship.
Germany's Sophia Popov won the Women's Open, and the Evian Championship was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.


bbc--2020-12-14--Cleveland Indians baseball team to change name

Protests over the Cleveland Indians ' name have , however , taken place for decades .
Opponents have held demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ the baseball season every year since 1973 , and protests grew in size in the @ @ @ @ @ the World Series in 1995 the team played the Atlanta Braves , another side critics @ @ @ @ @ .

Protests over the Cleveland Indians' name have, however, taken place for decades. Opponents have held demonstrations on the opening day of the baseball season every year since 1973, and protests grew in size in the 1990s - particularly when in the World Series in 1995 the team played the Atlanta Braves, another side critics say have an offensive name.


bbc--2020-12-15--Joe Biden says 'time to turn the page' after victory confirmed

In his speech , Mr Biden described the harassment of officials following the election as `` unconscionable '' and said @ @ @ @ @ sincere hope we never again see anyone subjected to the kind of threats and abuse @ @ @ @ @ . ''

In his speech, Mr Biden described the harassment of officials following the election as "unconscionable" and said: "It's my sincere hope we never again see anyone subjected to the kind of threats and abuse we saw in this election."


bbc--2020-12-14--Coronavirus: The day US began Covid vaccinations

A massive coronavirus vaccination effort has kicked off in the US with vaccine shipments sent to all 50 states and @ @ @ @ @ the first Americans to get the jab on Monday morning .

A massive coronavirus vaccination effort has kicked off in the US with vaccine shipments sent to all 50 states and territories.
Healthcare workers were the first Americans to get the jab on Monday morning.


bbc--2020-12-15--Japan 'Twitter killer' Takahiro Shiraishi sentenced to death

A man who murdered nine people after contacting them on Twitter has been sentenced to death , in a high-profile case that has shocked Japan .
Takahiro Shiraishi , dubbed the `` Twitter killer '' , was arrested in 2017 after body parts were found in his flat .
The 30-year-old had admitted to murdering and dismembering his victims - almost all of whom were young women he met on the social media platform .
The serial killings triggered debate over how suicide is discussed online .
More than 400 people turned up to watch the verdict on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for the public , reported local media .
Public support for the death penalty remains high in Japan , one of the few developed nations to retain capital punishment .
How did he find his victims ?
Shiraishi used Twitter to lure suicidal women to his home , saying he could help them die and , in some cases , claimed he would kill himself alongside them .
He strangled and dismembered eight women and one man aged 15 to 26 between August and October 2017 , said Japan 's Kyodo news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serial killings first came to light on Halloween that year when police found dismembered body parts in Shiraishi 's flat in the Japanese city of Zama , near Tokyo , while they were searching for a missing 23-year-old woman , who turned out to be one of the victims .
After she had gone missing , her brother accessed her Twitter account and alerted police to a suspicious handle , leading them to Shiraishi 's residence on the morning of 31 October in 2017 .
Japanese media called it the `` house of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with a large number of arm and leg bones stashed in coolers and tool boxes .
What happened at the trial ?
But his lawyers argued that he was guilty of the lesser charge of `` murder with consent '' , claiming his victims had given their permission to be killed .
Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team 's version of events , and said he killed without their consent .
On Tuesday , Judge Naokuni Yano , who delivered the verdict , called the crimes `` cunning and cruel '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible '' for his actions .
`` None of the nine victims consented to be killed , including silent consent , '' public broadcaster NHK quoted the judge as saying .
`` It is extremely grave that the lives of nine young people were taken away .
The dignity of the victims was trampled upon . ''
Who were the victims ?
The names of those Shiraishi murdered were withheld to protect their privacy .
The father of one victim , aged 25 , told the court last month that he would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , according to Japanese broadcaster NHK '' Even now , when I see a woman of my daughter 's age , I mistake her for my daughter .
This pain will never go away .
Give her back to me , '' he had said .
On Tuesday , the father of another victim , who was 17 , told NHK the death sentence was `` appropriate '' .
`` I feel like I want to get revenge , but bereaved families ca n't do anything .
I do n't know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The brother of a 25-year-old victim said his `` heart died '' when he heard Shiraishi 's testimony .
`` It did n't sound at all like he regretted it ...
It felt like I was being hurt with a sharp knife over and over again . ''
The man Shiraishi killed was a male friend of one of his female victims , who was seeking her whereabouts .
What impact has the case had ?
The killings stunned Japan , triggering fresh debate about suicide and how to help those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites where suicide is discussed .
The government has indicated it may introduce new regulations .
Summing up , the judge said the case had `` provoked great anxiety in society , because social networks are so commonly used '' .
Japan has long battled one of the highest suicide rates in the industrialised world .
Figures have dropped since preventative measures were introduced more than a decade ago but there have been signs that rates have been rising again during the coronavirus pandemic .
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The serial killings first came to light on Halloween that year when police found dismembered body parts in Shiraishi's flat in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo, while they were searching for a missing 23-year-old woman, who turned out to be one of the victims.


bbc--2020-12-15--Ghislaine Maxwell: Jeffrey Epstein associate seeks $28.5m bail deal

`` Ms Maxwell wants to stay in New York and have her day in court so that she can clear @ @ @ @ @ her family , '' the filing reportedly said , adding that the 58-year-old was `` @ @ @ @ @ has portrayed her to be '' .

"Ms Maxwell wants to stay in New York and have her day in court so that she can clear her name and return to her family," the filing reportedly said, adding that the 58-year-old was "not the person the media has portrayed her to be".


bbc--2020-12-15--Nigeria's Katsina school abduction: Boko Haram says it took the students

About 800 students were at the school when the attack happened and more than 300 are still missing - but @ @ @ @ @ all of them are being held by the kidnappers .

About 800 students were at the school when the attack happened and more than 300 are still missing - but it is not clear if all of them are being held by the kidnappers.


bbc--2020-12-15--Coronavirus: European nations tighten restrictions ahead of Christmas

This means theatres and cinemas will remain shut as will bars and restaurants .
A nationwide curfew will also be @ @ @ @ @ .
The curfew will be lifted on Christmas Eve but not on New Year 's @ @

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned on Tuesday that if people tried to cross the border from the Netherlands to go shopping or come for their holidays, then border measures could be taken. "I hope it won't be necessary, I think the message is clear. In any case, [Dutch Prime Minister] Mark Rutte said so himself."


bbc--2020-12-14--Barbara Kentner: Brayden Bushby found guilty in death of indigenous woman

Thunder Bay Superior Court judge Helen Pierce said on Monday that it was proven `` beyond a reasonable doubt '' @ @ @ @ @ was a contributing cause of her death that is not trivial or insignificant and which @ @ @ @ @ CBC News reported .

Thunder Bay Superior Court judge Helen Pierce said on Monday that it was proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Bushby's action "was a contributing cause of her death that is not trivial or insignificant and which accelerated her death", CBC News reported.


bbc--2020-12-15--Covid-19: Safety concerns over planes returning to service

“ Every aircraft is going to have a specific set of instructions for maintenance , but it has never been @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Greg Waldron , Asia managing editor of aviation magazine FlightGlobal .

But he added that there will be some issues, because planes have been stored for longer than before, and in some cases the planes in storage are new models, which means the potential issues are not as well documented.


bbc--2020-12-15--Ann Reinking: Broadway actress and dancer dies aged 71

`` Gwen and Bob had been legally separated for close to three years , and they had both gone on @ @ @ @ @ people , so I was n't an intruder , '' said Reinking , who was @ @ @ @ @ Qualley in Fosse/Verdon .

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bbc--2020-12-15--Afghanistan: Kabul deputy governor killed in 'sticky bomb' attack on car

The capital has also been hit by rockets twice this month , and recently saw attacks on educational centres , @ @ @ @ @ at a university .
The Islamic State group said it had carried out the student @ @ @ @ @ rocket attacks .

The capital has also been hit by rockets twice this month, and recently saw attacks on educational centres, including a massacre of students at a university. The Islamic State group said it had carried out the student killings and one of the rocket attacks.


bbc--2020-12-15--Australia storms: Floods spark evacuation warnings for NSW towns

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian - whose state was worst-hit in last summer 's bushfires - said experts were expecting conditions @ @ @ @ @ what we have seen in quite a number of years '' .

"I am hoping what we have seen over the last few days won't be repeated frequently over summer but it could," she said on Tuesday.


bbc--2020-12-15--New Covid strain: How worried should we be?

But variants can also get a lucky break by infecting the right people at the right time .
One explanation @ @ @ @ @ `` Spanish strain '' over the summer was simply people catching it on holiday and @ @ @ @ @

But variants can also get a lucky break by infecting the right people at the right time. One explanation for the spread of the "Spanish strain" over the summer was simply people catching it on holiday and then bringing it home.


bbc--2020-12-15--USA v Iran: The historic 2000 friendly match planned to bring countries together

Paris , 11 July 1998 .
On the eve of the World Cup final , in a first-floor room in a building on the Champs-Elysees , an idea for a football friendly was hatched that would lead to death threats , an FBI decoy and the closure of American airspace .
As the gentle currents of small talk circulated among suited attendees , two acquaintances were brought face to face .
Mehrdad Masoudi was an Iranian coming to the end of his time working as the Canadian Soccer Association 's communications director .
Hank Steinbrecher was the General-Secretary of US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very little happens without the signature of the 'GS ' .
Three weeks earlier , the two men had been in Lyon to watch Iran beat the USA 2-1 .
This group-stage encounter was one of the most politically charged matches in World Cup history because of the enmity between the nations .
Iran had been under US sanctions since 52 diplomats were taken hostage in the American embassy in Tehran in 1979 , the year of the Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-American Iranian monarch , the Shah .
But on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a US presidential address , Bill Clinton said he hoped it would be a step towards `` ending the estrangement between our nations '' .
Meanwhile , before kick-off , the American players were showered with gifts from their opponents .
Irrespective of the result , the match had been a diplomatic triumph and the occasion was still fresh in the minds of Masoudi and Steinbrecher when they met , albeit for contrasting reasons .
`` I said , 'Hank , how about repeating that ? '
'' says Masoudi , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help facilitate another match between the nations .
`` Home and away games .
Iran to come to the US next year , on the anniversary of this match , and you go to Iran the following year . ''
Steinbrecher liked the idea .
And he saw another opportunity too .
`` The World Cup match with Iran was the worst defeat during my tenure , '' he says .
`` We hit the post three times .
We did n't suffer from bad soccer , we suffered from bad citizenship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it right .
They kicked our ass , let 's go kick their ass . ''
There was also the optimistic hope of somehow bringing Iran and America closer through sport , as so-called ping-pong diplomacy had brought the United States and China closer in the 1970s .
With a handshake between Masoudi and Steinbrecher , the ball was rolling .
Now they had to defy the political forces arrayed against them , and somehow make it roll up a mountain .
`` Fate brought the two teams together to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masoudi .
`` This time , one side had to send an invitation to the other , who had to accept , and then both sides had to deal with their governments . ''
The first , most sensitive and totally non-negotiable condition set by the Iranians was a waiver that would exempt the delegation from being fingerprinted and photographed on arrival in the United States .
`` I have seen 80-year-old grandmothers going through that , I saw my own mother going through that , '' says Masoudi .
`` For someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it feels like they 're being treated like a criminal .
I said to Hank , you have to talk to the State Department and US immigration to get an exemption . ''
For Steinbrecher , this was the moment of realisation that an idea bounced around among canapes in Paris would have to negotiate an assault course of problems before coming to fruition in California .
`` [ It felt like ] there was a crisis almost every hour , '' he recalls .
`` It ranged from fingerprinting their players to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play the match because of alcohol advertising inside the stadium .
`` There were many , many hurdles to jump through and luckily we were naive enough to think we were doing some good for mankind . ''
Originally , the first match was set for the summer of 1999 in Washington DC .
But the symbolism of playing in the city of the White House was too significant for the Iranian government , which did not authorise the team to travel to the United States .
Instead , the game was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pasadena Rose Bowl in Los Angeles , home to more than 500,000 Iranians who have nicknamed it Tehrangeles .
It would be the final match in a three-game tour after friendlies against Ecuador and Mexico .
But two months out , in November 1999 , the fingerprinting issue had become a seemingly insurmountable crisis .
Thom Meredith , who was director of events for US Soccer , called Masoudi with the news that an exemption could not be secured .
Instead , the players would be fingerprinted and photographed in a private area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I said 'Thom , this is an absolute no-no , ' '' recalls Masoudi .
`` If I tell Iran they will just cancel the games right now .
The contract was signed on this condition and , as an Iranian , I would n't even ask this .
`` It would have given the people who did n't want this to happen the excuse to stop the team from travelling . ''
The solution lay with the US Department of State - effectively America 's Foreign Office .
It remained intractable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted exemption , with just weeks to go .
`` I do n't know what the chain of command was at that time , but my opinion is that this went very high up [ in the US administration ] , '' says Steinbrecher , who had been so long frustrated by the apparatchiks .
`` We got it done , they got it done .
But they did not see things through the same prism as our federation .
There were not many people in the State Department tasked with international diplomacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steinbrecher and his colleagues thought they were through the worst , they had reckoned without the complex machinery of the Iranian government , in which the president is not the biggest component .
As the new millennium dawned , and just days before Iran were due to fly , the next political crisis was played out in Tehran .
Under pressure from his political masters to pull the trip , Iran 's reformist president , Mohammad Khatami , told the president of Iran 's Football Federation , Mohsen Safaei Farahani , to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed the contract and US Soccer had secured the waiver so Iran was contractually obliged to travel , '' says Masoudi .
`` The games were against quality opposition , and they were making over $ 200,000 for [ playing ] three games .
Iran had never been paid this much to play friendlies . ''
Safaei Farahani stood firm .
It was decided : the tour would go ahead .
At this point , Thom Meredith became a key figure .
`` I was n't the guy who contacted different countries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I was the guy who was told , hey , we 're playing the Iranians , figure it out . ''
Meredith travelled to Frankfurt to meet the Iranian team as it transited en route to the United States .
It was there , in the transit lounge , that he came face to face with crises of his own .
`` There was an Iranian player who met the team in Germany , where he played , '' remembers Meredith .
`` He was leaving his club after this tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said , I need to return my key so I get my deposit back .
`` I 'm like , 'what the hell am I going to do ? '
I wrote on a piece of paper to the head of delegation , 'the United States Soccer Federation and Thomas P. Meredith take no responsibility for this player missing the flight . '
`` He signed it , I signed it .
It basically said , if he ca n't get back to where we 're standing right now , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thom 's fault . ''
The player did make it , but then , just before boarding the flight to Chicago , Meredith was told that nearly half the delegation had flights that had not been paid for .
`` It was around 3am in Chicago .
Who was I going to call ?
If I called somebody , what were they going to do ?
They 'd probably hang up on me anyway , '' says Meredith .
There was only one answer .
He would have to foot the $ 13,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , and keep the receipt somewhere very safe .
`` My company credit card had a $ 5,000 limit .
My personal credit card had a $ 30,000 limit .
So I 'm standing there , flipping the imaginary coin , thinking : ' I 've got to do this , but am I going to get my money back ? '
'' He did , as well as an upgrade to Business Class ; reward for getting the relieved desk staff out of a serious hole .
For a few hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air , out of reach of destructive phone calls and on their way to America .
But when they landed at Chicago 's O'Hare airport , what everyone had prayed would not happen , happened .
`` At immigration , we had a separate lane because they knew this was a special deal , '' says Meredith .
`` The agent started with the first guy , and they brought the ink pad out and said we need a fingerprint and we 're going to take your photo .
`` Immediately , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'We 're going home .
We 're done .
You lied . '
`` I said , 'Leave it with me , we 've got this . '
'' Like a conjurer , Meredith produced a letter from the head of the Chicago Immigration and Naturalisation Service , saying the Iranians were exempted .
So Iran 's footballers became only the second sporting delegation from the country , after a wrestling squad five years earlier , to set foot on American soil since the 1979 revolution .
The players ' liaison officer was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1972 , he had joined a growing number of Iranian students who moved to the United States .
Despite his academic expertise in chemical engineering , football was his passion .
After his playing ambitions were ended by a serious knee injury , he became a referee and officiated at the 1998 World Cup .
By January 2000 , he had become director of referees at US Soccer .
But as an Iranian football fan , he was living the dream .
`` I was with the players the entire time , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they arrived to the day they got on the plane to leave .
`` We took them on tours , we went shopping with them , anything that needed to be done .
We went on a tour of Universal Studios , the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard street in San Fransisco .
`` I just wanted to make sure that they enjoyed themselves , and I have to give a lot of credit to both federations .
`` Hank Steinbrecher was a real man of the world .
He saw the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make their stay comfortable .
`` The games are won and lost , but for me it 's about the humanity and to see that game played with peace and friendship made me more proud than anything .
The whole idea was that in 90 minutes of football , we can move the relationship between the two countries years ahead . ''
Now that the Iranians were finally on US soil , a covert security operation swung into action .
`` We had people who were undercover , watching and knowing where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not in an intrusive manner , '' says Baharmast .
`` If you did n't know they were there , you would n't have known who they were . ''
In their first two games , Iran beat Ecuador 2-1 and lost by the same score to Mexico , both times in front of raucous Iranian-American fans .
But as the match against the USA approached , joyous mingling turned into heightened awareness as danger slinked in the shadows .
The Iranians started receiving phone calls to their hotel rooms from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to play and threats if they did were made .
`` Two days before the match , the Iran coach Mansour Pourheidari said someone had called him and offered him $ 1m to pull out , '' says Masoudi , who had taken leave from a new job in London to be with the team .
A call to Iranian football president Mohsen Safaei Farahani , claiming to be from the highest authority in Iran , threatened to down the delegation 's flight home if the match went ahead .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Masoudi .
`` He stood very firm and said : 'The people you claim to represent know where I am .
They have my phone number and they can call me directly themselves . '
'' One theory , which was taken seriously , was that alcohol sponsorship at the match had offended the religious sensitivities of the threat-makers .
The main match sponsor was due to be Anheuser-Busch , the company that brews Budweiser lager .
At a meeting on the eve of the match , the US Soccer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I said , well I know the guys at Anheuser-Busch , I 'll make good , '' says then US Soccer General-Secretary , Hank Steinbrecher .
`` I 'll give them more [ advertising ] signs another day .
Nothing 's worth putting yourself at risk for , or this match . ''
`` He said , as a soccer administrator , I know how difficult it is to bring sponsors onboard .
The loss of an event is the loss of face for you with sponsors , '' says Masoudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to hold back tears to finish the sentence . ''
Steinbrecher recalls : `` You want to talk about moral integrity ?
He showed me his colours .
I have to tell you , he was a solid man . ''
Nevertheless , steps were taken to protect the Iran players .
Roads outside the team hotel were closed , and nobody was allowed to park near the hotel , apart from one vehicle , according to Masoudi .
`` To make sure that the team would n't be followed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus outside the hotel , with 'Iran ' branding , '' he says .
The actual team bus was kept out of sight in the hotel 's deserted underground car park .
The decoy , with fake footballers onboard , left first .
As it began its journey , Iran 's national team was smuggled out through the kitchen and service lifts .
The Pasadena Rose Bowl had hosted two World Cup finals and the final of the 1984 Olympic football tournament .
But it is doubtful any of those occasions had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move that now carries a chilling resonance given what was to come 18 months later on 9/11 , the airspace above the stadium was closed in case someone was planning on flying a plane into it .
The tailgate parties that are a pre-match fixture of any American sporting event , when food and beer is served from cars , were all still there , but with a twist .
`` Instead of steaks and burgers , it was Iranian kebabs , '' says Masoudi .
`` Outside the stadium it looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you got closer and saw the people and smelled the food , it was clear that this was an American outing organised by Iranians . ''
One of the 50,181 fans present was Saeed Mousavian , who had travelled to Los Angeles from Colorado .
`` How many times do you get to watch your national team play ?
There was a feeling that this might not happen again , '' he says .
`` At that time I had an American girlfriend .
She went with me and painted her face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A blonde girl with the Iranian flag .
And I made her wear the Iranian shirt as well .
`` After the game they asked one of the American players if he would like to go to Iran and play a friendly .
He said , 'We do n't need to because we were in Iran today . '
`` It was just an awesome atmosphere .
Everybody was happy .
If the American team made a nice pass or tackle - even when they scored - we were cheering for it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but at the same time , it was a nice shot . ''
It was Iran 's up-and-coming winger Mehdi Mahdavikia who struck first .
Iran were then pegged back in the second half through midfielder Chris Armas 's equaliser .
A 1-1 draw was the diplomatic result that could n't be exploited politically .
But it did n't help to thaw relations between Iran and the United States , as so many people had hoped it might , and tension remains between the nations today .
`` We were naive , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were doing some really good things for both countries through our sport .
But then again , if you 're not going to have a higher calling , you should n't be involved . ''
The return fixture that was mentioned as part of the original plan is still to be played .
The USA were invited to a tournament called The Civilisations Cup in January 2001 , they to represent the new world and Iran , Egypt and Greece the old .
Their appearance fee was unaffordable for the Iranian Football Federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the friendly match that began the new millennium with hope for a better future was not all in vain .
`` I have on my floor a prayer rug which was a gift from the [ Iranian ] delegation , '' says Thom Meredith .
`` It 's one of my prized possessions .
In fact , if I had a fire in my house , I would probably grab that as one of the things to get out the door .
`` I 'm very proud of being a part of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitics and sport . ''
• None Want all the goals and talking points from Sunday 's Premier League games ?

Iran's visit to the United States took place two years after their World Cup group-stage win at France 98
Paris, 11 July 1998. On the eve of the World Cup final, in a first-floor room in a building on the Champs-Elysees, an idea for a football friendly was hatched that would lead to death threats, an FBI decoy and the closure of American airspace.
That night, a media reception by US Soccer to promote the United States' hosting of the 1999 Women's World Cup was in full swing.
As the gentle currents of small talk circulated among suited attendees, two acquaintances were brought face to face.
Mehrdad Masoudi was an Iranian coming to the end of his time working as the Canadian Soccer Association's communications director. Hank Steinbrecher was the General-Secretary of US Soccer. In football federations and confederations, very little happens without the signature of the 'GS'.
Three weeks earlier, the two men had been in Lyon to watch Iran beat the USA 2-1. This group-stage encounter was one of the most politically charged matches in World Cup history because of the enmity between the nations.
Iran had been under US sanctions since 52 diplomats were taken hostage in the American embassy in Tehran in 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-American Iranian monarch, the Shah.
But on the day of the match, in a US presidential address, Bill Clinton said he hoped it would be a step towards "ending the estrangement between our nations".
Meanwhile, before kick-off, the American players were showered with gifts from their opponents.
Irrespective of the result, the match had been a diplomatic triumph and the occasion was still fresh in the minds of Masoudi and Steinbrecher when they met, albeit for contrasting reasons.
"I said, 'Hank, how about repeating that?'" says Masoudi, who was well connected in Iranian football and wanted to help facilitate another match between the nations.
"Home and away games. Iran to come to the US next year, on the anniversary of this match, and you go to Iran the following year."
Steinbrecher liked the idea. And he saw another opportunity too.
"The World Cup match with Iran was the worst defeat during my tenure," he says.
"We hit the post three times. We didn't suffer from bad soccer, we suffered from bad citizenship during that tournament, so I wanted to make it right. They kicked our ass, let's go kick their ass."
There was also the optimistic hope of somehow bringing Iran and America closer through sport, as so-called ping-pong diplomacy had brought the United States and China closer in the 1970s.
With a handshake between Masoudi and Steinbrecher, the ball was rolling. Now they had to defy the political forces arrayed against them, and somehow make it roll up a mountain.
"Fate brought the two teams together to play the France 98 match," says Masoudi.
"This time, one side had to send an invitation to the other, who had to accept, and then both sides had to deal with their governments."
The first, most sensitive and totally non-negotiable condition set by the Iranians was a waiver that would exempt the delegation from being fingerprinted and photographed on arrival in the United States.
"I have seen 80-year-old grandmothers going through that, I saw my own mother going through that," says Masoudi.
"For someone who's not used to it, it feels like they're being treated like a criminal. I said to Hank, you have to talk to the State Department and US immigration to get an exemption."
For Steinbrecher, this was the moment of realisation that an idea bounced around among canapes in Paris would have to negotiate an assault course of problems before coming to fruition in California.
"[It felt like] there was a crisis almost every hour," he recalls. "It ranged from fingerprinting their players to the mullahs saying they're not going to play the match because of alcohol advertising inside the stadium.
"There were many, many hurdles to jump through and luckily we were naive enough to think we were doing some good for mankind."
Iran and USA players posed for a joint team photo and exchanged gifts before their World Cup meeting. Germany and Yugoslavia went through from their group
Originally, the first match was set for the summer of 1999 in Washington DC.
But the symbolism of playing in the city of the White House was too significant for the Iranian government, which did not authorise the team to travel to the United States.
Instead, the game was rescheduled for January 2000, at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, home to more than 500,000 Iranians who have nicknamed it Tehrangeles. It would be the final match in a three-game tour after friendlies against Ecuador and Mexico.
But two months out, in November 1999, the fingerprinting issue had become a seemingly insurmountable crisis. Thom Meredith, who was director of events for US Soccer, called Masoudi with the news that an exemption could not be secured.
Instead, the players would be fingerprinted and photographed in a private area of the airport in Chicago.
"I said 'Thom, this is an absolute no-no,'" recalls Masoudi. "If I tell Iran they will just cancel the games right now. The contract was signed on this condition and, as an Iranian, I wouldn't even ask this.
"It would have given the people who didn't want this to happen the excuse to stop the team from travelling."
The solution lay with the US Department of State - effectively America's Foreign Office. It remained intractable, until a mysterious intervention saw the Iranians granted exemption, with just weeks to go.
"I don't know what the chain of command was at that time, but my opinion is that this went very high up [in the US administration]," says Steinbrecher, who had been so long frustrated by the apparatchiks.
"We got it done, they got it done. But they did not see things through the same prism as our federation. There were not many people in the State Department tasked with international diplomacy through sport."
However, if Steinbrecher and his colleagues thought they were through the worst, they had reckoned without the complex machinery of the Iranian government, in which the president is not the biggest component.
As the new millennium dawned, and just days before Iran were due to fly, the next political crisis was played out in Tehran.
Hamid Estili (now Iran's Under-23 coach) poses outside his home after returning from the 1998 World Cup. He scored the opening goal in Iran's 2-1 win over USA
Under pressure from his political masters to pull the trip, Iran's reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, told the president of Iran's Football Federation, Mohsen Safaei Farahani, to call it off.
"But Safaei had signed the contract and US Soccer had secured the waiver so Iran was contractually obliged to travel," says Masoudi.
"The games were against quality opposition, and they were making over $200,000 for [playing] three games. Iran had never been paid this much to play friendlies."
Safaei Farahani stood firm. It was decided: the tour would go ahead. At this point, Thom Meredith became a key figure.
"I wasn't the guy who contacted different countries and asked for friendlies," says Meredith. "I was the guy who was told, hey, we're playing the Iranians, figure it out."
Meredith travelled to Frankfurt to meet the Iranian team as it transited en route to the United States. It was there, in the transit lounge, that he came face to face with crises of his own.
"There was an Iranian player who met the team in Germany, where he played," remembers Meredith.
"He was leaving his club after this tour and he showed me his apartment key. He said, I need to return my key so I get my deposit back.
"I'm like, 'what the hell am I going to do?' I wrote on a piece of paper to the head of delegation, 'the United States Soccer Federation and Thomas P. Meredith take no responsibility for this player missing the flight.'
"He signed it, I signed it. It basically said, if he can't get back to where we're standing right now, in the transit zone, it ain't Thom's fault."
The player did make it, but then, just before boarding the flight to Chicago, Meredith was told that nearly half the delegation had flights that had not been paid for.
"It was around 3am in Chicago. Who was I going to call? If I called somebody, what were they going to do? They'd probably hang up on me anyway," says Meredith.
There was only one answer. He would have to foot the $13,000 bill himself (worth about £14,600 today), and keep the receipt somewhere very safe.
"My company credit card had a $5,000 limit. My personal credit card had a $30,000 limit. So I'm standing there, flipping the imaginary coin, thinking: 'I've got to do this, but am I going to get my money back?'"
He did, as well as an upgrade to Business Class; reward for getting the relieved desk staff out of a serious hole.
For a few hours, the Iranian team were in the air, out of reach of destructive phone calls and on their way to America.
But when they landed at Chicago's O'Hare airport, what everyone had prayed would not happen, happened.
"At immigration, we had a separate lane because they knew this was a special deal," says Meredith.
"The agent started with the first guy, and they brought the ink pad out and said we need a fingerprint and we're going to take your photo.
"Immediately, the head of the Iran delegation said: 'We're going home. We're done. You lied.'
"I said, 'Leave it with me, we've got this.'"
Like a conjurer, Meredith produced a letter from the head of the Chicago Immigration and Naturalisation Service, saying the Iranians were exempted.
So Iran's footballers became only the second sporting delegation from the country, after a wrestling squad five years earlier, to set foot on American soil since the 1979 revolution.
A fan watches on as USA and Iran meet in Pasadena. The Iran flag he's holding is the one in use before the revolution of 1979
The players' liaison officer was Iranian-American referee, Esfandiar Baharmast. In 1972, he had joined a growing number of Iranian students who moved to the United States. Despite his academic expertise in chemical engineering, football was his passion.
After his playing ambitions were ended by a serious knee injury, he became a referee and officiated at the 1998 World Cup. By January 2000, he had become director of referees at US Soccer. But as an Iranian football fan, he was living the dream.
"I was with the players the entire time," he says. "From the moment they arrived to the day they got on the plane to leave.
"We took them on tours, we went shopping with them, anything that needed to be done. We went on a tour of Universal Studios, the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard street in San Fransisco.
"I just wanted to make sure that they enjoyed themselves, and I have to give a lot of credit to both federations.
"Hank Steinbrecher was a real man of the world. He saw the importance of this thing and did everything possible to make their stay comfortable.
"The games are won and lost, but for me it's about the humanity and to see that game played with peace and friendship made me more proud than anything. The whole idea was that in 90 minutes of football, we can move the relationship between the two countries years ahead."
Now that the Iranians were finally on US soil, a covert security operation swung into action.
"We had people who were undercover, watching and knowing where we were at any given moment, but not in an intrusive manner," says Baharmast.
"If you didn't know they were there, you wouldn't have known who they were."
In their first two games, Iran beat Ecuador 2-1 and lost by the same score to Mexico, both times in front of raucous Iranian-American fans.
But as the match against the USA approached, joyous mingling turned into heightened awareness as danger slinked in the shadows.
Iran's players training before their 2000 friendly match against USA at the Rose Bowl
The Iranians started receiving phone calls to their hotel rooms from a spurious Islamic group. Offers of bribes not to play and threats if they did were made.
"Two days before the match, the Iran coach Mansour Pourheidari said someone had called him and offered him $1m to pull out," says Masoudi, who had taken leave from a new job in London to be with the team.
A call to Iranian football president Mohsen Safaei Farahani, claiming to be from the highest authority in Iran, threatened to down the delegation's flight home if the match went ahead.
"I was there when he received this call," says Masoudi. "He stood very firm and said: 'The people you claim to represent know where I am. They have my phone number and they can call me directly themselves.'"
One theory, which was taken seriously, was that alcohol sponsorship at the match had offended the religious sensitivities of the threat-makers. The main match sponsor was due to be Anheuser-Busch, the company that brews Budweiser lager.
At a meeting on the eve of the match, the US Soccer Federation offered to switch to another sponsor.
"I said, well I know the guys at Anheuser-Busch, I'll make good," says then US Soccer General-Secretary, Hank Steinbrecher.
"I'll give them more [advertising] signs another day. Nothing's worth putting yourself at risk for, or this match."
But Safaei Farahani adamantly rejected the offer.
"He said, as a soccer administrator, I know how difficult it is to bring sponsors onboard. The loss of an event is the loss of face for you with sponsors," says Masoudi.
"I was translating and I had to hold back tears to finish the sentence."
Steinbrecher recalls: "You want to talk about moral integrity? He showed me his colours. I have to tell you, he was a solid man."
Iran players, wearing the USA shirts they have swapped, acknowledge the Rose Bowl crowd after their 1-1 draw
Nevertheless, steps were taken to protect the Iran players. Roads outside the team hotel were closed, and nobody was allowed to park near the hotel, apart from one vehicle, according to Masoudi.
"To make sure that the team wouldn't be followed to the stadium, the FBI put a decoy bus outside the hotel, with 'Iran' branding," he says. The actual team bus was kept out of sight in the hotel's deserted underground car park.
The decoy, with fake footballers onboard, left first. As it began its journey, Iran's national team was smuggled out through the kitchen and service lifts.
The Pasadena Rose Bowl had hosted two World Cup finals and the final of the 1984 Olympic football tournament. But it is doubtful any of those occasions had the singular atmosphere of this friendly.
In a move that now carries a chilling resonance given what was to come 18 months later on 9/11, the airspace above the stadium was closed in case someone was planning on flying a plane into it.
The tailgate parties that are a pre-match fixture of any American sporting event, when food and beer is served from cars, were all still there, but with a twist.
"Instead of steaks and burgers, it was Iranian kebabs," says Masoudi.
"Outside the stadium it looked like a typical NFL occasion. But when you got closer and saw the people and smelled the food, it was clear that this was an American outing organised by Iranians."
One of the 50,181 fans present was Saeed Mousavian, who had travelled to Los Angeles from Colorado.
"How many times do you get to watch your national team play? There was a feeling that this might not happen again," he says.
"At that time I had an American girlfriend. She went with me and painted her face with the American and Iranian flags. A blonde girl with the Iranian flag. And I made her wear the Iranian shirt as well.
"After the game they asked one of the American players if he would like to go to Iran and play a friendly. He said, 'We don't need to because we were in Iran today.'
"It was just an awesome atmosphere. Everybody was happy. If the American team made a nice pass or tackle - even when they scored - we were cheering for it.
"I hated that they scored, but at the same time, it was a nice shot."
It was Iran's up-and-coming winger Mehdi Mahdavikia who struck first. Iran were then pegged back in the second half through midfielder Chris Armas's equaliser. A 1-1 draw was the diplomatic result that couldn't be exploited politically. But it didn't help to thaw relations between Iran and the United States, as so many people had hoped it might, and tension remains between the nations today.
"We were naive," says Steinbrecher. "We thought we were doing some really good things for both countries through our sport. But then again, if you're not going to have a higher calling, you shouldn't be involved."
The return fixture that was mentioned as part of the original plan is still to be played. The USA were invited to a tournament called The Civilisations Cup in January 2001, they to represent the new world and Iran, Egypt and Greece the old. Their appearance fee was unaffordable for the Iranian Football Federation.
Still, for its architects, the friendly match that began the new millennium with hope for a better future was not all in vain.
"I have on my floor a prayer rug which was a gift from the [Iranian] delegation," says Thom Meredith.
"It's one of my prized possessions. In fact, if I had a fire in my house, I would probably grab that as one of the things to get out the door.
"I'm very proud of being a part of it, as a student of history, geopolitics and sport."


bbc--2020-12-15--Hayabusa-2: Pieces of an asteroid found inside space capsule

Scientists had already been excited when they saw black grains from the asteroid caught at the entrance to the sample @ @ @ @ @ is stored ) on Monday .
And they were not disappointed when they opened it @ @ @ @ @ in size from pebbles to tiny particles of dust .

Scientists had already been excited when they saw black grains from the asteroid caught at the entrance to the sample catcher (where the material is stored) on Monday. And they were not disappointed when they opened it: Inside was material ranging in size from pebbles to tiny particles of dust.


bbc--2020-12-15--Coronavirus: How Europeans are preparing for Christmas and New Year

`` We need to bite this very sour apple before things get better .
And yes they will get better @ @ @ @ @ time when coronavirus will be behind us , when our lives will be normal again @ @ @ @ @

"We need to bite this very sour apple before things get better. And yes they will get better. There will come a time when coronavirus will be behind us, when our lives will be normal again," he said.