The Official Story (Spanish: La historia oficial) is a 1985 Argentine drama film directed by Luis Puenzo, and written by Puenzo and Aída Bortnik. It stars Norma Aleandro, Héctor Alterio, and Chunchuna Villafañe, among others. In the United Kingdom, it was released as The Official Version.^[1][2]

The film is about an upper middle class couple in Buenos Aires with an adopted child. The mother comes to realize that her daughter may be the child of a desaparecido, a victim of the forced disappearances that occurred during Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s.

Among several other international awards, it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 58th Academy Awards, being the first Latin American film to achieve it.^{[citation needed]}

Plot[link]

The film looks upon a married couple torn apart by the campaign of killings and torture that sent thousands of accused political leftists to unmarked graves in the mid 1970s during the period known as the Dirty War. It begins five years after Alicia (Norma Aleandro), a History high school teacher and, Roberto (Héctor Alterio), a wealthy businessman and lawyer with close ties to the military junta, had adopted a baby girl named Gaby (Analia Castro).

Alicia starts wondering about the real parents of Gaby, a topic her husband has told her to forget as it was a condition of the adoption. Yet, he knows the story of his daughter's adoption. While hard to believe, Alicia, as other members of the Argentine middle class, is not aware of how much killing and suffering has gone on in the country, until her students begin to complain that the "government approved" History books given to them were written by the regime's "assassins".

After Ana (Chunchuna Villafañe), Alicia's long time friend, returns from her exile in Europe, Alicia begins to do some serious political and personal research on her own. Ana had been tortured by ultra-right paramilitary forces loyal to the brutal Argentine regime for having lived with a so-called subversive man.

Alicia learns the identity of Gaby's grandmother, Sara (Chela Ruiz), who reveals the identity of the girl's disappeared parents. She finds out that her husband played a major role in the regime's repression and participated in intensive dealings with foreign business representatives. At a family dinner, Roberto has an intense political argument with his anarchist father and brother, where he uses the political point of view of the ruling conservative military elite, and his father and brother argue from the side of social justice.

The film suggests that Sara may not actually be Gaby's real grandmother, and briefly explores the fact that Gaby's true family may never be known. This juxtaposition of fact and emotion are meant to evoke the mood of hope and hopelessness in reaction to a war environment.

The film ends with a confrontation between Alicia and her husband. He wants her to forget about the past and look to the future. Upon his arrival, Roberto is told that Gaby is not home. In response to his inquiry, Alicia responds: "how does it feel not knowing where your child is?". Although she tells him that Gaby is at his mother's house, he becomes enraged and assaults her, but is interrupted by the telephone ringing. He answers it, and starts talking to Gaby. Alicia gets her purse to leave, indicating that she no longer can live with him.

The audience is left to wonder if Alicia will return Gaby to her real family or leave her with Roberto. However, the final shot of the film shows Gaby sitting in a wicker rocking chair at her adopted grandparents' house, singing a nursery rhyme. This clearly parallels the story Alicia tells earlier in the story about sitting in a rocking chair at her grandmother's house, waiting for her parents, not knowing that they had died in a car accident.

Cast[link]

• Héctor Alterio as Roberto Ibáñez
• Norma Aleandro as Alicia Marnet de Ibáñez
• Chunchuna Villafañe as Ana
• Hugo Arana as Enrique
• Guillermo Battaglia as José
• Chela Ruiz as Sara
• Patricio Contreras as Benítez
• María Luisa Robledo as Nata
• Aníbal Morixe as Miller
• Jorge Petraglia as Macci
• Analía Castro as Gaby
• Daniel Lago as Dante
• Augusto Larreta as General

Background[link]

The film is based on the real political events that took place in Argentina after Jorge Rafael Videla's reactionary military junta assumed power on March 24, 1976. During the junta's rule, the parliament was suspended; unions, political parties and provincial governments were banned; and, in what became known as the Dirty War, between 9,000 and 30,000 people deemed left-wing "subversives" disappeared from society.^[3]

Like many progressive actors and others in the country, the lead actress in the film, Norma Aleandro, was forced into exile during this time. She traveled to Uruguay first and Spain later. She returned after the fall of the military government in 1983.^[4] Aleandro once said, "Alicia's personal search is also my nation's search for the truth about our history. The film is positive in the way it demonstrates that she can change her life despite all she is losing."^[5]

The Official Story can be considered alongside a group of other films that were the first to be made in Argentina after the downfall in 1983 of the last Argentine dictator, General Galtieri, and his autocratic regime. These films deal frankly with the repression, the torture, and the disappearances during Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s and early 1980s; they include Funny Dirty Little War (1983) and Night of the Pencils (1986). A second group of films, which includes Verónico Cruz (1988) uses metaphor and hints at wider socio-political issues.^[6][7]

Production[link]

At first, director Puenzo, fearing for his safety, intended to shoot the film in secret, using hidden 16mm cameras. But the junta government fell right about the time the screenplay was completed.^[8]

The film was entirely shot in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, including the Plaza de Mayo where the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo congregated in the late 1970s with signs and pictures of desaparecidos who were subjected to forced disappearance by the Argentine military in the Dirty War. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo continue to protest every Thursday afternoon at 3:30 pm in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires.^[9]

Critical reception[link]

The film won many awards when first released and, as such, the drama was widely well received in the 1980s. Walter Goodman, film critic for The New York Times, believes the film was well balanced, and wrote, "Mr. Puenzo's film is unwaveringly committed to human rights, yet it imposes no ideology or doctrine. The further miracle is that this is the 39-year-old director's first feature film."^[10]

Critic Roger Ebert lauded the film in his film review, writing, "The Official Story is part polemic, part thriller, part tragedy. It belongs on the list with films like Z, Missing and El Norte, which examine the human aspects of political unrest. It is a movie that asks some very hard questions ... Alicia is played in the movie by Norma Aleandro, whose performance won the best actress award at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It is a performance that will be hard to forget, particularly since so much of it is internal. Some of the key moments in the film come as we watch Aleandro and realize what must be taking place inside her mind, and inside her conscience. Most political films play outside the countries that they are about; "The Official Story" is now actually playing in Argentina, where it must be almost unbearably painful for some of the members of its audiences. It was almost as painful for me."^[11]

Film critics Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, of the website Spirituality and Practice, were painfully touched by the story they viewed. They write, "The Official Story is a wrenching and painful drama that crystallizes the horror and the obscenity of political activities that annihilate family solidarity in the name of ideology...The Official Story packs a shattering visceral punch."^[12]

A few critics were dismissive of the story Puenzo tells. For example, The Chicago Reader's Dave Kehr thought "Puenzo's methods are so crudely manipulative ... that the film quickly uses up the credit of its good intentions."^[13]

Distribution[link]

The Official Story first opened in Argentina on April 3, 1985. It has also been featured at various film festivals including the Toronto Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Mar del Plata Film Festival.

Awards[link]

Wins

• Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Foreign Film; 1985.
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: LAFCA Award Best Foreign Film; (tied with Ran); 1985.
• New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award Best Actress; Norma Aleandro; 1985.
• Toronto International Film Festival: People's Choice Award, Luis Puenzo, 1985.
• Premios ACE: Premio ACE Cinema; Best Actress, Norma Aleandro; Cinema - Best Director, Luis Puenzo; Cinema - Best Film; 1986.
• Golden Globes: Best Foreign Language Film; 1986.
• Argentinian Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor; Best Actress, Norma Aleandro; Best Cinematography, Félix Monti; Best Director, Luis Puenzo; Best Editing, Juan Carlos Macías; Best Film; Best New Actress, Analía Castro; Best Original Screenplay, Aída Bortnik and Luis Puenzo; Best Supporting Actor, Patricio Contreras; Best Supporting Actress, Chela Ruiz; 1986.
• Berlin International Film Festival: Interfilm Award, Otto Dibelius Film Award, Luis Puenzo, (tied with Un Complicato intrigo di donne, vicoli e delitti); 1986.
• Cannes Film Festival: Best Actress, Norma Aleandro; Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Luis Puenzo; 1985.^[14]
• Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards: KCFCC Award Best Foreign Film; 1986.
• David di Donatello Awards: David Best Foreign Actress, Norma Aleandro; 1987.

Nominations

• Academy Awards: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen; 1985.
• Cannes Film Festival: Golden Palm, Luis Puenzo; 1985.
• Sant Jordi Awards: Sant Jordi Award; Best Foreign Actress, Norma Aleandro; 1987.

See also[link]

• Maria Eugenia Sampallo
• The Lost Steps (2001)
• Captive (2005)

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Official Story at Box Office Mojo
• La historia oficial at the Internet Movie Database
• La historia oficial at the cinenacional.com (Spanish)
• La historia oficial 20th Anniversary in Argentina (Spanish)
• The Official Story trailer at YouTube

v t e Cinema of Argentina Actors Awards Composers Directors Editors Films A–Z Cinematographers Festivals Producers Screenwriters Mar del Plata Film Festival Films by year: 1897–1929 1930s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

Ian Rush

Ian Rush in Singapore
Personal information
Full name	Ian James Rush
Date of birth	(1961-10-20) 20 October 1961 (age 50)
Place of birth	Flint, Wales
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1978–1980	Chester City	34	(14)
1980–1987	Liverpool	224	(139)
1987–1988	Juventus	29	(7)
1988–1996	Liverpool	245	(90)
1996–1997	Leeds United	36	(3)
1997–1998	Newcastle United	10	(0)
1998	→ Sheffield United (loan)	4	(0)
1998–1999	Wrexham	17	(0)
1999–2000	Sydney Olympic	3	(1)
Total		602	(254)
National team
1980–1996	Wales[1]	73	(28)
Teams managed
2004–2005	Chester City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Ian James Rush, MBE, (born 20 October 1961 in Flint) is a Welsh former footballer. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Wrexham and Sydney Olympic. Rush made 73 appearances for the Wales national football team and he remains the record goalscorer for Wales with 28 goals between 1980 and 1996.

Since retiring as a player in 1999, Rush has had a stint as manager of Chester City (2004–05), and has worked as a television football pundit. He was also very well known for his moustache.^[2][3]

Biography[link]

Rush's reputation was enhanced by scoring for Chester in a shock 2–0 FA Cup third round win at Second Division giants Newcastle United in January 1980, with Chester equalling their best run by reaching the last 16 where they narrowly lost to Ipswich Town two rounds later. His last game for Chester was a 2–1 win over Southend United at Sealand Road on 26 April 1980 in which he did not score.

Despite interest from Manchester City, and in spite of Rush being a boyhood Everton fan, Liverpool won the race to sign the 18-year old in April 1980, though he had to remain at Chester until the end of the season as the transfer deadline (27 March 1980) had now passed.

Manager Bob Paisley paid a record fee for a teenager of £300,000. It remained Chester's record sale until they went bankrupt in March 2010.

Rush was managed throughout his time at Chester by Alan Oakes, although much of the credit for his development is given to youth manager Cliff Sear. Nearly 20 years later, Rush and Sear worked together on the coaching staff at Wrexham.

Liverpool: 1980–1987[link]

Rush had actually made his international début, in May 1980, just before he officially became a Liverpool player. His Reds début came on 13 December that year in a First Division fixture at Portman Road against Ipswich Town. He was standing in for his future strike-partner, Kenny Dalglish (at the time one of the most highly-rated strikers in the world), and wore his No 7 shirt. Midfielder Jimmy Case scored Liverpool's only goal in a 1–1 draw. At this stage, Liverpool were defending the league title and the League Cup, and also contending for the European Cup, while Ipswich were emerging as surprise title contenders. Ultimately, Liverpool disappointed in the league and finished fifth (with Aston Villa winning the title), but they did win the European Cup (for the third time) and the League Cup (for the first time).

Rush was used sporadically during his first season at the club as Liverpool had a policy of bringing in young talent and playing them in the reserves to learn 'the Liverpool way'. Rush was treated no differently and had to begin his time at the club as a squad member rather than being thrown into the first team.

This learning period was hard and not at all 'Rush-like', as the goals did not flow, almost leading to the eager youngster leaving Anfield in the search of regular first-team football. But after a talk with the very shrewd Paisley, who told him to "be more selfish in front of goal", Rush decided to stay and fight for a place.

Rush's first goal for the club took time to arrive, but it eventually came on 30 September 1981 during a European Cup first round second leg tie at Anfield against Oulun Palloseura. Liverpool had already won the first leg at the Raatti Stadium 1–0, and the second leg proved to be a formality as they trounced the Finnish team 7–0, Rush scoring in the 67th minute after coming on three minutes earlier for David Johnson.

His first two league goals came on 10 October 1981 in a 3-0 home win over Leeds United, and a month later he scored in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in a 3-1 win. After Christmas however, Rush went into overdrive as Liverpool began a dramatic rise from mid table to the top of the table. He scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 away league win over Notts County on 26 January 1982, and was on the scoresheet in both of the next two games. He managed a total of eight goals in the League Cup (one of them in the final win over Tottenham Hotspur) and three of them in the FA Cup campaign which ended in a fifth round defeat by Chelsea.^[4]

He ended the season as the club's top scorer, netting 30 times in just 49 appearances in all competitions, a ratio of 1 goal every 1.6 games. 17 of these goals came in the League as he helped the Reds reclaim the League championship from holders Aston Villa. The title triumph was all the more impressive by the fact that Liverpool had entered 1982 in 10th place, with the likes of Manchester United and minnows Swansea City leading the pack then, before a turnaround in Liverpool's fortunes saw the league championship trophy return to Anfield after two years away. He also scored a goal to help Liverpool win the 1982 Football League Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur.

He was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1983 after inspiring Liverpool to a second successive First Division/League Cup double, though once again success eluded them in the European Cup. He scored 24 League goals as the Reds finished 11 points clear of runners-up Watford and were virtually uncontested in the title chase in the later part of the season. On 6 November 1982 Rush scored four goals against Everton in a 5–0 victory, a post-war record for goals by a single player in a Merseyside derby.^[5]

The League Cup (Liverpool's third successive triumph in this competition) was added through a 2–1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United after extra time at Wembley. He was voted PFA Player of the Year and BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1984 as Liverpool retained both the League and the League Cup and won the European Cup to complete a unique treble that season.^[6] It was no surprise that Rush also added the Football Writers Footballer of the Year to the PFA award he had already claimed - the same feat that his strike partner Kenny Dalglish had achieved a year earlier.

He scored 47 goals in 65 games (making him the highest goalscorer in all competitions for any professional club that season), a goal every 1.4 matches, as Liverpool finished three points clear of closest rivals Southampton in the League, beat derby rivals Everton 1–0 in the replayed final of the League Cup (after a 0–0 draw in the first ever all-Merseyside final), and won their fourth European Cup by defeating AS Roma 4–2 on penalties (Rush made it 3–2 before Bruce Grobbelaar's famous 'jelly legs' antics) following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

The 1984–85 season was Liverpool's first trophyless season in ten years, though they did reach their fifth European Cup final against Juventus at the Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium. This final was to end in disaster as, before the match kicked off, rioting football hooligans caused a retaining wall to collapse, killing 39 Juventus supporters. It was only natural that this affected the players (including Rush), who surprisingly were ordered to play the final in spite of this terrible tragedy. The game, with both teams not totally committed or fully caring about the result, ended in a 1–0 win for Juventus. Liverpool were beaten to the title by neighbours Everton, who were crowned champions with four matches to spare. The sequel to the ban was an indefinite ban on all English clubs in European competition, with Liverpool set to serve an extra season once the ban was lifted on other English clubs. This meant that Rush and Liverpool were unable to compete in the 1985–86 UEFA Cup.

The 1985–86 season was much better for the Reds and Rush. He scored twice as Liverpool beat Southampton 2–0 in the FA Cup semi-final at White Hart Lane, booking a place at Wembley to face neighbours Everton in the first all-Merseyside FA Cup final. The Reds had just pipped their city rivals to the League title (which had also been contested with the likes of West Ham United and Manchester United) by beating Chelsea (another team who had given them a run for their money earlier in the title race) 1–0 at Stamford Bridge, so the already monumental final was doubly important for both sides. If the Reds won, it would make them the fifth team to have won the double (and only the third to have done so in the 20th century). If Everton won, not only would they stop their arch rivals from completing the double but also win the major trophy that their football had, in many eyes, deserved. The Blues opened the scoring when Gary Lineker outpaced Alan Hansen to shoot past Grobbelaar at the second attempt and held this lead until half-time as Liverpool struggled to find their usual rhythm.

But after the half-time team-talk by the now player/manager, Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool looked a different side in the second half. With Rush leading the line brilliantly, they drew level in the 57th minute when he latched onto a defence splitting pass from Jan Mølby to round Everton goalkeeper Bobby Mimms and slot the ball into an empty net. Six minutes later, Mølby was again at the heart of another attack. Picking the ball up inside the Everton penalty area, he gained a yard of space and drilled a perfect cross for Craig Johnston to score. Liverpool were now 2–1 up, but the game was in the balance until the 84th minute, when Ronnie Whelan led another attack. With the game stretched, he picked the ball up and drove towards the edge of the Everton area. Dalglish made a run across his path into space, but Whelan used it as a dummy and clipped an exquisite ball over three Everton defenders into the path of Rush who, from the angle of the six-yard area, thumped the ball past Mimms, knocking over a camera in the process. Liverpool held on to win 3–1 and completed the first (and so far only) League and FA Cup double in the club's history. Rush added the Man of the Match award to his winner's medal. However, the ban on English clubs in European competition was continued, and Rush was unable to have a crack of winning another European Cup in 1986–87.

Since Dalglish's appointment as player manager in the 1985 close season, Rush had often found himself partnered with Paul Walsh in the Liverpool first team as Dalglish selected himself as a player less frequently.

Juventus, 1987–1988[link]

After attracting much interest from top European sides, Rush accepted an offer to sign for Italian club Juventus on 2 July 1986. However, he would continue to play at Liverpool for one season on loan before making his début for Juventus. He was the second highest goalscorer in the Football League for the 1986-87 season with 30 First Division goals, but failed to win any major trophies as the Reds finished second to Everton in the league and lost to Arsenal in the League Cup final.[7]

The move was seen by many^[who?] as a deal to help the healing process after Heysel and to re-open friendly links between the clubs.^{[citation needed]} Rush was one of many notable English-based players who moved abroad during the mid and late 1980s, attracted overseas by the prospect of the higher wages as well as the chance to play in European competition as English clubs were still barred.

However it was viewed, it was a new challenge for Rush, who would have the task of unlocking the much tighter defences in Serie A. Unfortunately, his time at Juventus was less than successful, as he scored only eight times in 29 games; though this partly explained by the Italian tradition at this time of tighter defences meaning that strikers tended to score fewer goals in Italy than they did in England.^[7]

He had a hard time settling in Turin, once allegedly remarking, "It's like living in a foreign country."^[8] However in his autobiography Rush says that this was a joke made up by Kenny Dalglish, then in an interview published in The Irish Times in 2008, claimed that the quote was in fact fictional.^[9]

After just one season at the Stadio Comunale, he returned to Anfield, rejoining Liverpool for £2.7m on 18 August 1988 – a record signing for an English club at the time, which remained unbroken for three years. It was the third time that summer that the national transfer record had been broken.

The news of Rush's imminent return was given to Liverpool fans before they journeyed south to London for yet another Charity Shield match. Before the game started, they were in full voice. However, this time they had a new song: "Rushie is back, Rushie is back".

Although the Liverpool team of 1987–88 had played some outstanding football, such was Rush's stature amongst the Anfield faithful, they were pleased to see him return to the club.

Rush's departure from Liverpool had sparked the acquisition of new strikers John Aldridge (whose physical resemblance to Rush was often remarked upon) and Peter Beardsley, and on his return to the Liverpool side he was partnered alongside these players to form a 4–3–3 formation. Rush's former strike partner Kenny Dalglish (who had been appointed player-manager in 1985) was still registered as a player but now he was in his 37th year and rarely played in the first team, retiring completely in 1990.

Rush published a diary of his frustrating time in Italy titled My Italian Diary, 1989. In it, he reflected on his struggles to integrate himself in the dressing room at Juventus and adapt to the Italian style of play.

Second spell at Anfield, 1988–1996[link]

Rush had serious competition for the striking berth alongside Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge, who came to Anfield as a replacement for Rush. It was deemed that the pair were too similar in style to be able to play together. Aldridge started the season in front of Rush and consistently scored goals, thus keeping the Welshman on the bench. As the season progressed, Rush came into some form. Rush had again scored twice against Everton in a thrilling 3–2 win in the 1989 FA Cup Final. He came off the bench to replace Aldridge, who had opened the scoring for Liverpool in the fourth minute of the game. The sides were locked at 1–1 after 90 minutes, but Rush put the Reds ahead in the fourth minute of extra time. Everton midfielder Stuart McCall then scored his, and the Toffees', second equaliser, but Rush came up with the goods once more with an incisive finish in the 103rd minute to win the Cup for Liverpool.

The 1989 FA Cup Final carried even greater significance because of the events of 15 April that year. In the semi-final, Liverpool had been drawn against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday. However, the game was brought to an abrupt end at 3.06pm due to the unfolding disaster. 94 fans were crushed to death that day, with the final death toll eventually reaching 96. Rush, along with his team-mates, attended many of the funerals.

Rush featured in the 1989 League title decider against Arsenal at Anfield. The Gunners needed to win by a two goal margin to become champions, with a last-minute Michael Thomas goal famously giving them the title. Rush was injured during the first half of the game and had to be replaced by Peter Beardsley.

At the end of that season, UEFA voted for the ban on English teams in European competitions to continue for at least one more season, meaning that Rush and his team-mates would be unable to challenge for the Cup Winners' Cup.

The players and staff of Liverpool Football Club, including Rush, were commended for their exemplary behaviour during the darkest days in the club's history. Everton fans were immensely supportive of their neighbours during this bleak period and the fact that Liverpool would meet their side in the Wembley final made for the perfect match. The fans once again stood side by side in their blue and red colours and did the city and people of Liverpool proud, as did the players and officials of both clubs.

The 1989–90 season saw Rush win another League title, his fifth and last, as Liverpool finished nine points clear of Aston Villa, with Rush scoring 18 times in 36 games. However, another bid for the League–FA Cup double failed as the Reds suffered a shock FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace, even though Rush had given the Reds the lead with a goal in the 14th minute. The game ended in a 4–3 defeat, even more incredible considering that Liverpool had crushed the newly promoted South Londoners 9–0 in a league game earlier in the season.

Although the ban on English clubs in European competition was lifted for the 1990–91 season, Liverpool were unable to compete in the 1990–91 European Cup as UEFA ruled that they would have to serve an extra year.

1990–91 saw Rush continue to score regularly and Liverpool led the table from the start of the season until January, but they were then overhauled by Arsenal and on 22 February 1991 Dalglish announced his resignation as manager. He was replaced by Graeme Souness but the change of manager was not enough to prevent the league title from slipping away from Anfield. Shortly after Dalglish's resignation, Liverpool were eliminated from the FA Cup in the fifth round by neighbours Everton, seeing their double hopes eliminated for the fourth season running (though this time at a much earlier stage).

However, Liverpool finished second and were finally readmitted to European competition, qualifying for the UEFA Cup and giving Rush and his team-mates their first chance of European action since 1984–85.

In 1992, he picked up a third FA Cup winners' medal, scoring Liverpool's second goal, in the 67th minute, in the 2–0 win against Second Division Sunderland at Wembley. This gave Rush and his colleagues another chance of European football, this time in the shape of the Cup Winners' Cup.

In the League, injuries restricted him to just 18 League games and three goals that season. However, his third goal came in a crucial 2–0 home win over Manchester United on 26 April 1992 which denied their arch-rivals the championship, the title going instead to Leeds United. Surprisingly, this was the first time he had scored against Manchester United. Liverpool managed only a sixth-place finish in the league that season, the first time since 1981 that they had not finished champions or runners-up.

1992–93 was perhaps Liverpool's hardest season since beginning their current top flight tenure in 1962. They failed to mount a challenge for the new Premier League title, and as late as March they stood 15th in the table. Dismal form in the league had seen Rush dropped from the first eleven, with Souness favouring the likes of Ronny Rosenthal and Paul Stewart, but Rush returned to his peak during the final weeks of the season and he finished the season as the club's top scorer with 14 league goals. He topped the goalscoring charts once again in 1993–94, beginning the season with Nigel Clough as his strike-partner until the brilliant young Robbie Fowler broke into the first team. It was another disappointing season for Liverpool, however, as they continued to perform unremarkably in the Premier League and manager Graeme Souness stepped down in late January following a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol City. Long-serving coach Roy Evans took over as manager. Liverpool finished eighth in the league, once again missing out on European competition.

Rush picked up his fifth League Cup winner's medal in 1995, when two goals from Steve McManaman ended Bolton Wanderers' dreams of a shock result, Liverpool running out 2–1 winners. Earlier in the competition Rush scored a hat trick as Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, the team who would go on to win the Premier League that season. Liverpool themselves achieved their best league finish since 1991, as they finished fourth in the Premier League.

The 1995 close season saw Liverpool pay a national record fee of £8.4million for Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore, putting Rush's future at Anfield under serious doubt. However, he began the season as Liverpool's first choice striker alongside Collymore, only to surrender his place in the first eleven to Robbie Fowler as the season wore on.

Inevitably, his loss of a regular place in the first team sparked rumours of a transfer during the season. Peter Reid, formerly a key player at Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton, made an offer to Liverpool to sign Rush on loan in January 1996, but Liverpool manager Roy Evans rejected this offer, despite having not fielded Rush in his first eleven for two months, saying that he needed Rush as cover for Fowler and Collymore.^[10]

In late February 1996, it was announced that Rush would be leaving Anfield on a free transfer when his contract expired on 1 June. Numerous clubs were quick to express an interest in signing him. These included Everton, Sunderland, Oldham Athletic, Swansea City,^[11]Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Celtic, Sheffield United and Tranmere Rovers.^[12]

His long association with the Reds ended with a substitute appearance in the 1996 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. A hugely disappointing game looked to be heading for extra time and even a replay until Eric Cantona popped up with a late winner to give the Old Trafford side a 1–0 victory. Sadly Rush's last touch of the ball in a Liverpool shirt was when it bounced off his shoulder to set Eric Cantona up for his winning goal.

Later career, 1996–2000[link]

Rush said farewell to Anfield on 20 May 1996 when he agreed to sign for Leeds United. Rush spent a season with the Yorkshire side but scored just three times in 36 Premier League games and was given a free transfer at the end of the 1996–97 campaign.

He had been brought to Elland Road by manager Howard Wilkinson, who was sacked a month into the season to be replaced by George Graham.

He then linked up with Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle United on a one-year contract but lost his place in the side after Christmas, when Alan Shearer returned from a long-term injury. However, Rush did score an important goal in a 1–0 win over Everton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, his 43rd in the competition (a 20th-century record). He scored one other goal for Newcastle in a League Cup tie with Hull City.^[13]

He had a loan spell with Sheffield United later in the season, before leaving St James's Park in the summer of 1998 to sign, amid much fanfare, for Wrexham. The 37-year-old Rush failed to score in 18 Division Two starts for the North Wales club, and was moved into midfield towards the end of the season. He made a brief playing comeback with Sydney Olympic in Australia, scoring one goal in three games, before finally retiring, aged 38, in 2000.

Chester manager, 2004–2005[link]

After working as a part-time striker's coach for Liverpool under Gerard Houllier in 2003,^[14] he was appointed manager of his first professional club, Chester City (by this time in Football League Two), in August 2004. Chester had made a dreadful start to their first season back in the Football League and Rush had a hard time at the helm. After losing 3–1 at Boston United in their first game in charge, they strung together a two month unbeaten run and he led the club to the FA Cup third round. Rush seemed to be answering his critics, including former Liverpool team-mate Mark Lawrenson, who doubted whether his tactical and coaching abilities could match his striking history.^[15]

But after Rush ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Welsh manager's job on 1 November 2004 things never seemed to go as well. Several heavy defeats were inflicted and Rush was criticised for the physical and long-ball tactics his managerial team opted to use. Despite pressure from chairman Stephen Vaughan, Rush refused to resign after a humiliating 5–0 loss to neighbours Shrewsbury Town in February 2005. But when Vaughan sacked Aizlewood in April (after a 1–0 defeat at Darlington), Rush resigned on principle. By the point of his resignation, Chester were virtually safe from relegation.^[16] His spell in charge saw youngsters such as Robbie Booth, Michael Walsh and Shaun Whalley all given their Football League debuts, while players including Michael Brown, George Elokobi and Robbie Foy all spent time on loan at the club.

Rush was interviewed for the Peterborough United manager's job shortly after this but lost out to Mark Wright, who had played in the same Liverpool team as Rush from 1991 to 1996, and had preceded Rush as Chester manager.^[17]

Media career and other activities, 2005 to present[link]

In 2005, at the age of 43, Rush considered coming out of retirement to play for TNS, after the Welsh side were drawn against Liverpool for their opening round Champions League qualifying match, but later decided against this.

Since November 2005, Rush has been involved in media work within the game, including a stint as an analyst with ESPN. He also appears as a pundit and reporter for Sky Sports and Sky Sports News. he has also done work on LFCTV

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

Rush was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006 due to his achievements in the game.

Rush can still be seen wearing the red of Liverpool as he regularly appears for the Masters five-a-side team and as one of Liverpool's 'old boys' on public relations tours for the club.

On 7 September 2007 it was announced that Rush had been appointed Elite Performance Director for the Welsh Football Trust, a part-time role in which he would help develop the next generation of players for Wales' national teams.^[18]

Rush released his autobiography on 21 August 2008, Rush: The Autobiography, through Ebury Press.^[19]

On 26 April 2010, it was announced that Rush had returned to work with Liverpool F.C., becoming the Club's new Soccer Schools Ambassador and it was announced he would also work with the Club's commercial team to help develop and support partnerships with other global sponsors and brands.^[20]

International career[link]

Rush made his Welsh debut before he had been handed his first start for Liverpool, playing his first match on 21 May 1980 against Scotland. Rush played regularly for the Welsh national team scoring a record 28 goals in 73 games, finally ending his international career in 1996.

Unfortunately during his career the team never qualified for a major tournament, although in 1991 he scored the winning goal in a memorable Euro 1992 qualifier against Germany on 5 June 1991.^[21] Wales would narrowly miss out on qualifying for the finals, as happened during Rush's career for World Cups in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and Euro 1984, Euro 1988. This puts him in a group with other football legends such as George Best, George Weah, Jari Litmanen and fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs to have never played in a major international tournament.

Another famous international winner by Rush was in a friendly against Italy in Brescia in June 1988. After a largely disappointing year in Italy, Rush helped silence his critics by bagging the only goal as Wales claimed a shock 1–0 win.

Personal life[link]

Rush has been married to his wife Tracy since 1987,^[22]and they have two sons, John and Daniel.^[23]John signed for Welsh Premier League side NEWI Cefn Druids in January 2009 at the age of 19, as a striker.^[24]

Career statistics[link]

* Cup - National Cup & League Cup
* Other - National Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Super Cup ScreenSport, Football League Trophy & Play-Off Games

International goals[link]

Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first.^[25]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	27 May 1982	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Northern Ireland	3–0	3–0	1982 British Home Championship
2.	2 June 1982	Stadium Municipal, Toulouse	France	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3.	22 September 1982	Vetch Field, Swansea	Norway	1–0	1–0	Euro 1984 qualifier
4.	15 December 1982	Stadion Pod Goricom, Titograd	Yugoslavia	2–3	4–4	Euro 1984 qualifier
5.	23 February 1983	Wembley Stadium, London	England	1–0	1–2	1983 British Home Championship
6.	12 October 1983	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Romania	1–0	5–0	Friendly
7.				3–0
8.	26 February 1985	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Norway	1–1	1–1	Friendly
9.	27 March 1985	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Scotland	1–0	1–0	1986 World Cup qualifier
10.	30 April 1985	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Spain	1–0	3–0	1986 World Cup qualifier
11.				3–0
12.	26 March 1986	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	Republic of Ireland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
13.	1 April 1987	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Finland	1–0	4–0	Euro 1988 qualifier
14.	29 April 1987	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham	Czechoslovakia	1–1	1–1	Euro 1988 qualifier
15.	1 June 1988	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Valletta	Malta	3–2	3–2	Friendly
16.	4 June 1988	Stadio Mario Rigamonti, Brescia	Italy	1–0	1–0	Friendly
17.	17 October 1990	Ninian Park, Cardiff	Belgium	1–1	3–1	Euro 1992 qualifier
18.	14 November 1990	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	1–0	1–0	Euro 1992 qualifier
19.	5 June 1991	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff	Germany	1–0	1–0	Euro 1992 qualifier
20.	20 May 1992	Stadionul Național, Bucharest	Romania	1–5	1–5	1994 World Cup qualifier
21.	9 September 1992	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Faroe Islands	1–0	6–0	1994 World Cup qualifier
22.				4–0
23.				6–0
24.	31 March 1993	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Belgium	2–0	2–0	1994 World Cup qualifier
25.	6 June 1993	Svangaskarð, Toftir	Faroe Islands	3–0	3–0	1994 World Cup qualifier
26.	8 September 1993	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Czechoslovakia	2–1	2–2	1994 World Cup qualifier
27.	13 October 1993	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Cyprus	2–0	2–0	1994 World Cup qualifier
28.	23 May 1994	Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn	Estonia	1–0	2–1	1994 World Cup qualifier

Career honours[link]

Club honours (all with Liverpool)[link]

Winner

• First Division 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990
• FA Cup 1986, 1989, 1992
• League Cup 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995
• Charity Shield 1982, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1991
• European Cup 1984

Personal honours[link]

• PFA Young Player of the Year 1983
• PFA Players' Player of the Year 1984
• FWA Footballer of the Year 1984
• FWA Team of the Year 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1991
• European Golden Boot 1984
• First Division top goalscorer 1984
• Liverpool FC top goalscorer: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994

Records[link]

• Second highest FA Cup scorer of all time, and highest in 20th century FA Cup with 44 goals (39 for Liverpool, 4 for Chester City, 1 for Newcastle United). Only Henry "Harry" Cursham of Notts County scored more – 49 goals between 1877 and 1888.
• Record FA Cup Final goalscorer with 5 goals.
• Joint record League Cup goalscorer with 49 goals (48 for Liverpool), shared with Geoff Hurst.
• First player to pick up 5 League Cup winners medals.
• Record Welsh international goalscorer with 28 goals.
• Record Liverpool goalscorer with 346 goals.
• Third top goalscorer in League football for Liverpool with 229 goals, behind Roger Hunt (245 goals) and Gordon Hodgson (233 goals).
• Record Merseyside derby goalscorer with 25 goals for Liverpool against Everton.
• Record transfer sale for Chester City (£300,000).

References[link]

General

• Rush, Ian (21 August 2008). Rush: The Autobiography. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-192805-6. 
  • Paperback (2009): ISBN 978-0-09-192806-3

Specific

Awards
Preceded by Colin Jones	BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 1984	Succeeded by Steve Jones