As former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva announces his retirement from the game, we look back at his 10-year spell that saw him win the League Cup in 2011/12.
Here are some of his most memorable moments at Liverpool.
5. Lucas wears the captain’s armband for the first time
It’s the dream of many players to play at a club like Liverpool. The honour is granted to few, but captaining the side is a moment that no player would forget.
Lucas Leiva first wore the armband in 2010 in a pre-season friendly versus Grasshoppers.
It may not have been a competitive fixture, but wearing the iconic armband still filled the Brazilian with pride.
He said to liverpoolfc.tv after the match “I felt good because it shows the people at the club have confidence in me.”
4. Lucas voted player of the season by the fans in 2010/11
Lucas initially struggled to adapt to the English game and whilst his first few seasons showed moments of quality, the defensive midfielder sometimes lacked consistency.
This changed in the 2010/11 season when he made 47 appearances for “The Reds”.
The midfielder found himself one of the first names on the team sheet with his consistent performances in the middle of the park.
His form earned him a new contract and his contribution was recognised by the fans.
They voted him their player of the season with 40% of the vote.
He told liverpoolfc.tv “I am very happy and really proud to have been picked by the fans. To be picked by the fans is really, really important for me.”
3. Lucas wins the League Cup in 2011/12
Lucas won his only trophy with Liverpool in the 2011/12 season when he lifted the League Cup.
It was the Brazillian’s first trophy since leaving his home country in 2007.
The moment was bittersweet for Lucas.
He was injured in the quarter final of the competition in December which put an end to his season and his dream of playing at Wembley.
Though he doesn’t regard himself as having won the trophy, fans will not begrudge him the honour and nor will the club.
Liverpool requested a winner’s medal was made for Lucas following their success in the competition.
Lucas would go on to play at Wembley in 2016, a League Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
2. Lucas’ (nearly) winner in Merseyside derby debut
Lucas had only made one appearance for Liverpool when with 20 minutes to go and the score level, “Reds” manager Rafa Benítez replaced captain Steven Gerrard with Lucas Leiva for his Merseyside debut.
It was a bold move that paid off. In stoppage time, the ball fell to Lucas in the box and he blasted it toward goal.
The ball was only stopped from hitting the back of the net by a handball from Everton defender Phil Neville.
This didn’t stop derby delight for Lucas as Dirk Kuyt scored the resulting penalty to give Liverpool the win 2-1 and secure a memorable derby debut for Lucas.
1. Unluckeeee!
Perhaps Lucas’ most memorable Liverpool moment that has endeared him to fans was for something off the pitch.
Liverpool made various weird and whacky videos that showed a lighter side to their players and one with future captain Jordan Henderson became iconic.
In 2013, the club posted a video of Henderson and Lucas participating in carnival games. With every mistake by Henderson, Lucas would shout “Unlucky!”.
The word became synonymous with the midfielder and Lucas would be on hand with his famous catchphrase for future videos whenever needed.
Clips of Lucas’ “Unlucky!” are often used on social media still today and will ensure that he won’t be forgotten by football fans in a hurry.
Lucky for us.
(Featured image by Alamy Images, under agreed licence)
