Hamann agrees new Liverpool deal
Dietmar Hamann has agreed a new one-year contract, with a year option, that will keep the 31-year-old German at Liverpool.
Hamann was one of the stars of the Champions League final triumph in Istanbul last month, his second-half appearance as a substitute helping to turn the game after the Reds had trailed 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time.
Liverpool’s remarkable comeback is now the stuff of football legend, as is Hamann’s part in that glory and the fact that he played during the second half and took his penalty shoot-out spotkick while suffering from a broken foot.
But it was known that his contract was up in the summer and he was expected to leave the club for either Bolton or Hamburg.
But Hamann, who is still having treatment for his injury, has held talks with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, and a new deal has now been agreed.
In a Liverpool Echo interview, Hamann said: “Once Liverpool made me an offer, there was only one place I wanted to play my football.
“I always said the first club I would speak to about my future was Liverpool because I wanted to stay.
“The gaffer said we would wait until after the final before we had a meeting and that’s what we did.
"We came to an agreement instantly. I’ll be here next season…. Hopefully for the next two years.
“I’m delighted the manager wanted to keep me. I read a lot about other clubs being interested, but I couldn’t imagine playing for any club in England.”
Hamann was offered a new deal mid-season but it was withdrawn by Benitez when he became disappointed that the German midfielder was delaying a decision to re-sign.
He was virtually being told to earn his new deal with top line performances, and few would doubt he did that in Turkey to take Liverpool to their fifth European Cup triumph.
Now he has his heart set on winning the one domestic honour he has not achieved since joining Liverpool from Newcastle in 1999.
Hamann, who has now played in both European finals as well as a World Cup final during his career, has also picked up the FA Cup and League Cup since moving to Anfield.
He says: “It’s going to be hard to challenge for the title in the next two seasons, but let’s give it a go.
"The Premiership is the only club competition I haven’t won since I joined Liverpool. I’m desperate for us to do it.
“The manager has achieved great things already by winning the Champions League and I know he’s planning to bring in new players for next season.
“If we can settle quickly and everyone starts working together tactically early on, who knows what can happen? Who would have predicted we would win the Champions League a year ago?
“Maybe we can surprise the top three. It’s going to be tough to do that, but I think we’ll improve a lot.”
