Personal Profile
Birth Date: December 14, 1979
Height: 1.74m
Nationality: England
Weight: 62kg
Place of Birth: Chester, England
Home: Hawarden
Best Friend: Craig Robinson
Best Friend in Squad1: Jamie Carragher
Hobby: Golf
Position: Striker2
Squad No: Liverpool—10
England —20
First Goal: May 6, 1997 for Liverpool against Wimbledon
Q: Mike, like any football enthusiast you must have had, and have, a favourite player． Who would that be?
A: Eh, my favourite player was probably Gary Lineker3 when I was a kid. Then, when I grew up it was Robbie Fowler4 and Ian Rush. They were the players I was trying to learn from. My boyhood favourite was Gary Lineker.
Q: France ＇98 was the scene of your famous goal against Argentina． How did that goal change your life?
A: Yes, it did change my life. Well a lot of people knew me, a lot of people in England, Malta, Norway and a lot of countries who support Liverpool knew me，but that goal was a platform to everyone. I mean, everyone watches the World Cup. Every sports fan, every football fan who had not heard of me then thought I was a better player.
Q: Since being at Liverpool, who has been the most influential person?
A: I think that I have been under the watch of Steve Heighway5 since I was eleven until I broke into the first team. For a short period I was with Sammy Lee in the reserves6, where I played twelve games. There weren't too many who made that jump into the first team. Roy Evans7 and Ronnie Moran8 both had quite an influence. Later there were Gerard Houllier9, Patrice Bergues10 and Sammy Lee11 who still is an influence. So for a long period of time I reckon that Steve Heighway meant an awful lot.
Q: At Liverpool, nowadays, the squad is made up of quite a few internationals, ranging from Germany, Finland, Holland and Cameroon． Do you feel that these players from different countries tend to unsettle the team＇s working relationship?
A: No. Not if you don't want that to happen. If you make sure it doesn't happen, if you treat them as one of the lads, if they come and speak the language it is not a problem. If they don't speak English you can't get to talk to them, can't get to know them at all. If you speak English and become part of the team, then you will have a good team spirit.
Q: With the present squad, how far do you think we could go this season?
A: This season, I think that our aim is the Champions League12. Finishing second would be a bonus, first unbelievable, beyond anybody's dreams. I think the Champions' League is the main aim. If we pick up a trophy13, that will be a bonus. We have got a lot of cups to go for and I think the club will be disappointed if we do not pick up any trophy and not qualify14 for the Champions' League.
Q: What are your personal expectations?
A: Myself? Stay injury free, stay in the team, keep the forward line well and keep the manager happy.
Q: Remain top－scorer?
A: Yeah, hopefully. I know that if I keep playing well, and I keep improving my game, I will score loads of15 goals. I think it is just a matter of keeping fit and keeping in the right frame of mind.
Q: Despite your young age, you have already scored lots of goals for Liverpool． Which do you recall as the most memorable16?
A: Well, I don't know really. When I came back from the World Cup there was a lot of expectations on me. I think when I scored the third goal away at Newcastle17, it was the second game after I came from the World Cup. When you come from the World Cup you do not want anyone accusing you of being big-headed18 for not only playing for Liverpool in the Premier League19 but also in the World Cup, as that would not be the case. I think that scoring away at Old Trafford20, and I've been lucky enough to score twice, that was also memorable.
Q: Which is the best game you＇ve played in?
A: For Liverpool? Well, I think my best performance was away at Newcastle right after the World Cup. Not because I scored three but because it was a great team performance. This year there was Southampton21, but the best game I played in was against Newcastle. We always seem to do well against them: we won 4-3 a few times and another few close ones. It's always enjoyable playing Newcastle United.
Q: And for England?
A: Well, the World Cup was probably the most memorable and enjoyable for me, namely against Argentina.
Q: Two seasons ago you said that Steven Gerrard22 would become a great player． How highly do you regard this player? And if I were to ask you to compare him to a past Liverpool player, who would that be?
A: I think it is quite hard to compare him as a player. I think he has everything that you would want in a midfielder: he is fast, he is big, he is brilliant and he makes his presence felt. He is a great passer of the ball and probably his best attribute23 is that he can tackle24 as well as anyone. I would compare him to Patrick Vieira25 who plays for Arsenal. Hopefully when he reaches his peak he will become one of the world's best players, hoping he remains injury free.
Q: If I had to give you the choice to buy one player for Liverpool, who would that player be and why?
A: Well, it depends.
Q: You have an unlimited budget26．
A: In a fantasy27 team, it would definitely be Zidane28, but if from the Premier League I would go for a defender or a midfielder. I would go for Vieira or maybe Desailly29, but I would think Vieira is probably the one I would go for.
问：迈克，像任何足球狂那样，你过去一定有、现在也会有自己最喜欢的球员，他们是谁呢？
答：嗯，孩提时候，我最喜欢的球员是戈里·莱因克尔；长大了，是罗比·福勒和伊恩·拉什，他们都是我努力学习的榜样。我少年时期最喜欢的是戈里·莱因克尔。
问：98法国世界杯对阿根廷的比赛中，你表演了一个著名的进球，这粒进球怎样改变了你的生活呢？
答：不错，它的确改变了我的一生。你瞧，很多人认识我——在英格兰、马耳他、挪威，还有许多其他国家，凡支持利物浦的人都认识我，但是那粒进球对我而言是向大家表演的舞台，因为大家都在看世界杯。以前凡是没听说过我的体育爱好者和足球迷都认为我踢得更棒了。
问：加入利物浦队以来，谁对你的影响最大？
答：我觉得，从我11岁的时候史蒂夫·海维就很关注我，直到我进入一队。在不长的一段时间，我呆在萨米·李执教的后备队里，在那儿我踢了12场球。能很快跳入一队的人并不多。罗伊·埃文斯和罗尼·摩兰两人对我的影响也很大，后来有格拉德·霍利尔、帕崔斯·博格内斯，以及萨米·李，他到现在还影响着我。因此我想，在过去相当长的一段时间里史蒂夫·海维对我至关重要。
问：现在的利物浦队有许多国际球员，有来自德国、芬兰、荷兰和喀麦隆的，你觉得这些来自不同国家的球员会不会打乱利物浦队的团队协作？
答：不，如果你不想要它发生，就不会发生。如果你采取措施避免发生这样的事情，如果你将他们看作是我们中的一员，如果他们会说英语，就不会有什么问题。如果他们不会讲英语，你就不能同他们交流，就不能了解他们。如果你能讲英语，成为球队的一部分，那么就会形成很好的团队精神。
问：你认为现在这支队在这个赛季中会取得什么样的成绩？
答：这个赛季，我们的目标是欧洲冠军杯赛，能取得第二名将会是一场意外之喜，第一名是不可能的，谁也没有这种幻想。我觉得有资格参加欧洲冠军杯赛是主要的目标，如果我们能拿到奖杯，那将是意外之喜。我们有许多杯赛要参加，如果我们没有拿到任何奖，没有获得欧洲杯参赛资格，我想俱乐部会很失望的。
问：你个人有什么期望？
答：我自己？避免受伤，呆在队中，保持好前锋线，让经理开心。
问：继续当头号射手？
答：是呀，当然这么想。我知道只要我继续好好踢球，不断地提高自己的球技，我会进很多很多的球。关键是保持身体健康，保持一颗平常心。
问：尽管你还年轻，但你已经为利物浦队进了很多的球。哪一个你最难忘？
答：嗯，我真的不知道。从我参加世界杯回来后，人们对我有许多的期望。我记得在对纽卡斯尔上演帽子戏法的那场比赛，是我世界杯后踢的第二场球。世界杯赛回来后，我不想任何人骂我自高自大，因为我既代表利物浦队参加英超联赛，又参加世界杯——其实我不是那种人。我认为在曼联队的主场老特拉福德，我很幸运进了两球，也值得纪念。
问：哪场球是你踢得最好的？
答：在利物浦队？嗯，我觉得我表现最好的是世界杯赛后马不停蹄地客场挑战纽卡斯尔那场比赛。倒不是因为我进了三粒球，而是因为那是一场相当棒的团队表演。今年同南安普敦队的比赛也很棒，但最好的还是同纽卡斯尔那场球赛。同纽卡斯尔联队比赛我们似乎总是踢得不错，有几次以4：3的比分战胜他们，还有几场比分比较接近。同纽卡斯尔联队比赛总是很开心。
问：为英格兰国家队呢？
答：嗯，世界杯赛对我来说可能是最值得纪念、最开心的，我是指同阿根廷队的比赛。
问：两个赛季前，你说过斯蒂文· 杰拉德会成为一个伟大的球员，你对这位球员的评价为何这么高？如果要你拿他比做前利物浦队的一个球员，那这个人会是谁呢？
答：我认为很难拿他同谁相比。他拥有一个中场球员应有的素质：速度快，个子大，聪明，总让人感到他的存在。他球传得很棒，也许他最突出的特点是他的铲球技术不逊于任何人。我认为他像阿森纳队的帕特里克·维埃拉。当他到达巅峰状态的时候，他有望成为世界上最好的球员，希望他不要受伤。
问：如果我给你机会为利物浦队买进一位球员，那这个人会是谁呢？为什么？
答：嗯，那要看情况。
问：你的预算不受限制。
答：在一个梦幻球队中，当然少不了齐达内。但从超级联赛的角度看，我会找个后卫或中场，我会选择维埃拉或者德塞利，但我想我会要维埃拉。
1. squad n．球队
2． striker n．前锋
3． Gary Lineker 前英格兰队前锋戈里·莱因克尔
4． Robbie Fowler 罗比·福勒(后转入利兹联队)
5． Steve Heighway 史蒂夫·海维，1998－1999赛季利物浦队教练组教练员（青年队)
6． reserve n．后备队
7． Roy Evans 前利物浦及斯云顿(Swindon)队主教练罗伊·埃文斯
8． Ronnie Moran 罗尼·摩兰，前利物浦队后卫（1952－1969）、教练（1969－1999），利物浦队的传奇人物
9． Gerard Houllier 格拉德·霍利尔，利物浦队主教练
10．Patrice Bergues 帕崔斯·博格内斯，1998－1999赛季利物浦队教练组教练员
11．Sammy Lee 萨米·李，1998－1999赛季利物浦队教练组教练员
12．Champions＇ League 欧洲冠军杯赛
13．trophy n．战利品, 奖品
14．qualify v．取得资格
15．loads of 许多、大量
16．memorable adj．值得纪念的, 难忘的
17．Newcastle n．纽卡斯尔（地名及足球队名）
18．big－headed adj．自高自大的
19．the Premier League 英国超级联赛
20．Old Trafford 老特拉福德，曼联队的主场
21．Southampton n．南安普敦队
22．Steven Gerrard 斯蒂文·杰拉德， 利物浦队中场队员
23．attribute n．特征、特点
24．tackle v．铲球
25．Patrick Vieira 帕特里克·维埃拉，阿森纳队中场队员
26．budget n．预算
27．fantasy n．梦幻
28．Zidane 法国球星齐达内
29．Desailly 法国球星迪西里·德塞利