Profile

Norweigian fan favourite Vegard Heggem was a promising Reds right-back whose career was cut short due to a recurring hamstring injury.

Heggem started out with Rosenborg in his home country, announcing his name on the European stage with the winner at the San Siro in his team's sensational 2-1 victory over AC Milan to earn them passage to the 1996 Champions League quarter-finals.

His arrival at Anfield in July 1998 was unique: he was the only signing made during while Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier were briefly in joint control of Liverpool.

Vegard brought pace and skill to the right full-back position and figured 29 times for the Reds in the 1998-99 season, despite missing a month with a hamstring complaint. In November of that season, he was substituted in the 90th minute of a 2-0 win against Blackburn at Anfield for a young Scouser making his debut - a certain Steven Gerrard.

He was also a regular fixture in the first team in the following campaign, but his troublesome hamstring meant he spent more time in the stands than on the pitch. He recovered in time to represent Norway in the 2000 European Championships, but injury struck in his country's second game of the tournament and brought his 20-match international career to an end.

Although his fitness struggles led to an early retirement in 2003, Heggem amassed 65 appearances in a red shirt and scored three goals.

He remains a passionate Red and often attends games - including the 2005 Champions League Final while wearing a Liverpool tracksuit - when not in Norway tending to his salmon fishing business.

Other clubs:
Rennebu, Orkdal, Rosenborg