Liverpool unveil plans for new memorial to mark 40th anniversary of Heysel tragedy
Liverpool have unveiled plans for a new Heysel memorial at Anfield to mark the 40th anniversary of the disaster that claimed 39 lives before the 1985 European Cup final.
Entitled 'Forever Bound', the memorial will feature a Juventus scarf and a Liverpool scarf entwined together in bronze, a dedication to the date and location of the tragedy and the names of the 39 people who were killed that night – 32 from Italy, four from Belgium, two from France and one from Northern Ireland – engraved on white Italian porcelain. It will replace the existing memorial that is located on the wall of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand.
Advertisement
Bruce Grobbelaar, Liverpool's goalkeeper in 1985, attended the announcement at Anfield on Wednesday and admitted emotions are still raw 40 years on. 'One, because I was there,' he said. 'Two, because my mother came from Africa with her husband. It was the first time she'd watched me play. She turned around to me afterwards and said: 'If this is football, I don't want to be a part of it.' It left a lasting impression in my psyche. I had to live with that for all this time. She never watched me again. She came from Africa, she went back to Africa. She might have watched on TV, but never live.'
Related: Premier League race for Europe: who's in, who needs what and how 10 could qualify
The idea to mark the 40th anniversary with a new memorial came from members of the Liverpool supporters' board and supporters' union Spirit of Shankly. It was felt the current memorial is inadequate and, with the car park behind the Sir Kenny Dalglish stand occasionally closed to the public, the location unsuitable for people to pay their respects. The location of the new memorial, which will measure approximately 2.2m x 1m, has not been decided. Liverpool have identified five possible options around Anfield including one near the Hillsborough memorial.
Liverpool consulted on the design with representatives of the Hillsborough families, the club's supporters' board, Juventus and the president of the Association for the Families of Heysel Victims, Andrea Lorentini. Lorentini's 31-year-old father, Roberto, was among those killed when a wall collapsed at the stadium after a charge by Liverpool supporters.
Advertisement
Juventus will mark the 40th anniversary on 29 May by unveiling a new memorial of their own near the Allianz Stadium. 'Verso Altrove' is a 65m platform that spirals above ground and focuses on the horizon. Liverpool legend and club ambassador Ian Rush, who played for Juventus, and the Liverpool chief executive, Billy Hogan, will attend the unveiling in Turin. Out of respect for Juventus' commemorations next week Liverpool will not unveil their memorial until later in the summer. Juventus officials will attend the Anfield ceremony.
The idea for two scarves tied together originated from photographs of the immediate aftermath of the disaster that showed fan memorabilia discarded all over the Heysel terraces. The image symbolises unity and solidarity between the two clubs, reconciliation and the bond formed by grief. A Liver bird and a zebra, in the design of Liverpool's and Juventus's insignia from the mid-80s respectively, is on each scarf.
Jonathan Bamber, Liverpool's chief legal and external affairs officer, explained: 'It's something that we don't want to forget. Forty years is a significant anniversary and so we felt it was a good moment to review what was already in place. We have a supporters' board who we liaise with and it was supporters who came to the club and said: 'Do you think that you should potentially look at this?' There was the feeling that perhaps there could be something that was slightly more accessible and gave people the opportunity to reflect a bit more.
'The interaction with Juventus and the families has been absolutely paramount, it's been at the core of really everything that we've thought through. An awful lot of thought has gone into it, trying to get it right and make it meaningful.'
Grobbelaar added: 'I thank the club and Juventus and the people that have coordinated it for getting this right. Because the two clubs have to come together and they are bound together from that day onwards. They are forever bound and I think it is a fantastic tribute to the passing of the 39.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How to watch Juventus vs Wydad AC: TV channel and live stream for Club World Cup match today
All smiles: Juventus made a flying start to the Club World Cup (AFP via Getty Images) Juventus will look to secure their place in the last-16 of the Club World Cup when they take on Wydad AC this evening. It was an ideal start to the tournament for the Italian side, who thrashed Al-Ain 5-0 after scoring four first-half goals. Advertisement They will now be eyeing three more points here to leave the final group-stage match against Manchester City as a likely showdown for top spot. Wydad AC, though, will believe they can cause Juventus problems, having showed plenty of ambition in their opening defeat to City. The Moroccan club were beaten 2-0 but offered a threat on the counter throughout and should offer Juventus a sterner test than Al-Ain managed. The heat in Philadelphia could make conditions uncomfortable but Wydad were well-backed by their fans against City and that should be the case again here. How to watch Juventus vs Wydad AC Live stream: Viewers can watch the action live online via the DAZN website. Kick-off is at 5pm this evening. DAZN is the global broadcaster of the new-look Club World Cup. No subscription is required to watch the game, with the entire tournament available to their 'Freemium' members, which means you only need to sign up for a free DAZN account.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho finally set to get answer on future after years of loans
Philippe Coutinho could soon call a permanent end to his Aston Villa career and secure a transfer back to his homeland of Brazil. The attacker, who made over 200 appearances for Liverpool in a five-year spell between 2013 and 2018, is currently on loan at boyhood club, Vasco da Gama. Advertisement That temporary spell represents the second loan move since he joined Villa on a permanent deal from Barcelona in 2022. He would make just 22 appearances for the Midlands club before joining Qatari side Al-Duhail in 2023. A move back to Vasco de Gama followed, with Coutinho frozen out by Villa boss Unai Emery. The 33-year-old has enjoyed his time back at the club with whom he started his career back in 2009 and is keen to stay. READ MORE: Forgotten Liverpool teenager who stunned Jurgen Klopp set to face Chelsea at Club World Cup READ MORE: Liverpool goalkeeper set to complete Ajax transfer after signing new contract Advertisement But with transfer talks dragging on and the prospect of having to return to Villa, where he is surplus to requirements, looming, Coutinho says this week could be decisive. He is quoted as saying: 'People are talking, this week I think it's positive to talk about and decide everything.' Villa are keen to offload Coutinho in order to comply with PSR requirements and Vasco chief executive Carlos Amodeo, is now optimistic a deal can be done. He said: 'The goal is to keep the player. 'There is no problem between him and Vasco. The point is to resolve the situation with Aston Villa so we can move forward. Advertisement 'Coutinho is a player we want to count on for the rest of the season. We're in contact with his staff awaiting his release.' Coutinho has struggled to find a permanent home since leaving Liverpool in a deal worth around £145m in January 2018. The Brazilian informed the Reds of his desire to move to Barcelona, who would secure his transfer six months after making their interest known. But the attacker struggled for consistency with the Catalan giants and was sent on loan to Bayern Munich. Despite eight goals in 23 appearances in Germany, Bayern turned down the opportunity to sign him permanently before a move to Aston Villa followed. Speaking to the ECHO in 2019, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner stated that Coutinho "probably regrets" choosing to leave Anfield for Barcelona. Advertisement "I would just point to the story of Philippe Coutinho," Werner told the ECHO. "I have only good things to say about Philippe. But I think he left Liverpool because he wanted to play for one of the two big Spanish clubs. "We tried to convince him that we had the club moving in the right direction and that he could experience big Champions League occasions by staying at Liverpool. "I think he probably regrets his decision."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Matildas enter new cycle as Montemurro makes first squad call
After months of speculation, Joe Montemurro has officially stepped into the role of CommBank Matildas head coach — and his first squad selection gives a clear indication of what's to come. With four friendlies scheduled across Perth and Bunbury against Slovenia and Panama, Montemurro's 33-player squad is equal parts experimental and strategic. It looks firmly to the future but still respects the core of Australia's recent success. Advertisement Montemurro's coaching CV stands unmatched in Australian football. He's won titles at Melbourne City, Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon. Known for his tactical identity, culture-building and strong player relationships, Montemurro arrives with high expectations. His appointment brings cautious optimism — not because of his ability, but because of the scale of the task. The Matildas are not a dominant European club with a deep bench. They're a team balancing stars with the need to regenerate. In a crowded international calendar, Montemurro now has just four FIFA windows to prepare for the 2026 Asian Cup. 'This window is about setting the tone,' Montemurro said. 'We're laying the foundations for the next phase of our journey as we build relationships, create an understanding of our style of play and enhance the high-performance environment that enables our players to thrive.' He has made the most of the extended international window by casting a wide net, selecting 14 A-League Women players and 16 players with fewer than 10 caps. Some players will feature only in the Slovenia series, while others will play exclusively in the Panama fixtures. The split allows for smart player management and the chance to test new combinations. A new generation steps in Among the standout inclusions are three first-time call-ups: Grace Kuilamu (Brisbane Roar), Adriana Taranto (Western United) and Alexia Apostolakis (Melbourne City). All three have impressed at club level and represent the next wave of Australian talent. Advertisement Also returning to the squad are players many fans have wanted back. Alex Chidiac — the reigning Julie Dolan Medallist — returns after being mostly overlooked by the previous regime. Emily Gielnik is fit again. Chloe Berryhill (née Logarzo) rejoins the team after a concussion cut her last appearance short. Embed from Getty Images Jacynta Galabadaarachchi also returns for the first time since 2022. Her selection is particularly notable — she had previously pledged her international future to Argentina. This suggests a renewed commitment to the Matildas and a fresh opportunity under Montemurro. Sharn Freier is another welcome return. The winger is back from a long-term injury and is set to join Wolfsburg in the upcoming season. Advertisement 'We wanted to use this window not just to prepare for the matches,' Montemurro said, 'but to really explore the talent that's coming through. It's a rare opportunity to work with a broadened squad, give players their first or renewed taste of the environment and assess where we are as a group.' Rested, missing and unlucky Some big names are missing — but it's deliberate. Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry are all on personal leave. It's a sensible decision. Each has had an intense schedule and played a central role in recent Matildas campaigns. A break now could pay off when the Asian Cup comes around in March. Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr remain out with injury. Cortnee Vine continues her extended leave. A leg injury sidelined Tameka Yallop. Kahli Johnson, who showed promise in her debut series, misses out with a thigh strain. Advertisement Two players who can consider themselves unlucky are Izzy Gomez and Leticia McKenna. Gomez impressed against Argentina but didn't make the squad this time, with no injury reported. McKenna delivered a strong domestic season, and many expected her to earn a call-up. Embed from Getty Images Looking ahead Montemurro has been clear that this camp isn't just about winning — it's about building. With a home Asian Cup, a World Cup in Brazil and the LA Olympics ahead, the next few years are crucial. 'This camp is really an identification process,' he said. 'It's a process for the players to understand where we're heading. It's really, really important that we give every player an opportunity.' Advertisement The squad still features key leaders like Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond. They're joined by rising talents including Holly McNamara, Bryleeh Henry and Jamilla Rankin. It's a mix of experience and experimentation — exactly what this team needs. Embed from Getty Images The Matildas won't face judgment based on this window alone. But fans and critics will judge Montemurro. After a 10-month delay in replacing Tony Gustavsson, expectations are high. Whether this group delivers a trophy or not, it already shows a willingness to evolve. And that's exactly what Australian football needs right now. Related articles from Her Football Hub:
