Djimi Traore reacts to what Dietmar Hamman said about his Liverpool career earlier this week

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Liverpool defender Djimi Traore has been in the news this week.

The Malian is something of a cult hero at Anfield, having played a key part in the Reds’ Champions League success in 2005. That victory was the obvious high point of Traore’s Liverpool career, which was otherwise fairly nondescript.

Largely owing to a rather comedic own goal he scored against Burnley in 2004, the former left-back is sometimes unfairly reduced to a figure of fun by those who remember him.

Dietmar Hamann hit back at that point of view this week, claiming that Traore was actually the biggest Liverpool ‘hero’ of the 2005 final.

And now, Djimi has returned the compliment. Taking to X yesterday, the 43-year-old thanked Hamann for his kind words.

“Kaiser [Hamann’s nickname] always take care of me on and off the pitch,” Traore writes. “Lot of respect for my mate and one of Liverpool legend. YNWA.”

Traore returns the compliment

It was nice of Hamann to point of the performance of Traore in Istanbul. It is often forgotten amid the heroics of Gerrard, Dudek, Carragher and the rest, but the defender really played his part.

Had he not cleared Andriy Shevchenko’s effort off the line at 3-3, Liverpool would not have won the trophy.

Already on their last legs, there’s no chance the Reds’ ragged XI would have been able to rouse themselves to come back once again.

Traore played the full 120 minutes in the Turkish capital. After a tough opening 45 in which he gave away the free-kick that led to Paolo Maldini’s opener, he got better and better.

The part Traore played that day is a reminder that heroes can come in the most unlikely places.

Matched up on Liverpool’s left against Cafu, as well as Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo, the former Mali international looked sure to come out second best.

But he stood firm and wrote his name into folklore.

Following Istanbul, Traore only stayed at Liverpool for one more season. Having been unable to nail down a starting spot for Rafa Benitez he left for Charlton in 2006. From there, a journeyman career saw Djimi take in six more clubs in England, France and America.

When Traore looks back on his career, he’ll have many highlights, no doubt. But Istanbul will shine brighter and longer than any other. That shouldn’t be forgotten by any Liverpool fan. Thank you, Djimi!