It was at the European under-21 Championships in Slovakia, during the summer of 2000, that Liverpool first became aware of Igor Biscan and Gerard Houllier had to beat off competition from Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and AC Milan to secure his signature.
The highly rated Croatia Zagreb midfielder joined the Reds for £5.5 million in December 2000 and he arrived at Anfield with an impressive track record. Despite his young age he was already a regular in the Croatia national side and had captained his club, Croatia Zagreb, in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.
Biscan did not have long to wait before pulling on a red shirt for the first time. Just two days after signing he came on as a substitute against Ipswich and, although Liverpool lost 1-0, he made an instant impression, showing neat touches and silky skills, as the Kop saluted a new hero.
Biscan plays in the centre of midfield but is versatile enough to play anywhere across the middle and is also considered a good enough defender to play at the back if necessary. "He has talent", insists Gerard Houllier. "He might still be young but he has a lot of experience for his age and that is good for us."