To most Liverpool fans the name Dal Varesanovic will not ring a bell. The 19 year old however has spent almost half a decade at the club and was once touted as one of the most promising wonderkids coming out of Europe.
Dal was courted by Barcelona among others, but opted to sign for Liverpool.
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He joined the club upon his 16th birthday and was immediately thrown into the Reds’ U18 squad who were then managed by none other than Steven Gerrard.
In an exclusive interview with First Time Finish the Bosnian midfielder now back at his hometown club FK Sarajevo revealed what it was like to work with the legendary figure at Anfield and Kirkby.
When Dal first arrived he struggled with similar growing pains to Gerrard which the Reds’ former captain fantastic helped him to fight and encouraged Varesanovic to keep going.
Dal told First Time Finish:
"“I had some growing related stuff I had to deal with. Physically at first I was smaller than everybody else and that was a bit frustrating for me.He (Gerrard) told me he had the same problems like me with the knee, hip and lower back injuries which I kept getting and how it was all related to growing.He spoke to me a lot about that, told me keep patient and that time was on my side which helped me a lot.”“I had some growing related stuff I had to deal with. Physically at first I was smaller than everybody else and that was a bit frustrating for me.He (Gerrard) told me he had the same problems like me with the knee, hip and lower back injuries which I kept getting and how it was all related to growing.He spoke to me a lot about that, told me keep patient and that time was on my side which helped me a lot.”"
But the Bosnian midfielder also revealed a more stricter side to Gerrard. One who was stern and revered by his players.
He said to First Time Finish.
"“He was more strict to be honest, sometimes he could get angry easily but that’s all normal in football.”“He was more strict to be honest, sometimes he could get angry easily but that’s all normal in football.”"
In the end Dal Varesanovic was not able to make the grade at Liverpool and never made a senior appearance. For the club’s U23 side he showed some flashes of brilliance but injury niggles prevented him from really breaking into the team.
Gerrard was sometimes strict.
At FK Sarajevo he has gotten off to a good start scoring on his debut for the club where both his father and grandfather played.
Now the next step is for him to attract top European clubs once again from the big five leagues.
At 19 he has plenty of time to get back to the top.
At Rush the Kop we wish Dal Varesanovic all the best in his future. And hope to see him back at Liverpool one day wearing the red shirt or as an opponent.
Do you remember Dal Varesanovic? If so what did you make of his time at the club?