On July 30, 2006, Liverpool's Pepe Reina traded his goalkeeper gloves for a midfielder's boots in a pre-season friendly against Kaiserslautern in Liechtenstein.
The Reds' manager Rafa Benitez had already used all his substitutes by the 60th minute, and with his team trailing 3-2, Reina was brought on to make his debut as a midfielder. The 25-year-old Spaniard almost scored twice, shooting narrowly wide and then blazing a Bellamy cutback over the bar.
Reina's adventure in midfield was a result of the chaos that had unfolded on the field. Liverpool had taken a 2-1 lead, but Kaiserslautern equalized and then took the lead, leaving Benitez with no other option but to bring on Reina.
Reina, who was wearing Xabi Alonso's number 14 jersey, showed a sense of humor about the unusual situation, saying, "I had one really good chance to score, but now I know how difficult it is to score."
The friendly match was a low-key encounter, with Liverpool looking to give their new signings a run-out away from the spotlight. The game was supposed to be a chance for Jermaine Pennant, Craig Bellamy, Fabio Aurelio, and Gabriel Paletta to get some experience, but it turned out to be much more eventful than expected.
The match was a testament to the unpredictability of football, and Reina's cameo as a midfielder remains a memorable moment in the goalkeeper's career.
Reina's humility about the experience is commendable, and his words have been echoed by few other goalkeepers who have ever attempted to play in midfield.
Source: Planet Football
