Did Daniel Agger really deserve this?

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has returned to Denmark, after sealing a two year long deal with his childhood club Brondby FC for an undisclosed fee.

The Dane took a huge pay cut to join his former club, after refusing numerous offers from top European clubs, most notably Manchester City and Barcelona.

Agger had joined Liverpool FC in a £5.8million deal from Brondby FC in 2006 and made 232 appearances for the Reds, scoring a total of 14 goals. He won the 2012 League Cup with the Reds, but lost in the 2007 Champions League final against AC Milan.

After spending 8 years at the club, the Dane had fallen down the pecking order with the arrival of Dejan Lovren.  The latter, although being right footed, prefers the left centre back position along with Mamadou Sakho. This probably spelled the end of Agger’s Anfield career, with him wanting to start more games.

But does Daniel Agger really deserve this? Most fans would decline.

Agger never failed to show his devotion for the club, having famously tattooed YNWA into his knuckles and elbowed Fernando Torres in the face.

One could say that his Anfield career was marked with many injuries. But those however, were nothing of the sort that would require him to return to his homeland and call an end to top-tier football at just 29.

None could exceed the level of commitment that Daniel Agger has shown for the club, having rejected numerous lucrative offers. There were times of mass exoduses with the likes of Torres and Alonso losing faith in the club and leaving; but the Dane stayed on.

Along with Reina, this treatment can be seen as nothing short of unfair.

Dagger, as fans fondly referred to him as, once made the AC Milan chairman wait in a restaurant. In an era of football where money talks and loyalty is of no importance, the Dane stood up high above the rest.

Agger would be remembered as the unsung hero. He was a player who never got what he truly deserved, and yet strived for unyielding allegiance.

Torres left along with Alonso. Carragher retired. But the pain that Agger’s departure has caused Liverpool fans is of unmatched magnitude.

Agger was once asked, “What does Liverpool football club mean to Daniel Agger?”

He laughed back and said- “Do we have time for that?”

So thank you, Daniel Agger; Thank you for those years of unparalleled loyalty and the strong presence at the back. Thank you for not losing faith in the club, even at the worst of times. Thank you for being a true role model and for leaving behind a legacy for youngsters at the club – one that speaks highly of you.

No Liverpool faithful can ever forget what you have done for the club.

You’ll Never Walk Alone!