Steve NICOL | 1988-1989 | PES Stats Database (Golden Era Backup)

NICOL PES STATS | 1988-1989

electric_trigger Steve NICOL | 1988-1989 Club: Liverpool Number: 2 Position: *SB Nationality: Scottish Age: 27 Foot: R Side: B Length: 177 Weight: 76 Attack: 75 Defence: 75 Balance: 78 Stamina: 88 Top Speed: 83 Acceleration: 75 Response: 77 Agility: 80 Dribble Accuracy: 80 Dribble Speed: 77 Short Pass Accuracy: 79 Short Pass Speed: 78 Long Pass Acc: 84 Long Pass Speed: 83 Shot Accuracy: 75 Shot Power: 80 Shot Technique: 74 Free Kick Accuracy: 71 Curling: 75 Header: 76 Jump: 82 Technique: 78 Aggression: 82 Mentality: 80 Keeper Skills: 50 Team Work: 90 Injury Tolerance: B Condition/Fitness: 7 Weak Foot Accuracy: 4 Weak Foot frequency: 4 Special *Positioning *Covering *Side Stephen 'Steve' Nicol (born 11 December 1961 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish former professional footballer, a utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, and is currently coach of New England Revolution in MLS. Playing career Nicol started his career with Ayr United in 1979 and spent just over two seasons with the Scottish side, racking up 70 league appearances, before Liverpool manager Bob Paisley decided to pay, what turned out to be, a bargain price of £300,000 to bring Nicol to Anfield on the 26 October 1981. Two years in the reserves followed as Nicol gained experience. He made his Reds debut on the 31 August 1982 in a 0–0 league draw with Birmingham City at St Andrews becoming a regular in 1983 under new boss Joe Fagan, he also scored his first goal for the club on 22 October 1983, in a 1–0 league victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. He went on to win a League championship medal by the end of his first full season having not appeared enough times the previous season to qualify for a medal, however, he was not picked for the League Cup final victory over fierce Merseyside derby rivals Everton, the first ever all Merseyside final. He was selected for the European Cup final in Rome, Nicol played well and earned a winner's medal after a penalty shoot-out in which he missed his own spot-kick. Fortunately for Nicol A.S. Roma, playing in their home stadium, subsequently failed to score two of their penalty kicks and Liverpool won. Nicol became a first-team regular for many subsequent seasons, winning the League championship and FA Cup ''double'' in 1986 under the guidance of Kenny Dalglish, pipping Everton to the title by just two points and then beating them 3–1 in the first ever all Merseyside FA Cup final. He was also settling into an international career with Scotland which would ultimately yield 27 caps and a place in the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. A versatile player, he played most often at right back following the departure of Phil Neal in 1986, though he also featured at left back, in the centre of defence and as a midfield player, he even played up front on a couple of occasions. He earned the nickname 'Chopsy' because of how he pronounced the word 'chips'. In 1988, Nicol was pretty much ever-present and actually began the season in goalscoring form, despite playing in a position not naturally conducive to attacking. This included a memorable hat-trick at Newcastle United and a phenomenal long-range header at Arsenal. Nicol's defensive qualities were also much admired as Liverpool coasted to the League title but missed out on another ''double'' when Wimbledon surprisingly beat them 1–0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Nicol was the last Liverpool player to have a chance to equalise and force extra-time, his diving header in injury time flying narrowly over the crossbar. A year later, Nicol accompanied his team-mates to many of the funerals and memorial services of the 96 fans who died at the Hillsborough disaster and played his part as Liverpool won the FA Cup against Everton, winning 3–2 after extra time, but lost the League title in a decider against Arsenal with virtually the last kick of the season. The campaign ended on a personal high for Nicol as he was named Footballer Of The Year by football writers. When Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 9–0 the following season to accumulate the club's biggest-ever League victory, Nicol was the only player to score twice, getting the first and last goals of the game in the seventh and 90th minutes. Liverpool regained the League title that season – their last to date - and, two years later, Nicol was in the team which, under Graeme Souness, won the FA Cup again in 1992 this time beating Sunderland 2–0. Nicol left Liverpool in 1995. Steve is 17th in the all time list of appearances for Liverpool, with a total of 468 games for the Reds Steve NICOL | 1988-1989 | PES Stats Database (Golden Era Backup)