Past playersDjimi Traore
Years: 1999-2006
Appearances: 141
Goals: 1
Honours: Champions League (2005), FA Cup (2006), League Cup (2003)
Gerard Houllier brought Djimi Traore to Liverpool from Laval amid competition from Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Parma and Lazio.
Traore seemed nervous when his big chance arrived at the start of the 2000-01 season when he was put in the unfamiliar role of left-back.
He was loaned to France the following season and gained valuable experience with El Hadji Diouf's Lens and almost won the domestic championship.
Traore returned a stronger character and ready for a second chance, finding his feet when he was moved to his natural centre-half position when Stephane Henchoz got injured.
He excelled sometimes at left-back under Rafael Benitez following his appointment as manager, and will be forever remembered as a member of the 2005 European Cup-winning team in Istanbul - a special way to end the season for the defender after his famous and rather unfortunate FA Cup own goal at Burnley.
Traore was used less in the following season (24 appearances in all competitions) but he was an unused substitute for both the World Club Championship final in Japan and the FA Cup showpiece with West Ham United in Cardiff.
During the summer of 2006, he was sold to Charlton Athletic.
