Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy revealed he took the decision to retire after watching young Harry Kane in action.
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Murphy retired after watching Kane in actionEx-Liverpool star last played for BlackburnHopes England win Euro 2024 under Kane's leadershipWHAT HAPPENED?
Murphy, who spent seven years at Anfield between 1997 and 2004, decided to bring the curtain down on his career in 2013. He was plying his trade with Blackburn in the Championship when he came across Kane for the first time.
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The 47-year-old recalled being in action against Leicester City in 2013 where Kane was playing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. During the game, he was left in awe of the teenager who managed to go past a very strong defender named Scott Dann. Murphy further wished the Three Lions luck and hopes they would lift the Euro 2024 title under the leadership of the Bayern Munich forward.
WHAT DANNY MURPHY SAID
In his column for the , the ex-England international wrote, "Coming up against Harry Kane in the Championship helped persuade me it was the right time to hang up my boots. I quickly realised there was something special about the young striker, although it would have been a stretch to predict he’d become the greatest English striker of his generation.
"If England win the Euros, I’d be happier for Harry than anyone. To have any chance, we need him on the ball as much as possible, which is why I’m sure he’d love Trent Alexander-Arnold in the team to give him ammunition."
He added, "Back to February 2013 and I’m finishing my career with Blackburn when we face Leicester away, including a little-known teenager they had just signed on loan from Tottenham. We had strapping 6ft 4ins centre-half Scott Dann, who was strong as an ox. He went in early to let Kane know he was there, and Harry just got hold of the ball, bounced off him and spun away.
"I thought to myself ‘Whoa, who is this kid?’ Besides scoring, he also did a couple of other little things that stood out as being top level. I was next to him when he dropped deep, turned and hit a beautiful pinged pass with his laces inside our full-back onto the feet of his winger. It was done with a calmness and authority that you wouldn’t have expected from a 19-year-old making his way. Leicester beat Rovers 3-0 and the way Kane and Danny Drinkwater ran rings round me made me realise my career was done. I called it a day at the end of the season. The total self-belief Kane showed from the start has served him well. He’s obviously had an outstanding career and I sincerely hope this summer is the pinnacle of it by lifting a trophy for England."
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The 30-year-old will be next seen in action for Gareth Southgate's men when they begin their Euro 2024 journey on Sunday at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia.