It spells disaster

By Jovan Belev Source: Global Times Published: 2020/12/10 16:33:40

When kitmen get players’ names wrong


Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher makes a save in the match against Wolves on December 6 in Liverpool. Photo: VCG

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the most of the absence of the club's first-choice goalkeeper Allison Becker.

The Ireland under-21 international was called into the starting lineup by manager Jurgen Klopp for their recent UEFA Champions League game against Ajax and the stopper was key to their 1-0 win, with his standout moment a flying save from veteran striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at the death to keep a clean sheet.

"It was nice to make that save," Kelleher said. "It was just kind of an instinctive reaction. He was that close, I just tried to get anything I could on it. Luckily I was able to get it away to safety. For the manager to come up to me, it was a nice moment."

The 22-year-old, who Liverpool picked up for a bargain 30,000 pounds from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015, might get many more such moments based on his start to life in the first team.

He followed up his Champions League bow with a first start in the English Premier League, keeping another clean sheet in the champions' 4-0 win over Wolves.

It's safe to say that Kelleher has quickly made a name for himself.

That's why it is all the more remarkable that when he made his Premier League bow he did it in a shirt that said "Kellher" above his.No 62 squad number.

The shirt was changed at halftime to one with the correct spelling of his name but not without the wider world noticing the Anfield kitman's error.

"Lots of positives again for LFC," former England striker Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter, "including an excellent display from their young keeper. Perhaps as a reward they could spell Kelleher correctly."

It is not the first time and it certainly won't be the last that such an error is made - and picked up on social media.

The same thing happened at Celtic in February as Polish striker Patryk Klimala made his first start for the club after singing in the January transfer window.

For the game against Clyde the new boy wore a shirt with "Kilmala" on the back before it was rectified at halftime.

That was not before it was noticed, though, with match broadcasters Premier Sports noting the poor spelling.

"I know the kitman," said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton who was in the commentary booth for the match. "Not the sharpest tool in the shed as they say."

His co-commentator Stephen Craigan chimed in: "Quite clearly his spelling isn't very good either, Chris."

It can happen to the very best of them and on the biggest stages, ask Jorginho.

The Chelsea midfielder was the victim of a less than eagle-eyed kitman when his side took on English Premier League rivals Liverpool for the UEFA Super Cup at the beginning of last season.

Jorginho was spotted wearing a shirt that had his name as "Jorghino" but he appeared to be unaffected as he drew his team level, making the scores 2-2 from the spot in extra time. He then stepped up and scored Chelsea's first kick in the shootout but he could not stop them losing.

A similar thing happened in an earlier season opener featuring the Stamford Bridge side, when Chelsea faced Manchester United in the 1997 Charity Shield at Wembley.

David Beckham, admittedly not the global superstar that he would go on to become, wore a shirt with "Beckam" on the back. It did not stop the Red Devils winning out in a penalty shootout.

The Old Trafford side's kitmen would not make that mistake twice but they would make plenty more over the years.

Thomas Kuszczak would not play many games in goal for the club but he played the first of them - a League Cup away win over Crewe Alexandra - with the name "Zuszczak" on his back.

Somehow John O'Shea was printed as "S'hea" for a meeting with Real Madrid in 2003.

The gremlins in the printing machine were spotted later with midfielder Anderson coming on as a sub at Everton with "Andesron" on his shirt, just as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had before him.

Supersub striker Solksjaer had to play as "Solksjaer" in his playing days, and there was probably a sigh of relief in the kit department when they realized that he only needed his initials on his gear as the club's manager.

Where the Norwegian went, Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands followed. Perhaps the kitman was inspired by the speed of the Newcastle United star and ran off his "Lovenkradns" shirt a little too quickly.

The Toon Army faithful would also see Jean-Alain Boumsong have his shirt feature the name "Boumsogn" during his time on Tyneside. It was only slightly less odd than the fact that he went on to play for Juventus.

In the same season that Lovenkrands was proving a handlful for Premier League defenses and kitman Blackburn Rovers printed Roque Santa Cruz's shirt as "Satna Cruz."

The Rovers would also make a mistake with the less exotic David Bentley, who was rebranded as "Betnley" for one game while at the Ewood Park club.

Jack Wilshere ("Wilshire") was a victim at Arsenal in a game against Sunderland, as was Marko Arnautovic ("Arnoutovic") when West Ham United played Bournemouth, so too Javier Mascherano ("Mascerano") at Liverpool.

Sunderland's James McClean was "McLean" for a game against Arsenal in 2012 that was otherwise forgettable, while Leicester City striker Steve Claridge was "Clarridge" back in the early days of names appearing above squad numbers in English football.

The club shops have fallen foul of the same thing, as Everton did with the arrival of Gerard Deulofeu with "Deufoleu" shirts while the Chelsea store greeted David Luiz with "Davis Luiz" shirts for their US fans.

And so the honor for shirt printing going wrong goes to an MLS team: the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Somehow they got it wrong for two of their biggest stars, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven ­Gerrard who played as "Irbahimovic" and "Gerrrad."  



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