Ian Rush named ambassador for Cardiff final
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
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Wales and Liverpool great Ian Rush will act as ambassador for the 2017 final and will help conduct the group stage draw on Thursday along with Roberto Carlos and other star names.
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Former Liverpool, Juventus and Wales striker Ian Rush has been chosen as the ambassador for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff.
Now 54, Rush scored 28 goals in 73 international appearances for his country, but was more famous for his club achievements; he remains Liverpool's record marksman in all competitions with 346 goals, and registered 47 in the 1983/84 season alone to win the European Golden Boot.
In two spells with the Reds, Rush also lifted the 1981 and 1984 European Champion Clubs' Cups, five English league titles, three FA Cups and five League Cups.
Born in St Asaph in north Wales, Rush played his final senior international in 1996, and while he retired – aged 38 – in 2000, he never played at the National Stadium of Wales which opened in 1999.
The 2017 UEFA Champions League final will be only the second UEFA club competition game to be staged at the arena, which is home to Wales's rugby team. Manchester City beat The New Saints 2-0 in a UEFA Europa League qualifier in August 2003 in the only previous one.
Rush will help to conduct the UEFA Champions League group stage draw at 18:00CET on Thursday along with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Clarence Seedorf, Thierry Henry and Roberto Carlos.