Remember Dean Bouzanis? Rafa Benitez once described him as the best keeper in the world for his age, but the Aussie never fulfilled his potential and was let go permanently in 2010 following a loan spell at Accrington Stanley.
He now plays for Melbourne City in his homeland, but has made the news for all the wrong reasons – after being banned for five matches for using a racial slur.
According to ESPN, Bouzanis called Melbourne Victory’s Albanian striker Besart Berisha a “f***ing gypsy” during an ill-tempered derby.
“I’m grateful to have been able to present my case and I’d like to apologise to Berisha and the football community,” Bouzanis said after a hearing in which he originally claimed he didn’t understand the racial undertones of his statement.
“You’ll see from my actions that this will never happen again.”
Bouzanis is one of many former Liverpool youth goalkeepers plying their trade in different parts of the world.
Peter Gulacsi starts between the sticks for Red Bull Leipzig, who are challenging for Bundesliga, while Daniele Padelli has amassed over 100 appearances for Torino in Italy.
Brad Jones came to Liverpool later, but is now enjoying a rejuvenation with Feyenoord in Holland, where he won goalkeeper of the year last season.