Colourful characters have not been few and far between at Anfield in recent times. These have ranged from the flamboyant in the likes of Djibril Cisse to the downright controversial in Robbie Fowler and El-Hadji Diouf, and it is in Liverpool's goal that another interesting character has emerge to take the mantle of 'the mad goalie' from the eternal joker Bruce Grobbelaar. That man is Pepe Reina.
In the four years since his arrival on Merseyside, the former Barcelona understudy has not only made a name for himself with memorable performances and record-breaking clean sheets, he has also written himself into club folklore. Reds supporters who previously thought that the heart-on-sleeve gestures shown by Jamie Carragher were the true embodiment of the passion that comes with being a Liverpool player could have not predicted the similar displays by Reina throughout his Anfield career. He is, in essence, the club's Spanish equivalent of Carragher. His commitment to the cause has been nothing short of outstanding and he has won a place in the hearts of the supporters with his crazy antics.
Last summer he led the celebrations of his country's homecoming as Luis Aragones' troops returned to Madrid as Euro 2008 winners. The national side's second choice stopper was the ultimate master of ceremonies; alternating between paying tribute to each and every one of his international team mates who had helped make the dream a reality and leading the nation in a meddley of traditional Spanish songs. Footage later emerged from that triumphant flight home from Vienna of Reina leading the charges again. This time he appeared to be acting like a man possessed at times to the point where his passionate ramblings were incomprehensible and that did not end when he reported back to Melwood for the new season.
His celebrations of Liverpool goals have become as legendary as his goalkeeping prowess. When television cameras show replays of said goals, they always show the reaction of Reina, such is the notoriety of his gestures. His celebrations have overshadowed the thumb-sucking antics of Luis Garcia, the Reds' good luck charm en route to the successful Champions League win in 2005. The passion Reina shows is evocative of that shown on the terraces by supporters. During the 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa last month, Reina was in fine form as he had been at Old Trafford eight days previous. In the first half, he turned to face the Kop goal he was defending after every goal scored and celebrated in his trademark manner. No amount of hand stands from Grobbelaar in his prime could match the passion and enthusiasm shown by Reina. He is probably one of the few goalkeepers who would run the length of the pitch to celebrate with his team mates as he did following Fernando Torres' last minute strike against Chelsea at Anfield in February. The determination of Liverpool's title charge this season can best be summed up by the reactions of the Spaniard in the Reds goalmouth.
There is an age-old theory that you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper and Pepe Reina appears to be as mad as they come which is probably why he is considered to be one of the best keepers in the modern game at this moment in time.
