IAN RUSH said yesterday he would be leaving Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season after spending 15 years at Anfleld.
Rush (34), who has a career total of 404 goals including a record 345 for Liverpool, is still club captain but has failed to dislodge young strikers Stan Collymore or Robbie Fowler from the starting line-up, since recovering from a cartilage operation in November.
Rush said: "I wanted to go before next month's transfer deadline, but have agreed to stay until the end of the season. The last thing I want to do is upset anyone at Anfield because they have always treated me brilliantly and they know if I am needed I will always give my best."
With Liverpool he has won five league championships, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one European Cup. Earlier this year he set a 20th century record of 42 FA Cup goals, and in all has scored 345 goals for Liverpool - 228 in the League, 39 in the FA Cup, 48 in the League Cup, 20 in European competition and 10 in other matches.
He needs just 17 more league goals to beat Roger Hunt's league scoring record for the club - now likely to be one of the few achievements he will miss out on at Anfield.
At least a dozen clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him, including Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Leeds, and clubs in the new American League and the J League in Japan.
