Craig Bellamy claims playing for the manager he grew up idolising was an offer he couldn't refuse.
The Welshman was the subject of interest from clubs around the country on transfer deadline day but no one could compete once the chance arose to help Kenny Dalglish roll back the years at Anfield.
Bellamy now begins his second stint playing with a Liver bird on his chest having scored nine goals in 42 appearances under Rafael Benitez.
And he does so with a real belief that major honours are within Liverpool's grasp following a period of rebuilding overseen by Dalglish, Director of Football Damien Comolli and owners Fenway Sports Group.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour.
"This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.
"For me, the players they've signed this summer, there has been a lot of British which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool. It looks so familiar to me and to be part of it is such a huge honour.
"To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt so that speaks for itself. He was the first player-manager to do the double and just how he conducted himself really.
"I know we've had bits of success since then but the club hasn't been the same since he left, so to come back in and be a part of this with the players who are here - it's a good time.
"The Liverpool team when I first signed is a lot different to the Liverpool side of the last couple of years so we need to get back into the Champions League and look to push the club on from there again."
With Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll all vying for places, Bellamy knows getting his name on Dalglish's teamsheet every week won't be easy - but he thinks the opportunity is there to show Liverpool fans his best form.
"I get this opportunity again for Liverpool fans to hopefully see a real good side of me on a playing level," the 32-year-old added. "I know what I have to do to play in this team, so this should be a good time.
"I can play on either wing as well, like I did at Manchester City.
"We're not in Europe so it gives us a great opportunity to concentrate on the league.
"Cup competitions speak for themselves and obviously we want to do well in cups, but this gives us the opportunity now to go week by week and really concentrate on our league position and get back into the Champions League.
"I'm very happy. It's been a long couple of months, I had to be patient and believe something like this could happen. It has so I am over the moon."
As well as relishing the chance to work under Dalglish, Bellamy is keen to reacquaint himself with several other members of Liverpool's coaching staff.
He said: "I am coming into a club not just with Kenny, but with Clarkey (Steve Clarke) and Kevin Keen, people who I have worked with really closely and who know me inside out. I'm coming to a Liverpool where the people here know what I need to do to play in this team.
"It was a good end to the season, but it was the manner of how they played with high intensity and the movement when they had the ball and when they didn't have the ball which was key."
The Welshman was the subject of interest from clubs around the country on transfer deadline day but no one could compete once the chance arose to help Kenny Dalglish roll back the years at Anfield.
Bellamy now begins his second stint playing with a Liver bird on his chest having scored nine goals in 42 appearances under Rafael Benitez.
And he does so with a real belief that major honours are within Liverpool's grasp following a period of rebuilding overseen by Dalglish, Director of Football Damien Comolli and owners Fenway Sports Group.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour.
"This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.
"For me, the players they've signed this summer, there has been a lot of British which takes me back to when I started watching Liverpool. It looks so familiar to me and to be part of it is such a huge honour.
"To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt so that speaks for itself. He was the first player-manager to do the double and just how he conducted himself really.
"I know we've had bits of success since then but the club hasn't been the same since he left, so to come back in and be a part of this with the players who are here - it's a good time.
"The Liverpool team when I first signed is a lot different to the Liverpool side of the last couple of years so we need to get back into the Champions League and look to push the club on from there again."
With Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll all vying for places, Bellamy knows getting his name on Dalglish's teamsheet every week won't be easy - but he thinks the opportunity is there to show Liverpool fans his best form.
"I get this opportunity again for Liverpool fans to hopefully see a real good side of me on a playing level," the 32-year-old added. "I know what I have to do to play in this team, so this should be a good time.
"I can play on either wing as well, like I did at Manchester City.
"We're not in Europe so it gives us a great opportunity to concentrate on the league.
"Cup competitions speak for themselves and obviously we want to do well in cups, but this gives us the opportunity now to go week by week and really concentrate on our league position and get back into the Champions League.
"I'm very happy. It's been a long couple of months, I had to be patient and believe something like this could happen. It has so I am over the moon."
As well as relishing the chance to work under Dalglish, Bellamy is keen to reacquaint himself with several other members of Liverpool's coaching staff.
He said: "I am coming into a club not just with Kenny, but with Clarkey (Steve Clarke) and Kevin Keen, people who I have worked with really closely and who know me inside out. I'm coming to a Liverpool where the people here know what I need to do to play in this team.
"It was a good end to the season, but it was the manner of how they played with high intensity and the movement when they had the ball and when they didn't have the ball which was key."
