Former Belgium goalkeeper Frederic Herpoel has revealed he rejected a move to Liverpool as he was worried about losing his place in the national team set-up.
The custodian was turning out for Belgian side Gent when the call came to join Liverpool, with the former Anderlecht youth man only needing to catch a flight to England, where his contract was waiting for him.
The offer came from Reds boss Gerard Houllier, but as the year was 2001, with the 2002 World Cup on the horizon, Herpoel rejected the Merseyside giants.
Belgium boss Robert Waseige had been clear only players who turned out regularly at club level would go to the 2002 World Cup and Herpoel knew he would be number 2 at Liverpool.
The 42-year-old told Belgian daily La Derniere Heure: "I was out of contract and Gerard Houllier, then manager of Liverpool, absolutely wanted me to join.
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"I just had to catch the plane and sign and I would be at Liverpool.
"I did not do it because I wanted to realise my dream: to go to the World Cup.
"Robert Waseige was very clear; only regular players were in with a chance of being in the squad for the World Cup", Herpoel explained, pointing out at Anfield he would have started as the backup goalkeeper.
"I would not have been [a regular] at Liverpool.
"So I turned down the offer to stay in the [national] squad."
The custodian ultimately signed a new contract with Gent and stayed with the Belgian club until joining Mons in 2007. He retired in 2010.
Herpoel was included in Belgium's squad for the 2002 World Cup and was the country's backup goalkeeper.
In total he won seven caps for Belgium between 1999 and 2004.
