Daniel Agger Bio

Rafael Benitez bolstered his defensive options in January 2006 when signing Agger from Brondby for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £5.8million - making him the most expensive export in Denmark's history.

The centre-back became the second defender to join the Reds in the 2006 transfer window after the capture of Jan Kromkamp from Villarreal.

The left-footed Agger had been out of action since September after damaging knee ligaments during a training session with Brondby, but was back to fitness to pass an Anfield medical.

He made his Liverpool debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham City. And he impressed greatly in his second appearance as the Reds won 1-0 against Manchester City at Anfield, suggesting he could be an astute purchase.

By the end of the 2006/07 he had edged ahead of Sami Hyypia as the first-choice partner for Jamie Carragher. The Dane had some titanic battles with Didier Drogba, often coming off second best to the physical Chelsea striker, during the season but Agger had the last laugh when Liverpool dispatched the Blues in the semi-final of the Champions League.

While Agger headed to Athens his family and friends all gathered in his pub in Copenhagen, Denmark, to watch the 2007 final - which Liverpool ultimately lost.

A series of metatarsal breaks ruined almost the entirety of the 2007/08 season for the defender but he returned to pre-season at Melwood in July 2008 claiming he had to rebuild his Liverpool career all over again.

The defender began life with Rosenhoj BK before moving to Brondby's youth programme in 2004. Within months he had been promoted to the senior squad following the sale of Andreas Jakobsson, making his bow against OB Odense.

Agger slotted into Brondby's defence as though he'd been playing for years and his performances helped the club to the 2004/05 Superliga title. And he was subsequently named Denmark's Players' Player of the Year.

He earned his first full cap for Denmark in June 2005 against Finland - when he faced Sami Hyypia and former Red Jari Litmanen.

Despite being ruled out through injury in September, his form again earned him the Players' Player of the Year award for 2005/06.

Denmark head coach Morten Olsen hailed Agger's move to Anfield and said he believed the player was good enough to make a big impact. He followed in the footsteps of other famous Danes at Anfield, such as Jan Molby, Torben Piechnik, Michael Stensgaard and Jorgen Nielsen.