Sammy Lee: 'Going to Spain was the best thing that happened to me after joining Liverpool'

For Sammy Lee, leaving Liverpool was the best thing that happened to him. A decade of devotion had come to an end, and he felt lost without his beloved club. But a move to Pamplona in Spain would change everything.

Lee recalls attending Spanish lessons at school but never thought they'd be useful for someone from the Liverpool ghetto. His decision not to take up the language proved to be a turning point. It was 1986 when Michael Robinson suggested he join him at Osasuna, a club 90 miles south-east of where Lee would eventually end up.

Lee attributes his success to friendship and finding like-minded people. He says it "smelled right" and "felt right." When asked about the experience, he shares that leaving Liverpool was hard but a necessary step for growth. The pressures of being a high-profile player had taken its toll on him professionally.

He recalls Michael Robinson facilitating his move to Osasuna with Pedro Zabalza as the coach. Lee says this helped him find a new sense of purpose and "enhance me as a person." He also appreciates the emphasis on youth development at Osasuna, which later influenced his coaching style when he worked with Bolton.

Lee praises Ronald Koeman for being understanding about his language limitations and encourages people not to make assumptions about English skills. His experiences with Peter Taylor and Sven-Göran Eriksson further solidify his appreciation for the importance of teamwork and camaraderie in football.

Despite facing criticism, Lee remains committed to enjoying the game and focusing on personal growth. The pressure from fans or media does not weigh him down; instead, he channels it into his work, striving to get the best out of players.

Sammy Lee's time at Osasuna marked a turning point in his life, allowing him to rediscover his passion for football and cultivate a new sense of purpose beyond playing.

I mean, this is some crazy story about how Sammy Lee changed his life by leaving Liverpool! 90 miles south-east can't be easy on you but it seems like that's where the magic happened for him. He was all about finding his tribe and growing as a person. That's so inspiring! The fact that he credits his success to friendship and teamwork is everything. And I love how he talks about not making assumptions about people based on their language skills, that's real talk . It's amazing how life can take you on a different path, but it sounds like Lee found happiness in the end. Let's all take a cue from him to stay positive and focused on our personal growth

I'm so glad Sammy Lee shared his story . It's amazing how sometimes having to step out of our comfort zone can lead to incredible growth . Leaving Liverpool wasn't an easy decision, but it sounds like it was exactly what he needed to find a new sense of purpose and belonging . I love that he credits his success to friendship and finding like-minded people - that's so true for me too! It's all about finding your tribe and supporting each other on your journey . And hey, not being fluent in Spanish turned out to be a blessing in disguise . Who knew it would lead him to such an amazing experience?

OMG I can totally relate to Sammy Lee's story . Leaving behind what you know and love can be super scary but also kinda liberating? I've been there myself when I moved away from my family & friends, felt like I lost a part of me, but slowly started to discover new things about myself . It's amazing how sometimes it takes stepping out of our comfort zones to find what we're truly passionate about again

I gotta say, I'm surprised Sammy Lee didn't take advantage of those Spanish lessons he had back in school lol . Like, come on, it's not that hard to pick up a language, especially when you're already passionate about football. But hey, at least he found his way and ended up having an amazing experience at Osasuna! What I do find interesting is how he credits his friendship with Michael Robinson for being such a game-changer – it's clear that having people around him who believed in him made all the difference . And btw, Ronald Koeman being understanding about his language limitations? That's totally underrated .

I'm not buying this whole "finding himself" thing . It sounds like he just needed an escape from the pressures of being a pro player and some supportive mates at Osasuna . Anyone can claim they've found their passion again after leaving Liverpool, but I bet there's more to it than that . What about the talent scouts? The agents? The money changes hands in football... don't think for a second this is just about personal growth .

i think its kinda weird that people still care about some old pro like sammy lee leaving liverpool lol what was he even playing for there anyway? anywayz i guess it's good that he found a new team and stuff but all this nostalgia vibe is just so extra

"Left Liverpool, found myself"

[Image of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson looking confused with a Spanish phrase behind him]

[Animation of a football player breaking free from the pressure of fans]

[Fedex delivery icon with a "To: Growth & Purpose" stamp]

I'm telling you, this is like, totally fishy . I mean, Sammy Lee just so happens to get a move to Pamplona, Spain at the perfect time, and it "smells right" and "feels right"? Like, what are the chances? He's gotta know someone who knows someone, or maybe he's got some hidden connections. And all these people he meets along the way, like Michael Robinson and Pedro Zabalza, they just happen to be in the right place at the right time too? It's like he's playing a role or something . I'm not buying it, mate. There's gotta be more to this story than what we're seeing on the surface...

I just had the craziest dream last night about trying to order food in a foreign language . Like I was trying to say "chicken parmesan" but everything that came out sounded like mumbo-jumbo . Anyway, back to this article... I wonder if it's weird that some football players still have accents when they speak English? I mean, Sammy Lee went to Spain and learned Spanish, but his accent is still kinda Liverpool-esque . Is that a good thing or what? Shouldn't he be speaking fluent Spanish by now?

OMG I'm still trying to wrap my head around how Sammy Lee's life would've been different if he took those Spanish lessons back in school! Can you imagine if he had picked up the language, it might not have taken him 10 years to find his groove at Osasuna. But yeah, his experiences there were super pivotal for him and we can see how much he's grown both on & off the pitch

I think its pretty cool how Sammy Lee got that second chance at football. I mean, leaving Liverpool was probs hard but it sounds like he found a better fit in Pamplona . He's always been open about how important his friends and teammates were to him, and it's great to hear that he's still got that sense of camaraderie now. His language struggles are pretty relatable, tbh , and its awesome that Ronald Koeman was so understanding. Lee's story is a good reminder that even when things aren't going right, there's always room for growth and a fresh start .

Wow ! I mean, can you believe how Sammy Lee turned his life around? He was lost after leaving Liverpool but found a new family at Osasuna and it totally changed everything . The way he talks about how important friendship and finding like-minded people were to him is so true . And wow, the fact that he didn't even speak Spanish when he moved there and still managed to thrive .

I mean, can you imagine if Sammy Lee had stuck with Liverpool? He'd probably still be wearing that ugly yellow jersey . But seriously, it's awesome how he found a new family at Osasuna – I guess you could say they helped him "taste the difference" between Spain and Scouse . Seriously though, it's great to see him finding his passion again and giving back as a coach. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to work with Bolton after going through all that?

I don't trust that story about Sammy Lee leaving Liverpool and suddenly finding success in Pamplona . Sounds like he just jumped ship when things got tough on the pitch... 90 miles south-east, huh? What's really going on there? Anyway, I guess his language skills not being a priority back then actually ended up being a blessing (or so he thinks ). But let's be real, if he couldn't even bother to learn Spanish when he was young, how do we know he wouldn't have struggled again in Spain? And what about all the people who got left behind at Liverpool? Not saying it wasn't necessary for growth or anything... just thinking he might've been running away from his problems

idk how sammy lee still got a good thing outta leavin liverpool lol he was literally lost without the club, but yeah i guess movin 2 pamplona changed everything. spanish lessons didn't even seem like a big deal back then but boy did they pay off!

and omg his story about friendship and findin like minded people is so true it's not just about the football, its about the people around u who make u grow as a person. i mean, if u r feelin lost like sammy lee then maybe that's a sign 2 reevaluate ur priorities

anyway, im glad he found his purpose again at osasuna and props 2 koeman 4 bein understanding about his language skills u never know what's goin on behind closed doors lol

I think what's really cool about Sammy Lee's story is how he found that balance between enjoying the game and taking care of himself. He could've easily gotten stuck in the pressures of being a pro player, but instead, he used those experiences to fuel his growth both on and off the pitch . And I love how he talks about finding like-minded people and friendship as key to his success - that's something we can all relate to . It's also great to see him give credit to the coaches who supported him, especially Ronald Koeman for being understanding of his language limitations .

omg u guys I just read about Sammy Lee's journey to Pamplona he left Liverpool & it was literally the best thing that happened 2 him lol I can relate like when I moved to LA & it felt like a whole new world my grandma lives there 4 years now & she said she never wants 2 leave anyway Sammy Lee credits his friends & finding like-minded people 4 his success he says leaving Liverpool was hard but u gotta grow & find ur purpose I'm defo inspired by him 2 take risks & try new things

I think leaving Liverpool was the best thing that happened to Sammy Lee ! It sounds like he found a new family and sense of purpose at Osasuna . Friendship is everything in football, and it's great to hear how his friendships helped him grow as a person . Plus, who needs to speak Spanish when you've got amazing teammates like Pedro Zabalza? Just kidding, but seriously, being understanding with language limitations is super important . Sammy Lee's story shows that you can always find new opportunities and passions beyond your current situation . Can't wait to see what he does next !

Think about it, some people say leaving your comfort zone is growth