John Lukic will go down in Arsenal folklore after being part of the side that won the title at Anfield in the final game of the 1988/89 season.
The goalkeeper was an ever-present in George Graham’s team during that campaign and will forever be remembered for starting the move that led to Michael Thomas’ last-gasp winner against Liverpool.
Lukic joined the Club from Leeds United in July 1983 as a long-term replacement for Pat Jennings - no easy task. He was established as the Gunners’ No 1 by the following season and was part of the team that lifted the League Cup at Wembley in 1987.
Lukic was eventually replaced by David Seaman in the summer of 1990 and returned to Leeds, where he won the league title two years later.
However, his career took another twist when he rejoined Arsenal in 1996 as understudy to Seaman and four years later was on the bench for Arsenal’s Uefa Cup final defeat to Galatasaray.
Lukic became the oldest player to feature in a Champions League match when, in October 2000, he played against Lazio at the age of 39 years and 311 days. That record has since been surpassed by Danny Verlinden, Alessandro Costacurta and Marco Ballotta.
Lukic retired in 2001 after 298 appearances for the Club.
John Lukic
