Heysel remembered: Liverpool plan new memorial to mark 40 years | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Heysel Memorial: Honouring the Past With ‘Forever Bound’

Liverpool FC have announced the creation of a new memorial at Anfield to mark the 40th anniversary of the Heysel disaster, a tragedy that remains etched into the fabric of European football history. As May 29 approaches, the club is preparing to pay tribute to the 39 lives lost in Brussels during the 1985 European Cup final against Juventus.

Forever Bound in Memory

The club’s new tribute, titled Forever Bound, will replace the existing plaque by the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand. Although not unveiled on the anniversary itself, the memorial will be installed later this summer. This timing reflects a mutual respect between Liverpool and Juventus, who are also unveiling a new tribute in Turin.

Ian Rush, who played that night in 1985, and Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan will attend the Turin ceremony. Juventus representatives will later visit Anfield to attend the Liverpool unveiling, reinforcing the shared bond between the two clubs.

Rush, speaking at the announcement, said: “To see a new memorial created with such care means a lot and it’s incredibly important to have a fitting tribute to remember the 39 fans who lost their lives. We must never forget why this matters, and why we continue to stand together in solidarity, all these years later.”

Photo IMAGO

A Design With Symbolism and Solidarity

Made from cast bronze, the new sculpture will feature two intertwined scarves – one adorned with the Liverbird and the other with Juventus’ iconic zebra. The Italian phrase In Memoria E Amicizia (In Memory and Friendship) will be engraved above, a continuation of the message on the current plaque.

Beneath the sculpture, white Italian porcelain will carry the names of the 39 victims. The final inscription – YNWA – will serve as a solemn reminder of Liverpool’s enduring message: You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Liverpool and Heysel: A Pain That Endures

The legacy of Heysel has long shaped Liverpool’s relationship with European football and its own identity. This new memorial is not only a step forward in remembrance, but a continued expression of responsibility and reconciliation.