Lionel Scaloni has admitted his mistake in the 2006 FA Cup final prevented West Ham United from lifting the trophy and shaped how supporters remember his short spell at the club.
The Argentina head coach joined Alan Pardew’s side on loan from Deportivo La Coruña in January 2006 as he sought regular football before that summer’s World Cup.
Scaloni made 17 appearances and featured throughout West Ham’s run to the final against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium.
Speaking before Argentina’s World Cup semi-final against England, Scaloni accepted his six months in east London could have ended differently.
“It could have gone better,” he said. “The West Ham people won’t have a good memory, because that FA Cup was already in our hands.”
The latest interview with Scaloni also saw him describe the incident as a serious error which changed his life.
Scaloni accepts responsibility for Gerrard equaliser
West Ham led Liverpool 3-2 in stoppage time before Scaloni’s attempted clearance returned possession to Rafael Benítez’s side.
The ball was eventually cleared towards Steven Gerrard, whose long-range strike beat Shaka Hislop and forced extra time.
Liverpool later won the penalty shootout 3-1, leaving West Ham without an FA Cup triumph for the first time since 1980.
Scaloni admitted the trophy had felt within West Ham’s grasp before his mistake.
“It was ours, and we lost it,” he said.
His comments reopen one of the most painful moments in the club’s modern history. However, former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has previously argued the blame should not fall entirely on Scaloni.
Ashton, who scored in the final, recently discussed West Ham’s memorable cup run during an exclusive interview with Read West Ham.
Two decades later, Scaloni’s West Ham career remains closely linked to Gerrard’s equaliser. The Argentina manager now accepts why the moment continues to define his time in east London.
