There are many remarkable things to note from Steve McManaman’s career, not least is his meteoric rise to the pinnacle of club football with Spanish giants Real Madrid. Very few English players left the rainy gloom of England to look for greener pastures, but McManaman found huge rewards for the move as he became the most successful English player to play abroad with 8 trophies.
His versatility was one of his key talents; he played in every midfield position throughout his career. What made him so coveted was his amazing work-rate, playmaking and swagger.
Real Madrid
Before all the Galactico glory, he was creating furor at Liverpool for the better part of a decade. Since debuting as an 18-years old under Kenny Dalglish, he never looked back and went on to become one of the hottest wingers in the Premier League. His time at the red part of Merseyside saw him pick up an FA Cup and a League Cup medal. Even though he didn’t score a load of goals, he made up for that with the sheer amount of assists he provided. Tabloid cover stories brought him criticism from many sources. Soon, the fans rode the wave of negativity as contract disagreements emerged and he was linked with Real Madrid. However, he ended his Liverpool chapter to a standing ovation and a heartfelt farewell.
Check out our other Retro Heroes –
Robbie Fowler
Les Ferdinand
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Andy Cole
David Seaman
Steve Finnan
Craig Bellamy
Trevor Sinclair
Tony Adams
Newer football fans might only recognise him from his punditry on BT Sport, but his quality and talent made him a very admirable player who broke the mold for Englishmen playing abroad.
High point: A man-of-the-match performance with Real Madrid at the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final against Valencia, which included a memorable volley in a 3-0 win.
Low point: Failing to score a single goal during a substandard couple of seasons at Manchester City to end his career with a whimper.
Nationality: English
Position: Midfielder
Goals Scored: 41
Total Appearances: 275
Yellow Cards: 14
Red Cards: 0
Teams Played for: Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City