Steve McManaman From liverpoolfc.tv

Steve McManaman From liverpoolfc.tv

PAST PLAYER PROFILE

Steve McManaman : Midfielder(1990-99)

Date of Birth: 11/2/72

Birthplace: Liverpool

Debut : 15th December 1990 v Sheffield United (H). Division One - won 2-0.

1st team games: 364

1st team goals: 66

Other clubs: Real Madrid

International caps while with Liverpool: 24

International goals while with Liverpool: -

Honours with Liverpool: FA Cup (1992) and Coca Cola Cup (1995)

PROFILE

Steve McManaman became the first high profile Liverpool player to leave the club on a Bosman-style free transfer when he joined Spanish giants Real Madrid during the summer of 1999.

A winger, blessed with exceptional dribbling skills, McManaman was raised just a stones throw away from Anfield, in nearby Kirkdale. A boyhood Evertonian he joined the Reds straight from school and as an apprentice cleaned John Barnes' boots.

He rose through the Anfield ranks and in December 1990 his progress was rewarded when he made his senior bow, appearing as a second half substitute for Peter Beardsley in a 2-0 home win against Sheffield United. The opening game of the following season saw him make his full debut against Oldham Athletic and four days later he scored the first of his - goals for the Reds in a 2-1 defeat at Maine Road.

He celebrated the end of his first full season in the first team by starring in the FA Cup final triumph over Sunderland and three years later he shone at Wembley again, scoring two goals and picking up the man-of-the-match award in the Coca Cola Cup Final success against Bolton Wanderers.

On the international front, McManaman won his first England cap against Nigeria in November 1994, coming on as a 25th minute substitute for the injured Robert Lee. His full debut came against Colombia in September 1995.

A scorer of spectacular goals, as fans of Celtic and Arsenal will testify, his emergence as one of the games most exciting talents brought him to the attention of Europe's leading clubs and he almost signed for Barcelona in September 1997.

At the start of the following season he was named club captain but it was to be his last at Anfield. In July 1999 he opted to sign for Real Madrid and he capped his first season at the Bernabeu with a stunning strike in the European Cup Final against