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Birthdate:
11.02.1972
Birthplace: Bootle, Liverpool, England
Other clubs: Real Madrid, Manchester City
Bought from: Local
Signed for LFC: £0 19.02.1990 (signs as professional)
International debut: 16.11.1994 vs. Nigeria
International caps: 37/3 (24/0 at LFC) 06.10.2001
Liverpool debut:
15.12.1990
Last appearance: 16.05.1999
Debut goal: 21.08.1991
Last goal: 01.05.1999
Contract expiry: 01.07.1999
LFC league games/goals: 272 / 46
Total LFC games/goals: 364 / 66
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Player Notes:
Ian Rush was once asked to name the most promising player in Liverpool's ranks and he replied Steve McManaman. Macca, who was an Everton supporter, arrived at Liverpool at 14 years of age. Ten days after his first u-21 international, Steve got his first taste of first team action when he came on as a substitute against Sheffield United at Anfield. He next appeared 1 1/2 year later and was in the starting line-up in the opening game of the 1991/92 season. Macca had a sensational season, playing 51 games and scoring 10 goals and crowned it with a man of the match performance in the FA cup final at Wembley against Sunderland. He kept on going the following season by playing 41 and scoring 7. The 1993/94 only produced two goals and people started to criticize his goal-scoring ability.
When Roy Evans took over in 1994, Macca was given a free role and no longer being tied to the wings, inspired Macca to new heights. Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 6-1 in the first game of the season, Macca scoring twice, his first goals in 363 days. The league cup was won for the 5th time, Macca scoring both goals with another man of the match performance. He continued his good form into 1995/96, which was his best season for Liverpool. Liverpool showed championship form at times but all ended in disappointment. The summer went well though for him when he starred for England in Euro 96, reaching the semi-finals. He has later failed to reproduce his form for England, drawing comparisons with John Barnes.
That autumn speculation was rife that Juventus and Barcelona were going to offer 12 million pounds for him. Liverpool sparkled again in 1996/97, but all went haywire in the end. Steve missed a game in November, the first game he missed in two years. He seemed tired and teams tried more and more to stifle him by having one player chase him around for 90 minutes. Macca did well enough to be on the five-man shortlist for the player of the year. In 1997-98 captain John Barnes left Liverpool and Macca, now the most experienced player in the side, became vice-captain to Paul Ince. He scored 12 goals that season, including two superb solo goals vs. Celtic and Aston Villa.
Halfway through the season the Spanish newspaper El Mundo quoted a Barcelona vice-president as saying that a deal had been agreed with the player and the club. Rumours begin spreading that Macca had gone to Spain for contract negotiations, but when he arrived there was noone to be seen. LFC spokesman's response was decisive and claimed that there had been "no contact with Barcelona Football Club since last August", confirming that Barcelona had indeed shown a genuine interest. What really happened between Barcelona, McManaman and Liverpool's board remains to be seen. Chairman David Moores is understood to have agreed to McManaman's wage demands at LFC, but the majority of the board didn’t want to sanction this kind of money for fear of sparking a wage explosion. At least it is not fair to villify McManaman completely for leaving under the Bosman rule.
Macca's ninth and last season was not a pleasant one. Tiredness had set in from playing constantly for years and niggly injuries prevented him from impressing new boss Gerard Houllier. In the beginning of November, Macca was ordered to take a complete rest until Christmas. At the end of January, he announced he would be leaving for European champions Real Madrid. It soon became apparent that Real only wanted to make a quick buck off Macca and tried to sell him for 6 million pounds soon after his arrival. Real discovered the lad could also play and he starred in the Champions league final in his first season, scoring a superb goal.
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