Steve McManaman: Liverpool Legend, Loved By Madrid, Ignored By The England National Team

JAKARTA - Steve McManaman. True Liverpool and Real Madrid fans will know this name. Nicknamed Shaggy because of his thin body similar to the character in the cartoon Scooby Doo, this great winger is fond of combing the left and right sides of the field to make assists or break into opponents' goals.

Macca, as he is called, is the most successful British player to have played abroad. Wearing Real Madrid during the period 1999-2003, he successfully won various prestigious trophies. La Liga 2000-01 and 2002-03, Champions League 2000 and 2002, European Super Cup 2002, Spanish Super Cup 2001 and 2003, and Intercontinental Cup 2002.

Obtained for free from Liverpool, while defending Los Blancos, Macca played in 152 games with a score of 14 goals. He forged a strong midfield partnership with Fernando Redondo, particularly in the Champions League, as Madrid beat defending champions Manchester United and Bayern Munich to reach the 2000 final.

In the top party played at the Stade de France, Paris, McManaman recorded his best moment as a player. He scored a spectacular volley in Los Blancos' 3-0 win over Valencia.

His performances on the club's biggest football stage earned Macca the man of the match trophy by the British press, an award which had the backing of Sir Alex Ferguson, who said: "I thought McManaman was amazing ... no doubt he was the man of the. match ... He was a threat throughout the night and provided tremendous penetration from the midfield. The boy was always blessed with extraordinary stamina and he had the confidence to pass the players, "reported The World Games.

McManaman's participation in Madrid's eighth Champions League triumph also made him the first English player to win Europe's premier club competition with a foreign club. Unfortunately, since Lusi Figo's arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu, slowly, Macca's position has been shifted by the Portugal captain.

In tribute to McManaman, four years after he left the club, former coach Vicente del Bosque told Spanish newspaper Marca McManaman and Geremi are the two most important players in his squad, because "together they keep the whole team together.

Del Bosque added, "I really like Macca. He is a caballero, a man, a wonderful man; he always smiles, he never complains, he is great, a leader. He relates to everyone very well; he brings people together. people. He had a bad time (towards the end) with achilles pain, but every day he trains with the same attitude. He is an example ... and also a good footballer, very good. Fantastic player in every way . "

McManaman is also listed as a club legend on Real Madrid's official website, with a legacy that is remembered as a "versatile Englishman", and is described as the man who "in just four seasons, won the heart of Madrid. A blend of gentlemanly character both inside and outside. the pitch, combined with the teamwork and quality of the team ensures that the Englishman is one of the players most loved by the fans ... McManaman's natural position is on the right, but during his time at Real Madrid he has played in every position in midfield. His ability to change positions makes him a very flexible player. "

In the 10 El Clasico parties he has lived, Macca only suffered one defeat to Barcelona, on 21 October 2000 with a score of 2-0 through goals from Luis Enrique and Simao Sabrosa. The rest, Macca got 3 wins and 6 draws. The following is the complete data:

La Liga

- 19 September 1998

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 2–2

Goalscorers: Raul (6, 25), Kluivert (12), Anderson (82)

- February 14, 1999

Barcelona vs Real Madrid 3–0

Goalscorers: Luis Enrique (4, 36), Rivaldo (80)

- October 13, 1999

Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2–2

Goalscorers: Rivaldo (28), Figo (49) Raúl (26, 86)

- February 26, 2000

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 3–0

Goalscorers: Roberto Carlos (5), Anelka (19), Morientes (52)

- October 21, 2000

Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2–0

Goals scorers: Luis Enrique (26), Simão (79)

- March 3, 2001

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 2–2

Goalscorers: Raúl (6, 36), Rivaldo (35, 69)

- November 4, 2001

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 2–0

Goalscorers: Morientes (23), Figo (89)

- March 16, 2002

Barcelona vs Real Madrid 1–1

Goalscorers: Xavi (58), Zidane (38)

2001–02 Champions League semifinals

- Leg 1

Barcelona V Real Madrid 0–2

Zidane (55), McManaman (90 + 2)

- Leg 2

Real Madrid vs Barcelona 1–1

Raúl (43), Helguera (og 49)

Steven Theodore McManaman, born 11 February 1972. He is considered one of the best players of his generation, with the UEFA website stating in 2012 that "of all British football exports in the modern era, none has been as successful as McManaman".

After nine years as an idol of the Anfield community, during which time he won the FA Cup and the League Cup, McManaman moved to Real Madrid in 1999. The transfer became one of the most famous Bosman decisions of all time.

Macca became the first English player to win the UEFA Champions League with a non-English club in 2000, and two years later became the first English player to win the Champions League twice. He also won La Liga twice before moving to Manchester City in 2003.

Shaggy retired from playing in 2005. Since retiring, he has worked as a football expert for Setanta Sports, ESPN and BT Sport. He is also a La Liga Ambassador.

McManaman was born in Bootle, Merseyside. He grew up as an Everton supporter, his childhood heroes in football were Everton players; Bob Latchford and Duncan McKenzie. However, when Everton put Macca on a one-year contract (after McManaman made his mark at school tournaments and around Merseyside), his father refused and he accepted the offer of a two-year internship from Liverpool.

Macca signed an apprenticeship at the age of 16 after leaving school in 1988. While apprenticing, McManaman was under the tutelage of John Barnes - one of the players that McManaman replaced later on.

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A nature athlete and cross country champion at school level, McManaman developed through the youth scheme at Liverpool and signed as full professional on 19 February 1990, in Kenny Dalglish's final full season as manager.

The fan of The Simpsons and The Office television shows made his Liverpool debut under Dalglish as a substitute for Peter Beardsley in the Football League First Division on December 15, 1990, in a 2-0 league win over Sheffield United at Anfield.

He made his full debut the following season (under manager Graeme Souness) in a 2–1 win over Oldham Athletic; a game in which The Guardian newspaper reported that he "ran all day and helped his mentor Barnes score the winner by snapping a Mark Walters cross".

He scored his first professional goal with a diving header four days later on 21 August 1991 in the 1-2 defeat to Manchester City at Maine Road.

This fan of the Beatles and Radiohead bands is a hardworking, versatile and technically talented player. He is usually positioned as a winger, or occasionally as a central midfielder; his preferred position, however, is a more offensive and creative attacking midfielder, an unusual position in the Premier League throughout his career.

This attractive winger is a fast, strong, creative and energetic player, with outstanding dribbling skills and accurate passing and crossing skills with both feet. This enabled him to create opportunities and provide assists for his teammates as a playmaker. In the 1995-1996 season, Macca was named the highest assist scorer in the Premier League. He provided 15 assists when Liverpool finished third in 1996.

Who would feature in your 'Best ever team to never win the Premier League'❓There was a good pitch for former #LFC ace Steve McManaman on our recent Podcast ... 🗣Listen to the full pod here https://t.co / iYj7UmTq7s 🎧 pic.twitter.com/jK1HAsjY0Q

- 90's Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) June 14, 2019

Despite being able to score many assists, Macca has often been criticized for his inability to score many goals. In October 2016, McManaman was nominated for the best British dribbler award of all time, an award that was eventually won by Sir Stanley Matthews.

Here is a list of the highest assist scorers in the 90s

1. 1992/93: Eric Cantona (Leeds United and Manchester United) - 16 assists

2. 1993/94: Andy Cole (Newcastle United) - 13 assists

3. 1994/95: Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton) - 15 assists

4. 1995/96: Steve McManaman (Livepool) - 15 assists

5. Steve McManaman of Liverpool

6. 1996/97: Eric Cantona (Manchester United) - 12 assists

7. 1997/98: David Beckham (Manchester United) - 13 assists

8. 1998/99: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United) - 13 assists

9. 1999/00: David Beckham (Manchester United) and Nolberto Solano (Newcastle United) - 15 assists

During the Reds shirt, McManaman bagged a record 272 games with 46 goals. Unfortunately, the number of games and goals is not in balance with the number of trophies he has won at Anfield. The owner of the jersey number 17 then changed to 7 and was only able to collect the 1991–92 FA Cup and 1994–95 Football League Cup titles. However, that did not reduce the level of Kopites' love for Macca.

In addition to the rows of trophies won during the Liverpool and Real Madrid years, this is the award that Macca has won throughout his career.

- Alan Hardaker Trophy: 1995

- PFA Team of the Year: 1996–97

- UEFA European Championship Team of the - Tournament: 1996

- Premier League Player of the Month: - December 1997

- Premier League top assist provider: 1995–96

Steve McManaman has been described as a "forgotten Englishman" but has also been accused of being apathetic and casual and has a reputation for being a troublemaker.

The incident began before the event for Euro 96. Together with Teddy Sheringham and Paul Gascoigne, McManaman was photographed drinking in Hong Kong, and was later accused of causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to the cabin of Cathay Pacific's first class flight.

McManaman's reputation is also not helped by the fact that he is also known to be a pranker with Robbie Fowler. However, Gareth Southgate said, despite McManaman and Fowler's "ridiculous" behavior, they helped foster team spirit.

This skinny player scored a beautiful goal against Portugal in the 2000 European Cup group stage. Macca welcomed David Beckham's hitchhike to bring England 2-0 up in 17 minutes before losing 2-3.

In 2004, one journalist called for McManaman to be included in the Euro squad, arguing that McManaman's experience would be invaluable if he was included in the team. However, that suggestion was unsuccessful as McManaman decided to retire shortly thereafter.

Four years earlier, 90 Minutes magazine named McManaman as one of the 10 most overlooked British players of all time.

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