Steve McManaman

The first English player to win the UEFA Champions League with a non-English club, and later the first to win it twice.

Steven McManaman (born 11 February 1972) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He is one of the most decorated English footballers to have played for a club abroad, with the UEFA website stating in 2012 that 'of all England's footballing exports in the modern era, none was as successful as McManaman'.

Quick Facts

Full name: Steven McManaman
Born: 11 February 1972
Birthplace: Bootle, Lancashire, England
Height: 1.83 m / 6 ft
Position: Winger
Total caps: 401
Total goals: 54

Lore & Background

During his nine years at Liverpool where he was the club's talisman from the mid-1990s until his departure, McManaman won the FA Cup and League Cup, while individually, he was the Premier League's top assist provider for the 1995–96 season and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 1996–97 season. His influence on games was such that for opposition managers it was a case of 'stop McManaman, you stop Liverpool'. In 2026 McManaman was listed at number 38 in an official club poll of Liverpool's greatest players, with the club's site regarding 'McManaman and fellow Scouser Robbie Fowler as the spearheads of a hugely entertaining team.'

With contract negotiations over a new Liverpool deal floundering, McManaman moved to Real Madrid in 1999, with the transfer becoming one of the most high-profile Bosman free transfers of all time. Amongst his accomplishments with Madrid, he won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League twice, becoming the first English player to win the latter trophy with a non-English club, and later became the first English player to win it for the second time. An early Galáctico, he won eight trophies and played in 11 cup finals in four years and made the semi-finals of the Champions League in each of his four years at the club. He went on to play two seasons at Manchester City before retiring in 2005.

Reader's Guide

Since his retirement, McManaman works as a co-commentator on ESPN and TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport)'s football coverage, as well acting as a La Liga ambassador. He previously worked as a football pundit for Setanta Sports.

Did You Know?

McManaman was born in Bootle, Lancashire, and grew up as an Everton supporter, with boyhood heroes Bob Latchford and Duncan McKenzie.
He signed as a 16-year-old apprentice for Liverpool in 1988 after his father rejected a two-year contract from Everton.
McManaman scored his first professional goal with a diving header on 21 August 1991 in a 2–1 away defeat to Manchester City.
He was named man of the match in the 1992 FA Cup final, having set up the winning goal for Michael Thomas.
In the 1994–95 League Cup final, he scored twice in a 2–1 win over Bolton Wanderers, earning the Alan Hardaker Trophy and praise from Stanley Matthews.