Steve McManaman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Steve McManaman

McManaman in a 2017 charity match
Personal information
Date of birth	(1972-02-11) 11 February 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth	Bootle, Lancashire, England
Height	6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m)
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
1988–1990	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1990–1999	Liverpool	272	(46)
1999–2003	Real Madrid	94	(8)
2003–2005	Manchester City	35	(0)
Total		401	(54)
National team
1991	England U19	2	(0)
1990–1993	England U21	7	(1)
1994–2001	England	37	(3)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Steven McManaman (born 11 February 1972) is an English former professional footballer. He played as a winger. Many people say he was one of the most successful English players to play for a club outside England.

He spent nine years at Liverpool. There, he won the FA Cup and League Cup. He also helped his teammates score many goals. In 1999, McManaman moved to Real Madrid. This was a very famous transfer because he moved for free. At Real Madrid, he won the Spanish league (La Liga) and the UEFA Champions League twice. He was the first English player to win the Champions League with a non-English club. He then became the first English player to win it a second time. He won eight trophies in four years with Madrid. After that, he played two seasons for Manchester City before retiring in 2005.

Since he stopped playing, McManaman works as a football commentator. He commentates for ESPN and TNT Sports. He is also an ambassador for La Liga.

Early Life and Football Start

McManaman was born in Bootle, a town in Liverpool. He grew up supporting Everton, a rival team to Liverpool. His favourite players were Everton's Bob Latchford and Duncan McKenzie.

Even though Everton offered him a contract, his father chose an offer from Liverpool. McManaman signed with Liverpool as a 16-year-old in 1988. He learned a lot from older players like John Barnes. Many people thought McManaman could become as good as Barnes. He was also a natural athlete and a cross-country running champion at school.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Liverpool

Starting Out: 1990–1993

McManaman joined Liverpool's youth team and became a professional player in 1990. He made his first team debut on 15 December 1990. This was a game against Sheffield United. He came on as a substitute.

In 1991, he played his first full game against Oldham Athletic. He helped his mentor, John Barnes, score the winning goal. Four days later, on 21 August 1991, he scored his first goal. It was a diving header against Manchester City.

He quickly became a regular player in the 1991–92 season. He played 51 games that year. On 9 May 1992, he started in the 1992 FA Cup final. Liverpool beat Sunderland 2–0. McManaman was named the best player in the match. He was the youngest player on the field.

Big Success and Fame: 1993–1995

McManaman became known as one of England's best young wingers. People often compared him to Ryan Giggs of Manchester United. They were both known for their amazing dribbling skills.

In the 1994–95 season, McManaman signed a new contract. His new manager, Roy Evans, gave him a free role in the middle of the field. This allowed him to use his dribbling skills all over the pitch. This was a great decision.

That season, he won the League Cup. He scored two goals in the 2–1 win against Bolton Wanderers. Fans called it "The McManaman Final." He was again named the best player in the final. Even the famous player Stanley Matthews praised him. Matthews said McManaman reminded him of himself when he played.

By the end of the 1995–96 season, McManaman was the top player for assists in the Premier League. He had 25 assists that season. He was seen as one of the best midfielders in England.

Consistent Play and Impact: 1995–1997

McManaman was known for being very flexible in his playing style. He could play on both wings, in central midfield, or even as a forward. He made the "free role" work for Liverpool. This helped Liverpool play exciting attacking football. He was one of the few players who could make fans excited every time he touched the ball.

From 1996 to 1998, McManaman often won "Man of the Match" awards. Other teams' managers had to assign a player just to mark him. Bryan Robson, the manager of Middlesbrough, said, "if you stop McManaman, you stop Liverpool."

Contract Talks and Leaving Liverpool: 1997–1999

In 1997, Liverpool tried to sell McManaman to Barcelona. They were worried he might leave for free later. The deal didn't happen, and McManaman said he didn't want to leave Liverpool. He just wanted a fair new contract.

He was named Liverpool's stand-in captain in the 1997–98 season. But contract talks continued to be difficult. He decided he wanted to play abroad. Many European clubs were interested in him. In January 1999, he signed a pre-contract with Real Madrid. He became the highest-paid British footballer at that time. He chose not to wear a Real Madrid shirt at the signing. This was out of respect for Liverpool fans.

McManaman's last season at Liverpool was tough. The new manager, Gérard Houllier, was changing the team. McManaman also had some injuries. Some fans were upset about his contract situation. However, Houllier still played him. McManaman scored important goals in his final games. In his very last match for Liverpool, he received a standing ovation from the fans.

Playing for Real Madrid

Champions League Win: 1999–2000

On 1 July 1999, McManaman joined Real Madrid. He had played 364 games and scored 66 goals for Liverpool. He was only the second English player to ever play for Real Madrid. He was also the first player from the Premier League to move to Madrid.

When he first arrived, he found it a bit lonely. But he quickly became popular with Real Madrid fans. He scored three goals and created many chances in pre-season games. On 22 August 1999, he made his debut. He helped Real Madrid win 2–1 against Mallorca. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 home win.

Under new coach Vicente del Bosque, McManaman played a key role. Real Madrid reached the Champions League Final. On 24 May 2000, in Paris, McManaman scored a spectacular goal. Real Madrid won 3–0 against Valencia. He was named the best player of the match. He became the first English player to win the Champions League with a non-English club.

Staying Strong in Madrid: 2000–01

Even after winning the Champions League, McManaman faced challenges. A new club president, Florentino Pérez, arrived. He signed famous player Luís Figo. McManaman was told he might be sold. He refused to leave, even when he was told he might not play much. The club even didn't give him a squad number at first.

Real Madrid accepted offers from other clubs, but McManaman turned them down. He was determined to stay and prove himself. Fans supported him, and other players spoke up for him. The manager, Del Bosque, also secretly thought highly of him.

McManaman eventually got back into the team. He became a regular player again. He played as a left-winger. He helped Real Madrid win their 28th La Liga title. This was their first league title in four years. He also made 42 appearances that year.

Second Champions League Win: 2001–02

The club president eventually praised McManaman for his loyalty. Johan Cruyff, a famous football legend, called McManaman the "most useful player" in the Real Madrid team. He said McManaman helped the superstar players shine.

In December 2002, McManaman made history again. He became the first Englishman to captain Real Madrid. This happened in a special game against a FIFA World XI team.

Another great moment came in the 2002 Champions League semi-final. Real Madrid played against Barcelona. McManaman came on as a substitute and scored a crucial goal. Real Madrid won 2–0. This win helped them reach the final. In the 2002 Champions League Final, McManaman came on as a substitute. Real Madrid won 2–1 against Bayer Leverkusen. This gave him his second Champions League winner's medal.

Final Season in Madrid: 2002–03

In his last season, McManaman was often a substitute. He still scored a couple of goals. He also helped new signing Ronaldo score. He played in the famous 4–3 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Despite playing fewer games, McManaman won his second La Liga medal. He also won the Intercontinental Cup in Japan. In 2003, Real Madrid signed David Beckham. This meant McManaman would play even less. He helped Beckham settle in. After the pre-season, McManaman left the club.

Playing for Manchester City

Joining Kevin Keegan: 2003–2004

In 2003, McManaman returned to the Premier League. He joined Manchester City to play for his former England manager, Kevin Keegan. He reunited with several old teammates like Robbie Fowler and David James.

He made his debut on 14 September 2003. Manchester City won 4–1 against Aston Villa. He started well, and the team had a good run of wins. However, by Christmas, the team's results dropped. McManaman also got injured again.

Last Season and Retirement: 2004–2005

In the 2004–05 season, McManaman struggled with injuries. He also lost his preferred position to a younger player. He couldn't find his old form and speed. He had changed his playing style at Real Madrid. He focused more on simple passes and keeping the ball. This was different from his earlier flair.

McManaman played for Manchester City for two seasons. After Kevin Keegan resigned in March 2005, McManaman didn't play another game. He was released by the club in May 2005.

He retired from playing football after this. He finished his career with 566 appearances and 80 goals.

International Career with England

Playing for England's Youth Teams: 1990–1993

McManaman made history by playing for the England under-21 team before playing for Liverpool's first team. This happened in October 1990. In February 1993, he captained the under-21 team for the first time. He scored a goal in a 6–0 win against San Marino.

Senior Team and Euro 1996: 1993–1997

Terry Venables gave McManaman his first full England cap on 16 November 1994. It was in a friendly match against Nigeria.

He played very well for England at UEFA Euro 1996. He earned praise from the legendary player Pelé. Pelé said McManaman was the player he was "most impressed" by. He even called him "one of the best players in Europe."

In the tournament, McManaman showed off his amazing dribbling skills. He helped England score important goals. In a 4–1 win against the Netherlands, he was involved in three of England's goals. He was named in the official Team of the Tournament.

Later England Years: 1997–2001

McManaman struggled to get picked by the new England coach, Glenn Hoddle. Even though he was playing well for his club, Hoddle often chose other players. McManaman played only one game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute for 17 minutes.

When Kevin Keegan became England manager, he quickly brought McManaman back into the team. Keegan believed McManaman was one of Europe's best midfielders. On 4 September 1999, McManaman scored his first two goals for England. This was in a 6–0 win against Luxembourg.

At UEFA Euro 2000, McManaman scored his third and final goal for England. He scored in the opening game against Portugal. However, he got injured early in the second half and missed the rest of the tournament. England was knocked out in the group stage.

His last England games were in 2001 under new coach Sven-Göran Eriksson. He helped set up David Beckham's winning goal against Finland. However, after a few more games, he was no longer selected for the England squad. His Real Madrid teammates, like Zinedine Zidane, thought England made a mistake by not picking him for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

How Steve McManaman Played

McManaman was a hard-working and skilled player. He usually played as a winger or sometimes as a central midfielder. His favourite position was as an attacking midfielder. He was fast, strong, creative, and had amazing dribbling skills. He could also pass and cross the ball well with both feet. This helped him create many chances for his teammates.

He was sometimes criticised for not scoring many goals. But he made up for this with many assists. He had a great understanding with players like Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. Owen said that Liverpool's team was built around McManaman.

The goals he did score were often amazing. One famous goal was a solo effort against Celtic. He dribbled 75 yards before scoring. In 2016, he was even nominated as England's best dribbler of all time.

After Football: His Career Now

Coaching and Media Work

In 2009, McManaman said he wanted to become a manager. In 2013, he started a coaching role at the Liverpool academy. He helped train young players like Trent Alexander-Arnold.

McManaman at a charity match to raise money for those in poverty in 2014

McManaman also started working in the media in 2005. He became a commentator and pundit. He provided analysis for ITV for the 2005 UEFA Champions League final. He later worked for ESPN and BT Sport (now TNT Sports). He is known for his direct comments. He has covered many big tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships.

Other Roles

McManaman at a memorial match for Liverpool in 2009

McManaman has played in many charity football matches. In 2006, he was involved in the film Goal II: Living the Dream. He was an associate producer and appeared in the movie. He has also played in charity games with famous athletes like Thierry Henry and Jason Kidd.

He is an ambassador for UEFA and La Liga. He promotes these competitions around the world. In 2019, he also became a FIFA ambassador.

Personal Life

McManaman's family has a history with horseracing. His grandfather was a bookmaker. McManaman himself has invested in racehorses with Robbie Fowler.

He married Victoria Edwards in 2002. She is a lawyer and taught law in Madrid. They have three children: Ella (born 2006), Lara (born 2009), and Lucas James (born 2012). The family lives in London and Cheshire.

McManaman is a Roman Catholic. He has spoken about his faith.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McManaman goal

List of international goals scored by Steve McManaman

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	4 September 1999	Wembley Stadium, London, England	25	Luxembourg	2–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying Group 5
2					5–0
3	12 June 2000	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	29	Portugal	2–0	2–3	UEFA Euro 2000 Group A

Honours and Awards

Liverpool

• FA Cup: 1991–92
• Football League Cup: 1994–95

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03
• Supercopa de España: 2001
• UEFA Champions League: 1999–2000, 2001–02
• UEFA Super Cup: 2002

Individual Awards

• Alan Hardaker Trophy: 1995 (Best player in the League Cup Final)
• PFA Team of the Year: 1996–97 Premier League (Chosen as one of the best players in the league)
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996 (Chosen as one of the best players at the Euro 1996 tournament)
• Premier League Player of the Month: December 1997

Images for kids

• 

  McManaman at a charity match to raise money for those in poverty in 2014

• 

  McManaman at a memorial match for Liverpool in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Steve McManaman para niños