With just over a month to go until the Premier League season begins, Total Football’s Simon Wright will be looking back at the players, teams and goals that have lit up the 20 years of what is widely regarded as the world's greatest league.
The next player featured in the Premier League icon series is former Football League Championship winner and an integral part in Liverpool’s treble of cups in 2001, Gary McAllister.
Name: Gary McAllister
Clubs he played for in the Premier League: Leeds United (1992-1996), Coventry City (1996-2000), Liverpool (2000-2002)
Clubs he managed for in the Premier League: Aston Villa (2011)
Honours: Football League championship winner 1992, four years as Scotland captain, awarded an MBE in the 2001 New Years Honours List, FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup winner 2001
PL Appearances: 325
Goals: 30
A successful playing career that lasted nearly two decades, Gary McAllister enjoyed a lot of success as a player. He won league championships, domestic cup silverware and a final flourish with Liverpool in 2001 won him the UEFA Cup too.
McAllister was a calming figure on the field who rarely lost his cool and became a vital ingredient to any team he played for, especially with his uncanny presence behind a dead ball situation.
After early spells North of the Border with Motherwell and in England with Leicester City, it was at Leeds United where Gary’s career really began to blossom.
He was part of a strong midfield quartet alongside Gordon Strachan, David Batty and Gary Speed that helped the Yorkshire side usurp Manchester United to become the last Football League champions in 1992, before the formation of a whole new ball game.
McAllister went onto captain the side in the last two years of his time at Elland Road and became a true fans favourite with Leeds supporters for his blistering strikes, tough tackling and strong leadership.
He was never shy of finding the net too, with seven goals in season 1993-94, the best in his Premier League career.
The Scot captained Leeds in the 1996 League Cup final but it ended in a one-sided 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Thirteenth in the table was a disappointing final finish, although he did score a superb hat-trick against Coventry in October 1995.
Ron Atkinson was so impressed by Gary’s performance that day; he bought him for the following season.
Calm at Coventry
The Sky Blues paid Leeds £3m in June 1996 for McAllister, which considering he was now 32 seemed to be quite an expensive deal.
The Midlands side got the most out of McAllister, who represented them 119 times over four years, including as an ever-present for two of those campaigns.
When Atkinson move into a director of football position at Highfield Road, McAllister worked under his former team-mate Strachan again and unsurprisingly, became captain. His first season was a real struggle, as the club flirted with relegation.
He built a solid partnership in the centre of midfield with Dutchman George Boateng after the side’s escape from the drop in 1997 and was actually performing incredibly well as he grew wiser with age.
He was well respected within football and Liverpool was his next port of call in 2000, for a final flourish.
Trophy glory with Liverpool
Upto this stage of his career, Gary had only won the league championship but that was about to change.
Gerard Houiller signed him on a Bosman at the age of 35 in July 2000 and although he wouldn’t be a regular at Anfield, his impact in the closing weeks of the 2000-01 season will never be forgotten by anyone connected with the club.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, McAllister scored a dramatic free-kick from over 40 yards out to snatch a dramatic victory for Liverpool at Goodison Park.
This was only his second ever goal as a Reds player and what a moment it was, in a stormy match.
Three days later, his penalty beat Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi-finals and another spot kick was converted successfully the following Sunday against Tottenham.
Next up was his former side Coventry, who once again were in a relegation battle. Sami Hyypia headed the visitors infront with eight minutes to go and then, they won a free-kick.
McAllister took it and bent the ball superbly past the despairing Chris Kirkland. Match of the Day commentator John Motson called it; “I don’t believe it, four in four, Gary McAllister!” Coventry went down and Liverpool headed for three cup wins (the Worthington Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup) along with third place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification.
Houiller called McAllister his most inspirational signing and many fans were bewildered by his magnificent impact on the treble winning season. His role in the famous UEFA Cup triumph in Dortmund was pivotal, winning him man of the match.
He left Liverpool in May 2002 after becoming a Kop hero, scoring nine crucial goals in just under 90 appearances for the club.
Management battle
Gary went back to Coventry to become player manager but resigned from the post two years later, to spend more time with his family.
A spell as Leeds boss didn’t work out either and he was sacked in December 2008, shortly after a humiliating defeat in the FA Cup second round to part-timers Histon.
Further coaching roles at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa followed and when Houiller was sidelined as Villa boss through health problems, McAllister took temporary charge and guided the club to excellent wins over Arsenal and Liverpool.
He was cruelly given the chop when Alex McLeish was made Houiller’s permanent successor in June 2011.
Gary McAllister was a loyal and respected gentleman within football. He left many great memories with the clubs he represented and has a special place in the hearts of Liverpool fans, especially for his contribution to the club’s return to regular silverware winning at the start of the millennium.
NEXT TIME ON PREMIER LEAGUE ICONS: The saviour of The Dell and a true Saint if there ever was one, Matt Le Tissier.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
Comments
Post a Comment