Gary McAllister
Encyclopedia
Gary McAllister MBE
(born 25 December 1964 in Newarthill
, Motherwell) is a Scottish
former professional footballer
.
McAllister played primarily as a midfielder
, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell
before moving south of the border to Leicester City
at the age of 20. He then went on to play for Leeds United
, and he later had spells at Coventry City
intersected by a brief, yet triumphant, stint at Liverpool
.
McAllister also represented his national side
for nine years, winning 57 caps
and scoring five goals. His leadership qualities were noticed, and he spent four successful years as Scotland captain in addition to two seasons as Leeds United captain. He was awarded an MBE
in the 2001 New Year Honours in recognition of his contribution to football.
As his playing career drew to a close he decided to enter the managerial side of the game. He did this first during his second stay at Coventry when he was appointed manager in April 2002. He resigned a month later and did not enter management again until he returned to Elland Road
in January 2008 to replace Dennis Wise
.
. His senior debut was away to Queen of the South
on 1 May 1982. McAllister scored eight goals
in 70 appearances, culminating in a fine performance in the 1985 Scottish Cup
semi-final against Celtic
.
manager Gordon Milne
. He signed for the English
club, along with Motherwell team-mate Ally Mauchlen, for a combined fee of £250,000 in August 1985. Although Mauchlen’s greater experience cast McAllister as the 'make-weight' in the deal, he soon rose to prominence as an attacking force in Leicester midfield, impressing manager and fans alike with his accurate passing to feet, and confident range of skills on the ball. During his first season at Filbert Street he adapted well to regular First Division football, and began to rise to prominence in creating chances for a team that included Steve Lynex
and Alan Smith.
During Leicester’s ultimately unsuccessful campaign to stave off relegation to Division Two
that season under Milne’s successor Bryan Hamilton
, McAllister found himself employed in a variety of midfield and forward roles, which affected his form. After Hamilton was replaced by David Pleat
, however, his stylish playmaking abilities began to draw the attention of several Division One
teams.
Over the following three seasons his reputation grew at worksop , boosted by a respectable goal tally from midfield that included an uncommon number of well-executed strikes from unfavourable positions. The only ever-present player during the 1988/89 season, McAllister was the subject of constant transfer speculation throughout the following term, and he turned down a mooted £1.15 million move to Nottingham Forest to see out his contract with Leicester after Brian Clough
apparently failed to impress him during an interview.
In five seasons with Leicester, McAllister played 225 games in total, scoring 52 goals.
when he left for Sheffield United
. The club had just achieved promotion to Division One
, the top tier of English football
at the time. Leeds performed well in McAllister's first season
at Elland Road, finishing fourth in the table and reaching the League Cup
semi-finals.
He formed a strong midfield
quartet that season with fellow Scottish international Gordon Strachan
and relative youngsters David Batty
and Gary Speed
. This midfield was the force behind the success of the 1991–92 season
, in which Leeds United were crowned League Champions
.
The title-winning team owed a lot to the midfield. The side had little international talent in attack or defence (although full backs Tony Dorigo
and Mel Sterland
were both full internationals) and so much of the onus was on Strachan, McAllister, Wales international
Speed and England
's Batty to provide that required class. The quality of the midfield was that any of the four could slot into whichever area they needed to be in, be it left, right or centre, though Batty tended to be the holding midfield player whilst McAllister, Strachan and Speed provided the creativity. McAllister's dead-ball
skills were also utilised by top-scorer Lee Chapman
, who scored the majority of his goals from headers and thrived off the service provided by McAllister and Strachan's free kicks
.
The rest of McAllister's time at Leeds saw the club fail to recapture those heights. The highest the club finished during this period was fifth in the 1993–94
and 1994–95
seasons and the lowest was 17th in the 1992–93 season
– one of the lowest-placed finishes of a defending league champion in English football history. Despite this, he captained the side for two seasons and won a special place in the hearts of Leeds United fans with his fine attitude, blistering long-range strikes and trademark free kicks
.
Although his final season
with Leeds may have been a disappointing 13th, it allowed McAllister to achieve one of his first footballing ambitions – to captain a side at Wembley Stadium. He led his team out in the 1996 League Cup Final
, but it wasn't to be and Aston Villa
won 3–0.
In his six seasons with the club, McAllister played 294 games in total, scoring 45 goals.
and then former Leeds team-mate Gordon Strachan
. McAllister was a big name recruit to Big Ron's team of 96–97. Yet the side, well garnished with typical Atkinson flair in the form of Noel Whelan
, John Salako
and Darren Huckerby
never seemed to quite 'click' in the way of league results. Atkinson went upstairs to become 'Director of Football' in late 1996 in order to make way for Strachan. Strachan's team continued to struggle that season but would go on to stage one of the Premiership's greatest ever escapes. With McAllister captaining the side, the Sky Blues would secure an away draw against Arsenal and wins against Chelsea, Liverpool (away) and Tottenham Hotspur (away) to secure a seemingly impossible salvation. Strachan's first full season as manager in 97/98 saw the Sky Blues turn the corner and McAllister play a key role controlling the midfield helped by George Boateng
. They played some fine football in a fast attacking side spearheaded by Darren Huckerby
and Dion Dublin
, well placed in the table and reaching the FA Cup quarter finals in 1998. His final season at the club was like his time at Coventry in microcosm, a poor start – including defeat by Tranmere Rovers in the league cup – followed by a stylish and creditable finish. Some of the home form is regarded by many City fans as among the best of the previous decade with Robbie Keane
and Cedric Roussel
leading the attack. The Sky television team even calling them 'The Entertainers' at one point thanks to a two-month unbeaten autumn schedule culminating in victory over Aston Villa and a memorable Keane effort to beat Arsenal
. That said, Coventry's habit of letting opponents off the hook and failing to find any kind of edge away from home prevented a top 10 finish. The line-up included the likes of Robbie Keane
, Mustapha Hadji
, Carlton Palmer
, Mo Konjić and Youssef Chippo
in a side, however indifferent on their travels, capable of beating the very best opponents in flamboyant style at Highfield Road
. Having experienced a difficult start at the club, McAllister won over the fans and remains a respected figure at Coventry City. During his time at the Sky Blues he played 140 games and scored 26 goals.
. Not many would have doubted McAllister's ability, but many Reds fans questioned manager Gérard Houllier
's decision to sign a player who was by now 35 years old. Though serving for a relatively short time at Anfield
, he played an integral role in the team that won a treble of cups in the 2000–01 season
. Houllier described McAllister as his "most inspirational signing".
McAllister continued to be a first-class exponent of the dead-ball and frequently demonstrated his skill as he presided over most of Liverpool's set pieces in that season. He scored a penalty
winner against Spanish
side Barcelona
in the UEFA Cup
semi-final and followed it up with a memorable 44-yard
free-kick that won the Merseyside derby
against local rivals Everton
in the fourth minute of stoppage time, thereby cementing himself into Anfield folklore
. Further examples of this talent came in the run-in against Coventry City
and Bradford City
. These vital goals helped to take Liverpool into the Champions League
and led many to suggest that the club had signed him ten years too late.
However, McAllister saved his best for those two finals the following May. He came on as a substitute
in the FA Cup Final and his performance, together with Michael Owen
's goals, turned the match after Liverpool had seemed to be heading for defeat against Arsenal
. Four days later he was named in the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup Final
against Deportivo Alavés
in Dortmund
. McAllister scored one, and had a hand in three, of the five Liverpool goals in a memorable 5–4 victory. He slotted home a penalty and Alaves' Delfi Geli
scored a golden
own goal
from his 117th minute free-kick. He was deservedly awarded the man of the match
award for his efforts and completed the season's success by scoring a penalty in Liverpool's 2–1 win over Manchester United
in the Charity Shield
at the start of the next season.
During his time at Anfield his presence, intelligent play and experience made a strong impression on the younger members of the squad and he seemed to inspire those around him when they found themselves in difficulty. This is one of the qualities that have led to his nickname
The Enforcer by which he was known throughout his career.
McAllister left Anfield on 13 May 2002 to take up the role of player-manager of Coventry City. He ended his Liverpool career with an emotional send-off with a substitute appearance in a 5–0 win over Ipswich Town
. The whole ground stood and applauded the "Kop hero" and despite only being with Liverpool for two years, he had featured 87 times and scored nine goals. In recognition for his contribution to the club's success, McAllister was named as number 32 in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop survey
.
international winning over 50 caps. After claiming the equaliser on his debut for Scotland 'B' against France in April 1987, McAllister went on to represent Scotland
at full international level on 57 occasions, scoring 5 goals. He was earmarked to be a key member of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
squad before suffering a serious injury and had previously captained the 1996 European Football Championship team.
replaced him three days later.
, who had presided over Leeds' 1–0 away defeat to Southend United
. Leeds lost the game 2–0 to Tranmere Rovers
and slipped to eighth in the table and it became clear that McAllister would need to turn the tide if Leeds were to regain a play-off
spot.
The new manager bagged his first win at the fifth attempt, in a 1–0 away victory over Swindon Town
, before following it up with his first home victory against Bournemouth
, in which Leeds beat the relegation-threatened side 2–0.
Leeds chairman Ken Bates
rewarded McAllister for his hard work and the team's good form – just two defeats in 12 games – by offering him a new 12-month rolling contract on 3 April 2008. Bates cited McAllister's general improvement of team performances and his planning for the club's future as reasons for offering him the new contract.
McAllister's task of getting The Whites into The Championship the same season took considerable steps forward, as Leeds secured their spot in the play-offs with a 1–0 at Yeovil Town
on 25 April 2008. But Leeds lost to Doncaster, 1–0 in the play-off final. During his second season as manager McAllister was sacked on 21 December 2008 after a poor string of results, which included an FA Cup defeat to part-time club Histon
.
about replacing Steven Pressley
as Scotland's third coach; however, on 25 September 2009, it was revealed that he rejected the opportunity as he was holding out for a job at club level.
On 29 September 2009, it was reported that McAllister would become Portsmouth F.C.
assistant manager, but he couldn't agree a deal with Portsmouth F.C.
On 20 May 2010, he was appointed as Middlesbrough first-team coach, where he will team up once again with Gordon Strachan
.
He made a return to the field to take part in Jamie Carragher
's testimonial match.
to become the next assistant manager at Villa Park. McAllister had previously played under Houllier when the Frenchman was in charge of Liverpool
. After Houllier was rushed to hospital Mcallister was installed manager for the Premier League game against Stoke which ended in a 1-1 draw although McAllister then lead Aston Villa to a 2-1 away win against Arsenal
and a 1-0 home win over Liverpool. It was announced on the 17th June 2011 that after the appointment of Alex McLeish
as manager that McAllister would not return to the club.
Leeds United
Liverpool
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 25 December 1964 in Newarthill
Newarthill
Newarthill is a village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, situated roughly three miles north-west of the town of Motherwell. It has a population of around 7,800. The Member of Parliament for the local area is Pamela Nash. The Member of the Scottish Parliament for the local area is Michael McMahon...
, Motherwell) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
McAllister played primarily as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
before moving south of the border to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
at the age of 20. He then went on to play for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, and he later had spells at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
intersected by a brief, yet triumphant, stint at Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
McAllister also represented his national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
for nine years, winning 57 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
and scoring five goals. His leadership qualities were noticed, and he spent four successful years as Scotland captain in addition to two seasons as Leeds United captain. He was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2001 New Year Honours in recognition of his contribution to football.
As his playing career drew to a close he decided to enter the managerial side of the game. He did this first during his second stay at Coventry when he was appointed manager in April 2002. He resigned a month later and did not enter management again until he returned to Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
in January 2008 to replace Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
.
Motherwell
McAllister began his playing career at his local side MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
. His senior debut was away to Queen of the South
Queen of the South
For other uses see Queen of the South Queen of the South is an alternative title for the Queen of Sheba. The phrase Queen of the South is used in the New Testament and is attributed to Jesus Christ....
on 1 May 1982. McAllister scored eight goals
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
in 70 appearances, culminating in a fine performance in the 1985 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
semi-final against Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
Leicester City
McAllister's performances in the cup caught the eye of Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
manager Gordon Milne
Gordon Milne
Gordon Milne is an English former footballer and football manager.-Personal life:Gordon Milne, was born in Preston, Lancashire, England and is the son of the former Preston player Jimmy Milne, and son to Jesse Milne...
. He signed for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club, along with Motherwell team-mate Ally Mauchlen, for a combined fee of £250,000 in August 1985. Although Mauchlen’s greater experience cast McAllister as the 'make-weight' in the deal, he soon rose to prominence as an attacking force in Leicester midfield, impressing manager and fans alike with his accurate passing to feet, and confident range of skills on the ball. During his first season at Filbert Street he adapted well to regular First Division football, and began to rise to prominence in creating chances for a team that included Steve Lynex
Steve Lynex
Stephen Charles "Steve" Lynex is an English former professional footballer who made 360 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, and played in the League of Ireland and in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup for Shamrock Rovers....
and Alan Smith.
During Leicester’s ultimately unsuccessful campaign to stave off relegation to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
that season under Milne’s successor Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years. He is currently Technical Director at Antigua Barracuda F.C.-Playing career:Born in Belfast,...
, McAllister found himself employed in a variety of midfield and forward roles, which affected his form. After Hamilton was replaced by David Pleat
David Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
, however, his stylish playmaking abilities began to draw the attention of several Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
teams.
Over the following three seasons his reputation grew at worksop , boosted by a respectable goal tally from midfield that included an uncommon number of well-executed strikes from unfavourable positions. The only ever-present player during the 1988/89 season, McAllister was the subject of constant transfer speculation throughout the following term, and he turned down a mooted £1.15 million move to Nottingham Forest to see out his contract with Leicester after Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
apparently failed to impress him during an interview.
In five seasons with Leicester, McAllister played 225 games in total, scoring 52 goals.
Leeds United
McAllister arrived at Leeds United on 2 July 1990 for a tribunal-determined fee of £1,000,000, and replaced the role vacated by Vinnie JonesVinnie Jones
Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
when he left for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. The club had just achieved promotion to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, the top tier of English football
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
at the time. Leeds performed well in McAllister's first season
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
at Elland Road, finishing fourth in the table and reaching the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
semi-finals.
He formed a strong midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
quartet that season with fellow Scottish international Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
and relative youngsters David Batty
David Batty
David Batty is an English retired professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder....
and Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
. This midfield was the force behind the success of the 1991–92 season
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
, in which Leeds United were crowned League Champions
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
.
The title-winning team owed a lot to the midfield. The side had little international talent in attack or defence (although full backs Tony Dorigo
Tony Dorigo
Anthony Robert Dorigo is a retired English football player who played for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leeds United and the England national side as a left-back.-Career:...
and Mel Sterland
Mel Sterland
Melvyn "Mel" Sterland is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United and in the Scottish Football League Premier Division for Rangers, and was capped once for England.-Playing career:Sterland's career is distinctly in two...
were both full internationals) and so much of the onus was on Strachan, McAllister, Wales international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
Speed and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
's Batty to provide that required class. The quality of the midfield was that any of the four could slot into whichever area they needed to be in, be it left, right or centre, though Batty tended to be the holding midfield player whilst McAllister, Strachan and Speed provided the creativity. McAllister's dead-ball
Dead ball
Dead ball is a phenomenon in many sports in which the ball is deemed temporarily not playable, and no movement may be made with it or the players from their respective positions of significance...
skills were also utilised by top-scorer Lee Chapman
Lee Chapman
Lee Chapman is an English former footballer who scored almost 200 first-team goals as a striker. He was best known for his spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United...
, who scored the majority of his goals from headers and thrived off the service provided by McAllister and Strachan's free kicks
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
.
The rest of McAllister's time at Leeds saw the club fail to recapture those heights. The highest the club finished during this period was fifth in the 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
and 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
seasons and the lowest was 17th in the 1992–93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
– one of the lowest-placed finishes of a defending league champion in English football history. Despite this, he captained the side for two seasons and won a special place in the hearts of Leeds United fans with his fine attitude, blistering long-range strikes and trademark free kicks
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
.
Although his final season
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
with Leeds may have been a disappointing 13th, it allowed McAllister to achieve one of his first footballing ambitions – to captain a side at Wembley Stadium. He led his team out in the 1996 League Cup Final
1996 Football League Cup Final
The 1996 Coca-Cola Cup Final took place on 24 March 1996 at Wembley Stadium and was contested between Aston Villa and Leeds United. This was the 35th final and the 29th to be played at Wembley...
, but it wasn't to be and Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
won 3–0.
In his six seasons with the club, McAllister played 294 games in total, scoring 45 goals.
Coventry City
McAllister left Leeds for Coventry City on 26 July 1996, for a fee of £3,000,000. He stayed there for four seasons and played firstly under Ron AtkinsonRon Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
and then former Leeds team-mate Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
. McAllister was a big name recruit to Big Ron's team of 96–97. Yet the side, well garnished with typical Atkinson flair in the form of Noel Whelan
Noel Whelan
Noel Whelan is a former English professional footballer who last played for Darlington. He has previously played for a number of league clubs including Leeds United, Coventry City and Middlesbrough...
, John Salako
John Salako
John Salako is an English former professional football player who played for a variety of clubs and has also represented England at senior level. He was a part of the Crystal Palace team which reached the 1990 FA Cup Final. A severe knee injury sustained against Leeds United in 1991 put him out...
and Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...
never seemed to quite 'click' in the way of league results. Atkinson went upstairs to become 'Director of Football' in late 1996 in order to make way for Strachan. Strachan's team continued to struggle that season but would go on to stage one of the Premiership's greatest ever escapes. With McAllister captaining the side, the Sky Blues would secure an away draw against Arsenal and wins against Chelsea, Liverpool (away) and Tottenham Hotspur (away) to secure a seemingly impossible salvation. Strachan's first full season as manager in 97/98 saw the Sky Blues turn the corner and McAllister play a key role controlling the midfield helped by George Boateng
George Boateng
George Boateng is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest in The Championship.-Club career:...
. They played some fine football in a fast attacking side spearheaded by Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...
and Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin , is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an...
, well placed in the table and reaching the FA Cup quarter finals in 1998. His final season at the club was like his time at Coventry in microcosm, a poor start – including defeat by Tranmere Rovers in the league cup – followed by a stylish and creditable finish. Some of the home form is regarded by many City fans as among the best of the previous decade with Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
and Cedric Roussel
Cédric Roussel
Cédric Roussel is a Belgian football striker currently at RUS Beloeil in France.-Career:In 1997, Roussel took part in the FIFA World Youth Championship...
leading the attack. The Sky television team even calling them 'The Entertainers' at one point thanks to a two-month unbeaten autumn schedule culminating in victory over Aston Villa and a memorable Keane effort to beat Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. That said, Coventry's habit of letting opponents off the hook and failing to find any kind of edge away from home prevented a top 10 finish. The line-up included the likes of Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
, Mustapha Hadji
Mustapha Hadji
Mustapha Hadji in Ifrane, Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco is a former Moroccan footballer.-Early life:Hadji was born in Ifrane, Morocco. He immigrated with his family to France.-Club career:Mustapha Hadji began playing football there...
, Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Lloyd Palmer is a former English professional football player who played as a midfielder, most notably for Sheffield Wednesday.-Playing career:...
, Mo Konjić and Youssef Chippo
Youssef Chippo
Youssef Chippo is a footballer from Morocco. He was a renowned midfielder on the national squad during the 1990s, and was a member of the team that participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.- Club career :...
in a side, however indifferent on their travels, capable of beating the very best opponents in flamboyant style at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
. Having experienced a difficult start at the club, McAllister won over the fans and remains a respected figure at Coventry City. During his time at the Sky Blues he played 140 games and scored 26 goals.
Liverpool
On 1 July 2000, McAllister completed a surprise move to Liverpool in a Bosman transferBosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
. Not many would have doubted McAllister's ability, but many Reds fans questioned manager Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....
's decision to sign a player who was by now 35 years old. Though serving for a relatively short time at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, he played an integral role in the team that won a treble of cups in the 2000–01 season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
. Houllier described McAllister as his "most inspirational signing".
McAllister continued to be a first-class exponent of the dead-ball and frequently demonstrated his skill as he presided over most of Liverpool's set pieces in that season. He scored a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
winner against Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
side Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
semi-final and followed it up with a memorable 44-yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
free-kick that won the Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
against local rivals Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the fourth minute of stoppage time, thereby cementing himself into Anfield folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. Further examples of this talent came in the run-in against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. These vital goals helped to take Liverpool into the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and led many to suggest that the club had signed him ten years too late.
However, McAllister saved his best for those two finals the following May. He came on as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
in the FA Cup Final and his performance, together with Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
's goals, turned the match after Liverpool had seemed to be heading for defeat against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Four days later he was named in the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup Final
2001 UEFA Cup Final
The 2001 UEFA Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Alavés of Spain on 16 May 2001 at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2000–01 edition of Europe's secondary cup competition, the UEFA Cup. Liverpool were...
against Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
. McAllister scored one, and had a hand in three, of the five Liverpool goals in a memorable 5–4 victory. He slotted home a penalty and Alaves' Delfi Geli
Delfí Geli
Delfí Geli i Roura is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a right defender.-Club career:...
scored a golden
Golden goal
The golden goal is a method used in association football, field hockey, ice hockey and korfball to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of regulation time. It is a type of sudden death. Golden goal rules allow the team that scores the first goal during...
own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
from his 117th minute free-kick. He was deservedly awarded the man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
award for his efforts and completed the season's success by scoring a penalty in Liverpool's 2–1 win over Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the Charity Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
at the start of the next season.
During his time at Anfield his presence, intelligent play and experience made a strong impression on the younger members of the squad and he seemed to inspire those around him when they found themselves in difficulty. This is one of the qualities that have led to his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
The Enforcer by which he was known throughout his career.
McAllister left Anfield on 13 May 2002 to take up the role of player-manager of Coventry City. He ended his Liverpool career with an emotional send-off with a substitute appearance in a 5–0 win over Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. The whole ground stood and applauded the "Kop hero" and despite only being with Liverpool for two years, he had featured 87 times and scored nine goals. In recognition for his contribution to the club's success, McAllister was named as number 32 in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop survey
Statistical survey
Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....
.
Scotland
He was also a ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international winning over 50 caps. After claiming the equaliser on his debut for Scotland 'B' against France in April 1987, McAllister went on to represent Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at full international level on 57 occasions, scoring 5 goals. He was earmarked to be a key member of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
squad before suffering a serious injury and had previously captained the 1996 European Football Championship team.
Coventry City
McAllister had a fairly indifferent spell in management with his former club Coventry. However, he resigned on 12 January 2004 so that he could devote more time to his family, McAllister's former assistant Eric BlackEric Black
Eric Black is a former professional football player who played for Aberdeen and Metz. He played in attack. He won 2 international caps for Scotland. He was caretaker manager at Birmingham City following the departure of Steve Bruce. He is currently caretaker manager at Sunderland A.F.C...
replaced him three days later.
Leeds United
After almost four years out of the game, McAllister, who was part of the squad the last time Leeds had won the League Championship, was appointed the new manager of Leeds United on 29 January 2008 with an initial contract until the end of the season. The club was sitting in sixth place after former boss Wise's surprise departure to Newcastle and the new manager's first game came four days after his appointment. McAllister had not had sufficient time to get to know his new players, so the selection duties were primarily on technical director Gwyn WilliamsGwyn Williams
Gwyn Williams is Leeds United's Technical Director, and he is a former Chelsea FC chief scout who discovered John Terry and helped make a £14m profit on Tore André Flo for the London side.-Chelsea:...
, who had presided over Leeds' 1–0 away defeat to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. Leeds lost the game 2–0 to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and slipped to eighth in the table and it became clear that McAllister would need to turn the tide if Leeds were to regain a play-off
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
spot.
The new manager bagged his first win at the fifth attempt, in a 1–0 away victory over Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, before following it up with his first home victory against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, in which Leeds beat the relegation-threatened side 2–0.
Leeds chairman Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....
rewarded McAllister for his hard work and the team's good form – just two defeats in 12 games – by offering him a new 12-month rolling contract on 3 April 2008. Bates cited McAllister's general improvement of team performances and his planning for the club's future as reasons for offering him the new contract.
McAllister's task of getting The Whites into The Championship the same season took considerable steps forward, as Leeds secured their spot in the play-offs with a 1–0 at Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on 25 April 2008. But Leeds lost to Doncaster, 1–0 in the play-off final. During his second season as manager McAllister was sacked on 21 December 2008 after a poor string of results, which included an FA Cup defeat to part-time club Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
.
After Leeds
Since being sacked by Leeds he has made his interest known for the Motherwell manager's job, which he did not manage to get. On 22 September 2009, it was revealed that he was in talks with ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
about replacing Steven Pressley
Steven Pressley
Steven John "Elvis" Pressley is a retired Scottish footballer, who is now the manager of Scottish First Division club Falkirk. Pressley had a long playing career, playing for both halves of the Old Firm and making over 100 league appearances for both Dundee United and Hearts...
as Scotland's third coach; however, on 25 September 2009, it was revealed that he rejected the opportunity as he was holding out for a job at club level.
On 29 September 2009, it was reported that McAllister would become Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
assistant manager, but he couldn't agree a deal with Portsmouth F.C.
On 20 May 2010, he was appointed as Middlesbrough first-team coach, where he will team up once again with Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
.
He made a return to the field to take part in Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher
James Lee Duncan "Jamie" Carragher is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool...
's testimonial match.
Aston Villa
On 18 September 2010, it was announced on the official Aston Villa website that McAllister had accepted a offer from Gérard HoullierGérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....
to become the next assistant manager at Villa Park. McAllister had previously played under Houllier when the Frenchman was in charge of Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. After Houllier was rushed to hospital Mcallister was installed manager for the Premier League game against Stoke which ended in a 1-1 draw although McAllister then lead Aston Villa to a 2-1 away win against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and a 1-0 home win over Liverpool. It was announced on the 17th June 2011 that after the appointment of Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
as manager that McAllister would not return to the club.
Playing career
| Club | Season | League | Domestic League | Scottish Cup Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The... |
Scottish League Cup Scottish League Cup The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps 56 | Goals 11 | Apps 31 | Goals 5 | Apps 678 | Goals 786 | Apps 1 | Goals 3 | Apps 71 | Goals 53 | Apps | Goals | |||
| Motherwell Motherwell F.C. Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998... |
1981–82 1981-82 in Scottish football The 1981–82 season was the 85th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: CelticRelegated: Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians-Scottish League Division One:Promoted: Motherwell, Kilmarnock... |
SD1 | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 | 0 |
| 1982–83 1982-83 in Scottish football The 1982–83 season was the 86th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:In a tightly fought contest Dundee United win their first and only title this season. The league remains undecided until the last day of the season with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United in contention... |
SPL Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
1 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 | 0 | |
| 1983–84 1983-84 in Scottish football The 1983–84 season was the 87th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: St... |
21 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 21 | 0 | ||
| 1984–85 1984-85 in Scottish football The 1984–85 season was the 88th season of competitive football in Scotland. This is the last time a non Old Firm club has won the Scottish Premier title.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dumbarton, Morton.... |
SD1 | 35 | 6 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 35 | 6 | |
| 1985–86 1985-86 in Scottish football The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,... |
SPL Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland... |
1 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 59 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 6 | ||
| Club | Season | League | Domestic League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Others | Total | ||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
1985–86 1985-86 in English football The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to... |
Div 1 Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
31 | 7 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 31 | 7 |
| 1986–87 1986-87 in English football The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off... |
39 | 10 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 39 | 10 | ||
| 1987–88 1987-88 in English football The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season.... |
Div 2 Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
42 | 9 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 42 | 9 | |
| 1988–89 1988-89 in English football The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital... |
46 | 11 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 46 | 11 | ||
| 1989–90 1989-90 in English football -European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :... |
43 | 10 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 43 | 10 | ||
| Total | 201 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 47 | ||
| Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
1990–91 1990-91 in English football The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager... |
Div 1 Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
38 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 6 |
| 1991–92 1991-92 in English football - First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister... |
42 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 5 | ||
| 1992–93 1992-93 in English football The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions.... |
Prem | 32 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 10 | |
| 1993–94 1993-94 in English football The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years... |
42 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 8 | ||
| 1994–95 1994-95 in English football -Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw... |
41 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 6 | ||
| 1995–96 1995-96 in English football - Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title.... |
36 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 10 | ||
| Total | 231 | 31 | 24 | 6 | 26 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 294 | 45 | ||
| Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
1996–97 1996-97 in English football The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :... |
Prem | 38 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 7 |
| 1997–98 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 1998-99 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker... |
29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 4 | ||
| 1999–00 | 38 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 13 | ||
| Total | 119 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 26 | ||
| Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
2000–01 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons... |
Prem | 30 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 7 |
| 2001–02 2001-02 in English football The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... |
25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 2 | ||
| Total | 55 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 87 | 9 | ||
| Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
2002–03 2002-03 in English football The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable... |
Div 1 Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
41 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 9 |
| 2003–04 2003-04 in English football The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game.... |
14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 14 | 3 | ||
Club honours
Motherwell- 1984–851984-85 in Scottish footballThe 1984–85 season was the 88th season of competitive football in Scotland. This is the last time a non Old Firm club has won the Scottish Premier title.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dumbarton, Morton....
— Scottish Division OneScottish Football League First DivisionThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
Leeds United
- 1991–921991-92 in English football- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
— League ChampionshipEnglish football championsThe English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the... - 19921992-93 in English footballThe 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
— Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition... - 19961995-96 in English football- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
— League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
(Runner Up)
Liverpool
- 20012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
— League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... - 20012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
— FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... - 20012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
— UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... - 20012001-02 in English footballThe 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
— Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition... - 20012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
— UEFA Super Cup
Personal honours
- Scotland national football team roll of honour — 57 Caps
- MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
– Services to football. - 2001 UEFA Cup Final2001 UEFA Cup FinalThe 2001 UEFA Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Alavés of Spain on 16 May 2001 at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2000–01 edition of Europe's secondary cup competition, the UEFA Cup. Liverpool were...
- Man of the MatchMan of the matchIn sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a... - Coventry City Player of the Year (1999–2000)