Ambassador: Steve McManaman
Thursday, August 30, 2012
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Of all England's footballing exports in the modern era, none were as successful as former Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF midfielder Steve McManaman.
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Date of birth: 11/02/1972
Nationality: English
Playing career: Liverpool FC, Real Madrid CF, Manchester City FC
Of all England's footballing exports in the modern era, none were as successful as McManaman. In four seasons at Real Madrid he won two Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League winners' medals, and in a team blessed with talent, he was a regular presence.
He was perhaps never more influential than in the 2000 UEFA Champions League final, when crowned a man-of-the-match performance against Valencia CF as midfield foil to the flighty Fernando Redondo with a sweetly-struck goal. The Merengues won 3-0.
McManaman was never an England regular, bowing out with 37 caps, but found international acclaim after a free transfer to Madrid in 1999. He wound down his career at Manchester City where he retired in 2005, aged 33, and has since worked in ambassadorial roles and as a pundit.