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Steve McMahon is what can only be described as a rare breed.
From a Goodison Park ball boy to becoming Sir Kenny Dalglish’s first signing.
What he achieved during his time as a player is never likely to be repeated again. And, if it is, it will be hugely controversial.
Born into an Everton-mad family, McMahon rose through the ranks and was eventually the man tasked with leading his side out.
He would later go on to receive the ultimate compliment from Bob Paisley, as well as captaining the Reds.
McMahon
I’m not sure,” he replies when asked will anyone follow in his footsteps
“Who knows? I captained both, and I played for both.
“I played with both player-managers, which I believe will never be done again. I was just proud to be a Scouser, basically, and play for two fantastic clubs.
“I’m proud, as I say, to be a Scouser. I played for Everton and captained Everton. I played for Liverpool and captained Liverpool. It doesn't get much better than that."
McMahon added
“I didn’t walk out on Everton; I would have gladly signed a new contract with Everton, but Howard Kendall, God bless him, didn’t tell the truth about why I left,
“My contract was up. They didn’t offer me what I was worth. I had been there for three years as a pro, with the same money; nothing changed, and it was an insult, to be fair, as to what they offered me.
“I wasn’t prepared to accept that. I was captain, a local boy, and I just thought they were taking the mickey out of me, out of local guys. You had other people coming in, and it didn’t sit well with me, so I decided to leave."
McMahon admits he actually rejected the chance to move across Stanley Park when he left Everton, turning down a double-your-money offer from Liverpool.
“I could have signed for Liverpool in the first place,” he recalls. “I spoke to Bob Paisley, and whatever Villa offered me, Liverpool said they would double it, basically.
“But I just felt it wasn’t the right time for me to move straight from Everton with all the stuff that was going on.
“So I decided to make a clean break and move to Villa. By the way, Villa were a good side and had just won the European Cup.
“In the end, it worked out because I got a second bite of the cherry, and I wasn’t going to turn it down.
“People say, 'What was it like to play against Everton once you have been captain at Everton?' I say it would be quite easy because football was my game.
“I settled in straight away. Ultimately, I scored the winning goal after three games against Everton at Goodison Park. So I hit the ground running."
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