Gary McAllister was 35 when he joined the Reds on a free transfer from Coventry City in the summer of 2000, with eyebrows understandably raised as a result.
Steven Gerrard certainly wasn't initially impressed by his arrival.
the veteran quickly became an Anfield cult-hero, and played a vital role in the Reds' treble-winning season that year
The former Scotland international was 35 years old when Gerard Houllier brought him to Anfield on a free transfer from Coventry City
Phil Thompson
Working with Gerard Houllier, he came to me one day and said, ‘I think we’re going to sign Gary McAllister,” Thompson recalled
"I said, ‘Gary McAllister?! He’s 35, isn’t he?’ He said, ‘Yeah,’ and I went, ‘Do you think that’s sending out the wrong message?’
“We were trying to build up a very young team and get rid of a few of the older players, so I feared it was sending out the wrong message to the fans."
“He said, ‘Look, Phil. I’ve spoken to Gary and I’ve spoken to his agent, Struan. First thing he’s told me is he’s not just coming here to make up numbers. Gary wants to come and play and wants to make sure that he’s in the team.’
“I said to Gerard, ‘Okay, I’ll bow down to your better knowledge.’ How f*****g wrong was I?!”
Gary McAllister
To be fair, one of the main inspirations was one of the fanzines,” McAllister revealed.
"The editor of one of the fanzines said, ‘If this guy plays more than five games for Liverpool, I’ll show my backside in Marks & Spencer Liverpool.’ So I used that as a wee bit of inspiration.”
“The biggest fear I had prior to signing was my agent Struan (Marshall), who fortunately looked after Steven (Gerrard), Carra (Jamie Carragher), and Emile Heskey"
“He had a few players at Liverpool and my fear was Struan, bearing in mind I went to Coventry purely for money, 100%. But I was coming to Liverpool and I made it clear to Struan, ‘Listen, don’t go in there and ask for too much so Liverpool walk away from this deal.’
“To get to Liverpool at 35, it’s like I’m going there for nothing. But I ended up getting paid better than I did at Coventry so he did pretty good!
“But then it just became pretty clear after five or six training sessions and three or four games that there were a lot of good players here. I think the younger ones over the years have said that I inspired and helped them. But I’ve got to say, I was inspired by them as well.”
Gerrard
“When another wise head, Gary McAllister, joined Liverpool, I was not alone in the dressing room in wondering what the hell Gerard was doing,”
“He seemed an odd buy. Okay, he was once a terrific midfielder for Leeds United and Scotland, but McAllister was now 35, his best days were surely behind him.
“His arrival was of particular concern to me. Would he limit my appearances? 'It's a bit of a strange signing,' I remarked to the lads when Gerard wasn't around. 'Isn't McAllister over the hill? I've seen him play for Coventry recently and, yeah, he's he's good, but why've we signed him?' No-one came up with an answer.
“The word from above was that McAllister had been brought in as cover. I rang my agent, Struan Marshall, who knew McAllister well.
“'Stru, what's all this about?' I asked. 'Don't worry, Stevie,' replied Struan. 'Gary Mac will be brilliant for Liverpool, and for you as well. Listen to him. Learn from him.' F**k off, Stru,' I said. 'McAllister can f*****g well learn off me!'
“How wrong I was. Meeting this intelligent Scot was an important moment in my career. As a midfielder and a man, Gary Mac was special. He strolled into the dressing room at Melwood and immediately went around all the players introducing himself. That was class.
“We knew who Gary bloody McAllister was, but that gesture showed his modesty. We liked that. He also had the medals, the caps and poise that trigger instant respect. It felt like football royalty breezing into Melwood. Should I bow?
“Gary was never destined for the ressies. No chance. Almost immediately, he was a fixture in the first team, directing operations like a general at a battle, turning the game Liverpool's way with his vision and touch. What a player.
“And what a teacher. On away trips, I timed my run to the bus so I could sit next to McAllister, absorbing advice. It felt like being on the school bus with the best master next to me. Every journey was like a lesson, with me as the awestruck pupil...
“His opinion was valued by everyone. Macca was one of those players who could stop a training session and suggest something and everyone listened, even the coaches. Just watching Gary in training improved me. He was a masterclass on legs.”
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