Steve McMahon
Encyclopedia
Stephen Joseph McMahon (born 20 August 1961) is an English
former football
midfielder
who most notably played for Liverpool
in the late 1980s. He is currently a football pundit for the Asia-based sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports
.
-born McMahon started his career at Everton
, the club he supported as a boy, playing for them as a teenager after appearing at Goodison Park
as a ball boy
. He made his league debut on 16 August 1980 in the 3–1 defeat to Sunderland
at Roker Park
, he went on to be voted the supporters player of the year by the end of the 1980/81 season. His commanding presence in the Toffees midfield earned him the captaincy of the club but Everton's lack of success couldn't quench his thirst for honours, so after 4 seasons which included 100 league appearances and 11 league goals McMahon was on the move.
He joined Aston Villa
on 20 May 1983 for £175,000 (apparently rejecting a move to Liverpool in order to stay in the good books of the Evertonians), he made his league debut on 27 August 1983 in the 4–3 derby win over West Bromwich Albion
at Villa Park. McMahon settled quickly and established himself in the heart of the Villains midfield. However the success he craved never materialised with Villa finishing a disappointing 10th in his first season at the club, and to confound matters his previous club, Everton, finished 3 places above them in 7th spot. The following season, 1984/85, ended up worse than the previous one as Villa finished in 10th spot again, only this time Everton won the title.
McMahon agreed to join Liverpool on the 12 September 1985 for £350,000 thus becoming the first signing to be made by new manager Kenny Dalglish
, and filling the void left by Graeme Souness
over a year earlier. He made his debut 2 days later on the 14th in the 2–2 league draw with Oxford United
at the Manor Ground. He didn't have to wait long for his first goal either, it came a week later on the 21 September against his former club, Everton. McMahon's 42nd minute strike turned out to be the winner as the Reds triumphed 3 to 2.
He played a crucial role in Liverpool's "double" winning side of that season, although his joy at winning a League championship medal was tempered slightly by his omission from the side for the FA Cup
final which again was ironically against rivals and former club Everton, the first all Merseyside
FA Cup final. However, he was more fortunate than the other players left out by Dalglish as McMahon was given the substitute's role and ended up with a winners' medal when Liverpool won 3–1, though he did not get on to the pitch.
The following year, McMahon this time started at Wembley when Liverpool contested the League Cup final
against Arsenal
. He set up the opening goal for Ian Rush
but they ultimately lost the match 2–1. He had earlier scored four goals in Liverpool's record 10–0 victory over Fulham
in the same competition. McMahon had also missed a penalty in the same game, which would have made him the only Liverpool player to score five goals in a competitive game that season but scored another hat-trick in the following round against Leicester. In total, he scored nine goals in the League Cup that season, as well as five in the league, totalling 14 in all competitions, although Liverpool enduring only their second trophyless season in more than a decade.
Dalglish reshaped the side the following season, incorporating new signings John Barnes, Peter Beardsley
, John Aldridge
and Ray Houghton
but McMahon remained in the side. By now his reputation as one of the best hardmen in the game was established. Though his tackling was often subjected to scrutiny by the football authorities and criticism from opposing players and managers, there was no doubt that his skills as a footballer were of the highest order.
McMahon scored frequently for a man in his position as Liverpool played some of the best club football ever seen and coasted to the 1988 League title. Memorable strikes included a 30 yard shot against Manchester United
and the opener in a crucial Merseyside derby against Everton, although Liverpool only won the latter of those two games. When Liverpool reached the FA Cup final again, McMahon was one of the team's two Scouse
rs (along with Aldridge) obliged to perform a localised rap
on the official FA Cup final song Anfield Rap
, written in a trend-encapsulating rap and house music
style by team-mate Craig Johnston
.
The song got to No.3 in the UK charts, but Liverpool surprisingly lost the final at Wembley to Wimbledon
. McMahon was afforded the ultimate respect by Vinnie Jones
, who said that if he could stop McMahon, then Wimbledon could stop Liverpool. Jones and Mcmahon locked horns early on, and Jones fouled Mcmahon aggressively early on in the game with a two footed tackle. In Jones's autobiography he recounted that he wanted to "take out their top man" and McMahon actually managed to smash Jones in the eye with his elbow on the way down from the tackle, which lead to a cut and scar on his face that remained on his face for a while.. Mcmahon also clashed with John Fashanu
and Dennis Wise
frequently throughout the match, as things got more physical although Liverpool lost on the day. McMahon was eventually voted second place in the PFA Player Of the Year Awards, the winner being his colleague John Barnes
. Liverpool dominated the awards that year and McMahon was seen as one of the best players in what many experts regarded as the most exciting Liverpool team of all time.
Later in 1988, McMahon won his first of 17 caps
for England
. There had been widespread clamouring in the press
for manager Bobby Robson
to select him, and indeed ITV
commentator Brian Moore
rapped a verse to that effect on the Cup final song ("Well Steve McMahon sure can rap, it's about time he had an England cap; so come on Bobby Robson, he's your man; 'cause if anyone can, Macca can!") with the last expression repeated in a scratch mix manner to emulate Melle Mel
's rap which eulogised Chaka Khan
on her 1984 hit I Feel For You. Robson awarded him his debut on the 17 February '88 in a friendly international with Israel
in Tel Aviv
. McMahon played the full 90 minutes along with fellow Reds Barnes and skipper Beardsley but couldn't influence a victory having instead to make do with a goalless draw.
In 1989 McMahon was again a regular fixture as Liverpool again chased a "double" of League and FA Cup. As one of the local lads in the team, he was deeply affected by the Hillsborough disaster
during the FA Cup semi-final on the 15 April, he, along with the rest of Liverpool F.C, showed great compassion and attended a number of the funerals. Brian Clough
was publicly critical of McMahon afterwards, although many people could understand the scousers determination to propel the Reds into the final which was to be played against Everton, a fitting final in many peoples eyes, he also wanted to bring the famous old trophy back to Anfield as a dedication to the 96 supporters who lost their lives.
Liverpool won the Cup by 3 goals to 2 – McMahon set up the opening goal for Aldridge after just 4 minutes of the final – but they lost the League title
in a decider at Anfield
against Arsenal
. Television viewers saw McMahon telling his team-mates they were one minute from victory and another "double" and shouting "come on!" to himself as the game's last seconds ticked away, only for Arsenal midfield player Michael Thomas to score Arsenal's late winner and win the championship.
McMahon again played frequently as Liverpool won back the title in 1990 but lost out on another "double" when they were beaten 4–3 by Crystal Palace
in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final, in which McMahon scored.
He was then selected by Robson for the England squad which would play in that summer's World Cup in Italy
. Competition was fierce as he had to compete with Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt and Neil Webb for a central midfield slot. McMahon came on as a substitute in the opening group game against the Republic of Ireland
, but was responsible for gifting the Irish side their equaliser in the 1–1 draw – he miscontrolled a ball midway inside his own half of the pitch and Kevin Sheedy, a former Everton team-mate of McMahon's, stole the ball and crashed a shot past Peter Shilton
. McMahon started the later group game against Egypt which England won, and then started the second round match against Belgium. He did not do a lot wrong in this game, but fatigue
and a tactical change saw him replaced by David Platt, who went on to score a spectacular winner and keep hold of his place right through until the semi-final defeat against West Germany
, scoring twice more during the tournament. McMahon did not feature again until the 3rd place play off against Italy. He would play just once more for England after the World Cup, in a Euro 92 qualifier against Republic of Ireland in November 1990.
Graeme Souness
had by now taken over as Liverpool Manager in 1991 and he immediately had some disagreements with some senior players including Mcmahon. In Souness's book, The Management Years he recounted that several players who were over 30 including Mcmahon were looking for bigger contracts at the end of their careers and were prepared to move elsewhere if their terms weren't met. There was also some resentment as new signings like Mark Wright were on bigger salaries, and the senior players wondered why players who had yet to win any trophies at Anfield could be earning more. Souness decided to sell Mcmahon, Houghton, and Beardsley as well as the young Steve Staunton
thus removing three of Liverpool's best players under Dalglish and breaking up the last great Liverpool team to win a title. After playing 15 games of the 1991/1992 McMahon left Liverpool to join Manchester City
for £900,000 on Christmas Eve
1991 after playing 276 games, during which time he scored 50 goals. Souness later admitted that he had sold some key players too soon, when he should have kept longer them until suitable replacements were found. In the end Souness bought Michael Thomas
and Paul Stewart
to compete in central midfield, neither of whom were to ever reach the same level as Mcmahon, despite Thomas having been a promising, energetic player at Arsenal and famously scoring against his future employers in 1989 to secure Arsenal the title, he was beset by injuries and never able to fully replicate the important role vacated by Mcmahon. In Stewart's case, he did not blend in at all and left soon after he signed.
McMahon made his City debut two days later on Boxing Day
in a 2–1 win over Norwich City
at Maine Road
. During his time for City, Mcmahon was initially seen as someone who would help raise their game due to his aggression and quality, but unfortunately the quality of team around him was not the same as at Anfield. Niall Quinn pointed out in his autobiography that Mcmahon reminded him of Roy Keane in his intensity and will to win- "Because he expected to win trophies, he could make the players at City feel bad about themselves, because we didn't have the same expectations... He was too intense for us... The lucky go happy atmosphere in our squad just didn't appeal to him".
In 1993, McMahon was featured in Vinnie Jones
's infamous Soccer's Hard Men
video, in which Jones talks about his adoration and respect for other "hard men" from the past and present including Graeme Souness, Bryan Robson, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Peter Storrie, Ron Harris and Nobby Stiles. Jones describes McMahon as his "only real rival" in modern day football for the accolade of "hardest man in football". He also described an incident where McMahon got his revenge on Vinnie for his nasty tackle on McMahon in the 1988 FA Cup Final whereby at Anfield the next season, McMahon kicked Jones to the floor with his studs, forcing him to have stitches on a major cut.
McMahon played in 87 league matches for the Sky Blues before an offer to become player-manager of Swindon Town
tempted him away from Manchester
.
in November 1994, they had recently been relegated from the Premiership and were battling against a second successive relegation.
McMahon joined them as they were preparing for a Coca-Cola cup match with Derby. Caretaker manager Andy Rowland picked the team, and the Town progressed to the next round. McMahon took full control for the next game – a league match at Southend – and he picked himself in the starting line-up. The Town lost 2–0, and McMahon was sent off.
McMahon's first victory came with a 2–1 scoreline against top-of-the-table Middlesbrough.
As transfer deadline day approached, rumours were rife that leading goalscorer, Jan Åge Fjørtoft
, would be leaving the club – most sources quoting a fee of between £3m and £4m. When the day finally came, Fjørtoft was sold for £1.3m – McMahon saying that no other offers were on the table.
After Fjørtoft left, the goals dried up. The Town failed to score in six of the next eight matches, and were relegated to Division Two. McMahon was quoted as saying the relegation left him "feeling lower than a snake's belly".
The Town bounced back the following season, winning the Second Division championship. McMahon won three manager of the month awards, and the manager of the year. The two top scorers that season were McMahon signings: Wayne Allison, arriving from Bristol City, and Steve Finney, from Manchester City, and the only real problems the Town had were breaking down the opposition's stubborn defence, most sides playing for a draw.
The next two seasons followed similar patterns – a decent start, followed by a poor run-in. In 1996–97, Town held a mid-table position right up until the middle of March, but then scored just two goals in their last ten games – getting thumped 7–0 at Bolton, 5–1 at Oldham and 4–0 at Ipswich in the process – ending up in 19th place.
The following season's demise was far more dramatic. A win at Portsmouth on 31 October 1997 took the Town to the top of the table, a position they held until the middle of November. They remained in a play-off position up until the middle of December, and then won just three of the remaining 24 matches, scoring just twelve goals. Again the Town slumped to huge defeats – 6–0 at Man City, 6–0 at Middlesbrough and 5–0 at Norwich.
When the 1998–99 season kicked off, Town had no wins and just three goals (two of which were own goals) in the first five games, the calls for McMahon's head began to be heard. Chairman Rikki Hunt and McMahon seemed united – McMahon saying he wouldn't resign, Hunt saying he wouldn't sack him. Two consecutive derby wins, against Bristol City and Oxford, only strengthened their position. This was followed by a 5–2 defeat at Portsmouth – and when Watford then won 4–1 at the County Ground, the fans held an on-pitch protest, sitting in the centre circle at the end of the match, demonstrating that both McMahon and Hunt should resign. McMahon left the club "by mutual consent".
His next stop came at Blackpool
, with whom he signed an 18-month contract on 7 January 2000. He stated that the job was a "great opportunity" and that his main task was to "keep us afloat this year and get us in a position where we can be safe". It was not to be, however: in May they were relegated to Division Three
, but McMahon took them to promotion via the play-offs the following season and also won two League Trophies in three years. He signed a new contract with the club on 8 February 2001 that would see him remain in charge until at least the end of the 2002–03 season.
He left Blackpool following an argument over funds just before the final game of the 2003–04 season, having resigned midway through the season, only to burst in on the 15 January press conference announcing his decision to withdraw the resignation following a talk with chairman Karl Oyston
. He spent his time after Blackpool as a pundit for BBC
.
He was signed in early 2005 as the manager of Perth Glory F.C.
for the inaugural Australian A-League
season. However his tenure at the club was short. A combination of media speculation, poor signings, indifferent form, player discontent, a poor media image and an apparent dispute with the board saw him sacked in December 2005.
, and is currently in the process of extending his contract by three years. There, he worked alongside the likes of John Dykes
as commentators, wrote his own blog
, and was based in Singapore
. His comments during the broadcast are famous for being highly anti-Manchester United and he is often accused of being partisan towards his former clubs during broadcasts and hence leading to inaccurate and lopsided predictions. He was also responsible for recruiting other former English football stars like Les Ferdinand
and fellow ex-Liverpool players, Ian Rush
and Steve McManaman
, and was part of the draw for bringing them onto the shows like "Football Focus", "Final Score" and for coverage of live FA Premier League
matches.
It was revealed in the News of the World
that the group had tried to purchase his former club, Everton
, but were knocked back.
It has also been reported that McMahon has played a part in the Group's rumoured bid for Newcastle United. .
In late July 2009. McMahon has explained that Profitable Group had ended its interest in buying the club due to a lack of "communication and response" from Mike Ashley.
The news media eported that the Singapore-based Profitable Group has shown no proof of funds. Since Profitable Group has shown no proof of funds, their offer was obviously rejected.
The Profitable Group was alleged by some to just be drawing up publicity and any serious involvement by them was met with skepticism by supporters.
Since then, the sports investment division led by McMahon was taken out of the Group's website.
As of May 2011 Profitable Group have ceased trading and are under investigation by the CAD (commercial affairs department) of Singapore.
, was an assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town
, and was formerly on the coaching staff at Tranmere Rovers
and now the current Reserves Manager for Liverpool FC, and his son, Steve McMahon, Jr.
is a defender
who played for Perth Glory F.C.
, Blackpool
and was loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers
in 2004.
On 20 June 2000, McMahon was charged with assault
following an incident at a party at his home in Formby
. He was bail
ed to appear before Sefton magistrates. His solicitor, Kevin Dooley, said it was a storm in a teacup and had been blown out of all proportion by the police. "It should have been dealt with as a minor domestic matter, and I am surprised that the police have decided to charge Mr McMahon. He denies all the allegations and will contest them vigorously." In 2003, Dooley was struck off for his involvement in a multi-million pound fraud
plot.
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...
former football
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...
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...
who most notably played for 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...
in the late 1980s. He is currently a football pundit for the Asia-based sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports
ESPN Star Sports
ESPN Star Sports is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation...
.
Playing career
HalewoodHalewood
Halewood is in Merseyside, England and is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The district lies near Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Hunts Cross and Woolton....
-born McMahon started his career at 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...
, the club he supported as a boy, playing for them as a teenager after appearing at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
as a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
. He made his league debut on 16 August 1980 in the 3–1 defeat to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, he went on to be voted the supporters player of the year by the end of the 1980/81 season. His commanding presence in the Toffees midfield earned him the captaincy of the club but Everton's lack of success couldn't quench his thirst for honours, so after 4 seasons which included 100 league appearances and 11 league goals McMahon was on the move.
He joined 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...
on 20 May 1983 for £175,000 (apparently rejecting a move to Liverpool in order to stay in the good books of the Evertonians), he made his league debut on 27 August 1983 in the 4–3 derby win over West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
at Villa Park. McMahon settled quickly and established himself in the heart of the Villains midfield. However the success he craved never materialised with Villa finishing a disappointing 10th in his first season at the club, and to confound matters his previous club, Everton, finished 3 places above them in 7th spot. The following season, 1984/85, ended up worse than the previous one as Villa finished in 10th spot again, only this time Everton won the title.
McMahon agreed to join Liverpool on the 12 September 1985 for £350,000 thus becoming the first signing to be made by new manager Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
, and filling the void left by Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
over a year earlier. He made his debut 2 days later on the 14th in the 2–2 league draw with Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
at the Manor Ground. He didn't have to wait long for his first goal either, it came a week later on the 21 September against his former club, Everton. McMahon's 42nd minute strike turned out to be the winner as the Reds triumphed 3 to 2.
He played a crucial role in Liverpool's "double" winning side of that season, although his joy at winning a League championship medal was tempered slightly by his omission from the side for the 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...
final which again was ironically against rivals and former club Everton, the first all Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
FA Cup final. However, he was more fortunate than the other players left out by Dalglish as McMahon was given the substitute's role and ended up with a winners' medal when Liverpool won 3–1, though he did not get on to the pitch.
The following year, McMahon this time started at Wembley when Liverpool contested the League Cup final
1987 Football League Cup Final
The 1987 Littlewoods Cup Final was a football match played on 5 April 1987 between Arsenal and Liverpool. The match, played in front of 96,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium, was won by Arsenal 2–1. Ian Rush opened the scoring for Liverpool, before Charlie Nicholas equalised, turning in a...
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...
. He set up the opening goal for Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
but they ultimately lost the match 2–1. He had earlier scored four goals in Liverpool's record 10–0 victory over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the same competition. McMahon had also missed a penalty in the same game, which would have made him the only Liverpool player to score five goals in a competitive game that season but scored another hat-trick in the following round against Leicester. In total, he scored nine goals in the League Cup that season, as well as five in the league, totalling 14 in all competitions, although Liverpool enduring only their second trophyless season in more than a decade.
Dalglish reshaped the side the following season, incorporating new signings John Barnes, Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley
Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...
, John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
and Ray Houghton
Ray Houghton
Raymond James "Ray" Houghton is a retired Scottish-born footballer who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, qualifying through his Irish father...
but McMahon remained in the side. By now his reputation as one of the best hardmen in the game was established. Though his tackling was often subjected to scrutiny by the football authorities and criticism from opposing players and managers, there was no doubt that his skills as a footballer were of the highest order.
McMahon scored frequently for a man in his position as Liverpool played some of the best club football ever seen and coasted to the 1988 League title. Memorable strikes included a 30 yard shot against 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...
and the opener in a crucial Merseyside derby against Everton, although Liverpool only won the latter of those two games. When Liverpool reached the FA Cup final again, McMahon was one of the team's two Scouse
Scouse
Scouse is an accent and dialect of English found primarily in the Metropolitan county of Merseyside, and closely associated with the city of Liverpool and the adjoining urban areas such as the boroughs of south Sefton, Knowsley and the Wirral...
rs (along with Aldridge) obliged to perform a localised rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
on the official FA Cup final song Anfield Rap
Anfield Rap
The "Anfield Rap" was a song released by members of Liverpool F.C. before the 1988 FA Cup Final against Wimbledon FC. The song reached #3 in the UK singles chart. The song was co-written by Liverpool's midfielder Craig Johnston and rapper Derek B-Style:...
, written in a trend-encapsulating rap and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
style by team-mate Craig Johnston
Craig Johnston
Craig Johnston is a former football player who was one of the first Australians to make a major impact in the English game. He is remembered for his time spent with Liverpool throughout the 1980s...
.
The song got to No.3 in the UK charts, but Liverpool surprisingly lost the final at Wembley to Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
. McMahon was afforded the ultimate respect by Vinnie Jones
Vinnie 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...
, who said that if he could stop McMahon, then Wimbledon could stop Liverpool. Jones and Mcmahon locked horns early on, and Jones fouled Mcmahon aggressively early on in the game with a two footed tackle. In Jones's autobiography he recounted that he wanted to "take out their top man" and McMahon actually managed to smash Jones in the eye with his elbow on the way down from the tackle, which lead to a cut and scar on his face that remained on his face for a while.. Mcmahon also clashed with John Fashanu
John Fashanu
John "Fash" Fashanu is a British television presenter and ex-footballer of Nigerian and Guyanese descent. In his former career, he was a centre-forward, who scored 134 league goals in a career lasting 17 years...
and Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
frequently throughout the match, as things got more physical although Liverpool lost on the day. McMahon was eventually voted second place in the PFA Player Of the Year Awards, the winner being his colleague John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
. Liverpool dominated the awards that year and McMahon was seen as one of the best players in what many experts regarded as the most exciting Liverpool team of all time.
Later in 1988, McMahon won his first of 17 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...
for 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...
. There had been widespread clamouring in the press
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
for manager Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
to select him, and indeed ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
commentator Brian Moore
Brian Moore (commentator)
Brian Moore was a British sports commentator.-Early life:Moore was born in Gillingham, Kent and educated at the Cranbrook School, Kent, which was also the school of fellow commentators Peter West and Barry Davies....
rapped a verse to that effect on the Cup final song ("Well Steve McMahon sure can rap, it's about time he had an England cap; so come on Bobby Robson, he's your man; 'cause if anyone can, Macca can!") with the last expression repeated in a scratch mix manner to emulate Melle Mel
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
's rap which eulogised Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
on her 1984 hit I Feel For You. Robson awarded him his debut on the 17 February '88 in a friendly international with Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. McMahon played the full 90 minutes along with fellow Reds Barnes and skipper Beardsley but couldn't influence a victory having instead to make do with a goalless draw.
In 1989 McMahon was again a regular fixture as Liverpool again chased a "double" of League and FA Cup. As one of the local lads in the team, he was deeply affected by the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
during the FA Cup semi-final on the 15 April, he, along with the rest of Liverpool F.C, showed great compassion and attended a number of the funerals. 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...
was publicly critical of McMahon afterwards, although many people could understand the scousers determination to propel the Reds into the final which was to be played against Everton, a fitting final in many peoples eyes, he also wanted to bring the famous old trophy back to Anfield as a dedication to the 96 supporters who lost their lives.
Liverpool won the Cup by 3 goals to 2 – McMahon set up the opening goal for Aldridge after just 4 minutes of the final – but they lost the League title
Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal (26 May 1989)
The final match of the 1988–89 English Football League season was contested on 26 May 1989, between Liverpool and Arsenal, at Liverpool's Anfield ground. By sheer coincidence, it was the match between the top two teams in the First Division and the teams were close enough on points for the match to...
in a decider 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...
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...
. Television viewers saw McMahon telling his team-mates they were one minute from victory and another "double" and shouting "come on!" to himself as the game's last seconds ticked away, only for Arsenal midfield player Michael Thomas to score Arsenal's late winner and win the championship.
McMahon again played frequently as Liverpool won back the title in 1990 but lost out on another "double" when they were beaten 4–3 by Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final, in which McMahon scored.
He was then selected by Robson for the England squad which would play in that summer's World Cup in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Competition was fierce as he had to compete with Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt and Neil Webb for a central midfield slot. McMahon came on as a substitute in the opening group game against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, but was responsible for gifting the Irish side their equaliser in the 1–1 draw – he miscontrolled a ball midway inside his own half of the pitch and Kevin Sheedy, a former Everton team-mate of McMahon's, stole the ball and crashed a shot past Peter Shilton
Peter Shilton
Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....
. McMahon started the later group game against Egypt which England won, and then started the second round match against Belgium. He did not do a lot wrong in this game, but fatigue
Fatigue (physical)
Fatigue is a state of awareness describing a range of afflictions, usually associated with physical and/or mental weakness, though varying from a general state of lethargy to a specific work-induced burning sensation within one's muscles...
and a tactical change saw him replaced by David Platt, who went on to score a spectacular winner and keep hold of his place right through until the semi-final defeat against West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, scoring twice more during the tournament. McMahon did not feature again until the 3rd place play off against Italy. He would play just once more for England after the World Cup, in a Euro 92 qualifier against Republic of Ireland in November 1990.
Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
had by now taken over as Liverpool Manager in 1991 and he immediately had some disagreements with some senior players including Mcmahon. In Souness's book, The Management Years he recounted that several players who were over 30 including Mcmahon were looking for bigger contracts at the end of their careers and were prepared to move elsewhere if their terms weren't met. There was also some resentment as new signings like Mark Wright were on bigger salaries, and the senior players wondered why players who had yet to win any trophies at Anfield could be earning more. Souness decided to sell Mcmahon, Houghton, and Beardsley as well as the young Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
thus removing three of Liverpool's best players under Dalglish and breaking up the last great Liverpool team to win a title. After playing 15 games of the 1991/1992 McMahon left Liverpool to join Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
for £900,000 on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
1991 after playing 276 games, during which time he scored 50 goals. Souness later admitted that he had sold some key players too soon, when he should have kept longer them until suitable replacements were found. In the end Souness bought Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
Michael Lauriston Thomas is a former football player from England. He is best remembered for scoring a last-minute goal in injury time during the final match of the 1988-89 season, which allowed Arsenal to claim the First Division title over Liverpool...
and Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart is the name of:*Paul Stewart , writer of The Edge Chronicles*Paul Stewart , motor racing driver/team director, son of World Champion Jackie*Paul Stewart , Canadian pianist...
to compete in central midfield, neither of whom were to ever reach the same level as Mcmahon, despite Thomas having been a promising, energetic player at Arsenal and famously scoring against his future employers in 1989 to secure Arsenal the title, he was beset by injuries and never able to fully replicate the important role vacated by Mcmahon. In Stewart's case, he did not blend in at all and left soon after he signed.
McMahon made his City debut two days later on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
in a 2–1 win over Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
. During his time for City, Mcmahon was initially seen as someone who would help raise their game due to his aggression and quality, but unfortunately the quality of team around him was not the same as at Anfield. Niall Quinn pointed out in his autobiography that Mcmahon reminded him of Roy Keane in his intensity and will to win- "Because he expected to win trophies, he could make the players at City feel bad about themselves, because we didn't have the same expectations... He was too intense for us... The lucky go happy atmosphere in our squad just didn't appeal to him".
In 1993, McMahon was featured in Vinnie Jones
Vinnie 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...
's infamous Soccer's Hard Men
Soccer's Hard Men
Soccer's Hard Men is a 1992 football video by Video Vision, presented by then-footballer and current actor Vinnie Jones. The video featured footage of British players known for their ferocity, including Graeme Souness, Bryan Robson, Nobby Stile, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Steve McMahon, Tommy...
video, in which Jones talks about his adoration and respect for other "hard men" from the past and present including Graeme Souness, Bryan Robson, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Peter Storrie, Ron Harris and Nobby Stiles. Jones describes McMahon as his "only real rival" in modern day football for the accolade of "hardest man in football". He also described an incident where McMahon got his revenge on Vinnie for his nasty tackle on McMahon in the 1988 FA Cup Final whereby at Anfield the next season, McMahon kicked Jones to the floor with his studs, forcing him to have stitches on a major cut.
McMahon played in 87 league matches for the Sky Blues before an offer to become player-manager of 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...
tempted him away from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Post-playing career
McMahon, a hero widely admired for his role as part of the late 1980s great Liverpool team, is fondly remembered by Liverpool FC and the club's fans, evidenced by having placed in 42nd position in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop poll which asked Red supporters to name the best 100 players of all time.Coaching career
When he arrived at SwindonSwindon 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...
in November 1994, they had recently been relegated from the Premiership and were battling against a second successive relegation.
McMahon joined them as they were preparing for a Coca-Cola cup match with Derby. Caretaker manager Andy Rowland picked the team, and the Town progressed to the next round. McMahon took full control for the next game – a league match at Southend – and he picked himself in the starting line-up. The Town lost 2–0, and McMahon was sent off.
McMahon's first victory came with a 2–1 scoreline against top-of-the-table Middlesbrough.
As transfer deadline day approached, rumours were rife that leading goalscorer, Jan Åge Fjørtoft
Jan Åge Fjørtoft
Jan Aage Fjørtoft is a former Norwegian footballer. A powerful centre forward with netting ability , he played professionally in Norway, Austria, England and Germany...
, would be leaving the club – most sources quoting a fee of between £3m and £4m. When the day finally came, Fjørtoft was sold for £1.3m – McMahon saying that no other offers were on the table.
After Fjørtoft left, the goals dried up. The Town failed to score in six of the next eight matches, and were relegated to Division Two. McMahon was quoted as saying the relegation left him "feeling lower than a snake's belly".
The Town bounced back the following season, winning the Second Division championship. McMahon won three manager of the month awards, and the manager of the year. The two top scorers that season were McMahon signings: Wayne Allison, arriving from Bristol City, and Steve Finney, from Manchester City, and the only real problems the Town had were breaking down the opposition's stubborn defence, most sides playing for a draw.
The next two seasons followed similar patterns – a decent start, followed by a poor run-in. In 1996–97, Town held a mid-table position right up until the middle of March, but then scored just two goals in their last ten games – getting thumped 7–0 at Bolton, 5–1 at Oldham and 4–0 at Ipswich in the process – ending up in 19th place.
The following season's demise was far more dramatic. A win at Portsmouth on 31 October 1997 took the Town to the top of the table, a position they held until the middle of November. They remained in a play-off position up until the middle of December, and then won just three of the remaining 24 matches, scoring just twelve goals. Again the Town slumped to huge defeats – 6–0 at Man City, 6–0 at Middlesbrough and 5–0 at Norwich.
When the 1998–99 season kicked off, Town had no wins and just three goals (two of which were own goals) in the first five games, the calls for McMahon's head began to be heard. Chairman Rikki Hunt and McMahon seemed united – McMahon saying he wouldn't resign, Hunt saying he wouldn't sack him. Two consecutive derby wins, against Bristol City and Oxford, only strengthened their position. This was followed by a 5–2 defeat at Portsmouth – and when Watford then won 4–1 at the County Ground, the fans held an on-pitch protest, sitting in the centre circle at the end of the match, demonstrating that both McMahon and Hunt should resign. McMahon left the club "by mutual consent".
His next stop came at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, with whom he signed an 18-month contract on 7 January 2000. He stated that the job was a "great opportunity" and that his main task was to "keep us afloat this year and get us in a position where we can be safe". It was not to be, however: in May they were relegated to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, but McMahon took them to promotion via the play-offs the following season and also won two League Trophies in three years. He signed a new contract with the club on 8 February 2001 that would see him remain in charge until at least the end of the 2002–03 season.
He left Blackpool following an argument over funds just before the final game of the 2003–04 season, having resigned midway through the season, only to burst in on the 15 January press conference announcing his decision to withdraw the resignation following a talk with chairman Karl Oyston
Karl Oyston
Karl Oyston is an English businessman and the chairman of Blackpool F.C.-Background:Up until 1999, Oyston spent much of his time involved in running the Oyston family businesses including property management, farming interests and publishing....
. He spent his time after Blackpool as a pundit for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
He was signed in early 2005 as the manager of Perth Glory F.C.
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
for the inaugural Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
season. However his tenure at the club was short. A combination of media speculation, poor signings, indifferent form, player discontent, a poor media image and an apparent dispute with the board saw him sacked in December 2005.
Media & Pundit Work
In early February 2006 through 2007, McMahon signed an eighteen-month contract to work as a television pundit for Asia-based ESPN Star SportsESPN Star Sports
ESPN Star Sports is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation...
, and is currently in the process of extending his contract by three years. There, he worked alongside the likes of John Dykes
John Dykes
John Dykes is an international sports broadcaster, especially well known in Asia after working for almost a decade as host of ESPN STAR Sports' coverage of the Premier League and European football.- Biography :...
as commentators, wrote his own blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, and was based in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. His comments during the broadcast are famous for being highly anti-Manchester United and he is often accused of being partisan towards his former clubs during broadcasts and hence leading to inaccurate and lopsided predictions. He was also responsible for recruiting other former English football stars like Les Ferdinand
Les Ferdinand
Leslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Besiktas J.K., Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England...
and fellow ex-Liverpool players, Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
and Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
, and was part of the draw for bringing them onto the shows like "Football Focus", "Final Score" and for coverage of live FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
matches.
Profitable Group
McMahon joined Profitable Group on their board of Directors as Group Commercial Director in March 2008 leading the Group's Strategic Sports Investment Division.It was revealed in the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
that the group had tried to purchase his former club, 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...
, but were knocked back.
It has also been reported that McMahon has played a part in the Group's rumoured bid for Newcastle United. .
In late July 2009. McMahon has explained that Profitable Group had ended its interest in buying the club due to a lack of "communication and response" from Mike Ashley.
The news media eported that the Singapore-based Profitable Group has shown no proof of funds. Since Profitable Group has shown no proof of funds, their offer was obviously rejected.
The Profitable Group was alleged by some to just be drawing up publicity and any serious involvement by them was met with skepticism by supporters.
Since then, the sports investment division led by McMahon was taken out of the Group's website.
As of May 2011 Profitable Group have ceased trading and are under investigation by the CAD (commercial affairs department) of Singapore.
Personal life
McMahon's brother, JohnJohn McMahon (footballer)
John McMahon is an English former footballer turned coach. He is the current first-team coach at Tranmere Rovers and is a former reserve team coach at Liverpool...
, was an assistant manager of Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, and was formerly on the coaching staff at 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 now the current Reserves Manager for Liverpool FC, and his son, Steve McMahon, Jr.
Steve McMahon Jr
Stephen Joseph "Steve" McMahon, Jr. is an English footballer.-Biography:McMahon is the son of Steve McMahon, the former Liverpool player and former manager of Perth Glory and Blackpool....
is a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played for Perth Glory F.C.
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
, Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and was loaned out to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in 2004.
On 20 June 2000, McMahon was charged with assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
following an incident at a party at his home in Formby
Formby
Formby is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It has a population of approximately 25,000....
. He was bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
ed to appear before Sefton magistrates. His solicitor, Kevin Dooley, said it was a storm in a teacup and had been blown out of all proportion by the police. "It should have been dealt with as a minor domestic matter, and I am surprised that the police have decided to charge Mr McMahon. He denies all the allegations and will contest them vigorously." In 2003, Dooley was struck off for his involvement in a multi-million pound fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
plot.
As a player
- 1985–86 Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
(Level 1) with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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... - 1985–86 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...
with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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... - 1986–87 Charity Shield (shared) with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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...
- 1987–88 Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
(Level 1) with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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... - 1988–89 Charity Shield with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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...
- 1988–89 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...
with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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... - 1989–90 Charity Shield with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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...
- 1989–90 Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
(Level 1) with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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... - 1990–91 Charity Shield (shared) with Liverpool FCLiverpool 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...
As a manager
- 1995–96 Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
(Level 3) with Swindon TownSwindon 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... - 2000–01 Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Play Off Winner (Level 4) with BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... - 2001–02 LDV Vans Trophy with BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
- 2003–04 LDV Vans Trophy with BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
External links
- Official Liverpool FC profile
- Profile at LFCHistory.net (English football only)
- England biography (part 1) 1988-Oct '89 at sporting-heroes.net
- England biography (part 2) Nov 1989–90 at sporting-heroes.net
- England caps 1988–90 at sporting-heroes.net
- Everton seasonal record 1979/80-1982/83 at sporting-heroes.net
- Aston Villa seasonal records 1983/84-1985/86 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 1) 1985/86-1987/88 at sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (part 2) 1988/89-1991/92 at sporting-heroes.net
- Manchester City seasonal record 1991/92-1994/95 at sporting-heroes.net