Players - Gary McAllister

Gary McAllister
Birthdate: 25 December 1964
Birthplace: Motherwell, Scotland
Other clubs: Motherwell (1981-85), Leicester City (1985-90), Leeds United (1990-96), Coventry City (1996-2000), Coventry City (2 / 2002-03)
Signed from: Free Transfer
Signed for LFC: Bosman, 01.07.2000
International debut: 25.04.1990 vs. East Germany
International caps: 57/5 (no caps at LFC) - 31.03.1999
Liverpool debut: 19.08.2000
Last appearance: 11.05.2002
Debut goal: 12.11.2000
Last goal: 09.10.2001
Contract expiry: 13.05.2002
Win ratio: 60.92% W:53 D:19 L:15
Games/goals ratio: 9.67
Games/assists ratio: 7.91
Honours: FA Cup 2001, League Cup 2001, UEFA Cup 2001, European Super Cup 2001
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 24 / 3
League games / goals / assists: 55 / 5 / 9
Total games / goals / assists: 87 / 9 / 11

Player Profile

Gary Mac joined Leeds in 1990 after starring for Leicester, having been linked with a move to Liverpool. McAllister, David Batty, Gordon Strachan and Gary Speed clicked in midfield and with Eric Cantona up front they created the nucleus of the championship-winning team in the 1991/92 season. McAllister was voted Leeds' Player of the Year in 1993/94, but two years later he was on his way to Coventry. Leeds didn't agree to McAllister's terms and Coventry benefitted. £3 million was considered a high fee for a 31-year-old, but then Coventry boss Gordon Strachan knew his old teammate wouldn't fail. McAllister became Coventry's captain and he even captained his national team for a while. In his final season at the Sky Blues, he was voted their best player. Few could believe Houllier's decision to sign McAllister in July 2000 at the age of 35, not least the man himself. "This is fairytale stuff for someone at my stage of life. It did surprise me when Liverpool came in for me," McAllister told the Echo. "Liverpool have got three cup competitions next season plus a tough Premiership campaign. The average age of their side last season was under 25, and that's very young indeed for a top-flight club. The manager explained that there was a need for some experience around the squad, an old head in the side. I've just had my best ever scoring tally in the Premiership with 13 last season, and I'm feeling as fit as ever. It's too early to say just how many games I will play, maybe people will be surprised."

Did McAllister rise up to the challenge! He wasn't a regular starter until the second part of the season when he led by example as Liverpool marched through all three cup competitions. He ensured his name would be in Liverpool folklore when Everton and Liverpool were heading for a 2-2 draw in the League at Goodison Park on 16 April 2001. McAllister prepared to take a free-kick 44 yards out in stoppage-time. Paul Gerrard in the Everton goal expected a cross but McAllister had other ideas and hit a dipping shot into the bottom right-hand corner, 3-2 and delirium for Reds inside the stadium. McAllister was rightly proud of his fantastic goal. "Just a moment of inspiration I just went for it and it just managed to creep in the bottom corner. It just manages to miss a couple on the 18-yard line a few of the Everton players who could have got a head on it. I think they were taken a wee bit by surprise that I went for goal. I think it was even suggested that it was a fluke but no, I've got to tell you that I did mean it, I did mean it!" In the following game, McAllister’s confident penalty past Barcelona’s Pepe Reina at Anfield guaranteed the Reds a place in the UEFA Cup final. He was pulling all the strings in the last third of Liverpool’s adventurous season, scoring in five consecutive games. Following his scoring exploits against the Blues and Barca McAllister scored from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win over Tottenham, a beauty of a free-kick defeated his former club Coventry, and another exquisite free-kick followed against Bradford City. No wonder fans still sing today about Gary Mac’s baldy head, his sweet right foot and numerous goals after signing on a free. These were exciting times for a Liverpool supporter. The League Cup, FA Cup and a UEFA Cup were won and McAllister was voted man of the match against Alaves in Dortmund, where he was involved in four of Liverpool's five goals. The 2000/01 season was one of the most memorable in McAllister's distinguished career. "There was a time when I went into training and we were off to Rome, then on a jet to Cardiff for the League Cup final, then Barcelona, then Portugal, then down to qualify for the Champions League at Charlton. That's what you come into football for, to be involved in the best games against the best players where there's a lot at stake. It was magic."

McAllister was less influential in his second season at Anfield, mostly on the bench in the second part of the campaign. Liverpool made a decent title challenge but Arsenal couldn't be conquered. The Kop chanted tongue firmly in cheek "What a waste of money" as McAllister exited Anfield for the last time leaving behind a whole host of wonderful memories. He couldn't have wished for a better send-off. "I want to thank all the fans who gave me such a great ovation. They were immense. I thought I would get a decent reception but that surpassed all my wildest dreams," McAllister said. "That sort of ovation is normally reserved for players who have won European Cups for a club. It was nice to hear the Kop's humour at its best again when they were telling me to go back to Coventry." McAllister rejoined the Sky Blues as their player-manager in May 2002. Sadly, his wife Denise was diagnosed with terminal cancer and McAllister resigned from the club in January 2004 so that he could spend more time with his family. Denise, who married Gary in 1993, passed away in March 2006. 

After nearly four years out of the game, McAllister was lured back into football management by one of his former clubs, Leeds United, in January 2008. A popular choice with the Elland Road club's supporters, he took Leeds to the play-off final at Wembley but they were beaten by Doncaster Rovers. Things did not go well the following season and he was dismissed four days before Christmas 2008 after a bad run of results that included an embarrassing FA Cup exit to non-league Histon. McAllister joined Middlesbrough as first-team coach in May 2010. Four months later McAllister left his post at Boro to become Gérard Houllier's assistant manager at Aston Villa. When Houllier had to take sick leave in April 2011 McAllister deputised for him until the end of the season, His last game in charge was a 1-0 home victory over Liverpool. When Alex McLeish took over as manager McAllister left Villa.

McAllister resumed his working relationship with Steven Gerrard in June 2018, becoming his assistant at Glasgow Rangers.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 55 5 6 20 1 87
2000-2001 30 5 5 9 0 49
2001-2002 25 0 1 11 1 38
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
5 277 Leeds United
5 134 Arsenal
4 329 Leicester City
4 259 Everton
4 208 Roma
4 116 Ipswich Town
3 206 Chelsea
3 196 Newcastle United
3 185 Tottenham
3 184 Derby
3 179 Charlton Athletic
3 165 Barcelona
3 112 Manchester United
3 97 Aston Villa
2 180 Coventry City
2 166 Boavista
2 136 West Ham United
2 134 Sunderland
2 127 Middlesbrough
2 108 Southampton
2 105 Bradford City
2 102 Dynamo Kiev
2 96 Fulham
2 49 Slovan Liberec
2 0 Olympiacos
1 120 Grimsby Town
1 117 Alaves
1 90 Wycombe
1 90 Tranmere Rovers
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 Crystal Palace
1 90 Bayern Munich
1 90 Blackburn Rovers
1 90 Stoke City
1 90 Rotherham United
1 77 Manchester City
1 43 Birmingham City
1 32 Haka
1 19 Galatasaray
1 16 Borussia Dortmund
Total Started/substitutions
52 Started
20 On the bench
35 Substitute
13 Substituted
Total Venue
41 Home
40 Away
6 Neutral
Total Competition
55 Premier League
10 Champions League
9 UEFA Cup
6 League Cup
5 FA Cup
1 Charity Shield
1 European Super Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
87 53 19 15 60.9% Gérard Houllier
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 5 0 1 2 1 9
2000-2001 5 0 0 2 0 7
2001-2002 0 0 1 0 1 2
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Started/substitutions
9 Started
0 Substitute
Total Competition
5 Premier League
2 UEFA Cup
1 Charity Shield
1 League Cup
Total Goal minute period
2 1-15 minutes
2 31-45 minutes
2 61-75 minutes
2 76-90 minutes
1 91-120 minutes
Total Goal origin
1 Open play
5 Penalty
3 Direct freekick
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 9 0 0 2 0 11
2000-2001 5 0 0 2 0 7
2001-2002 4 0 0 0 0 4
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 19.08.2000 Bradford City Anfield League
50 08.08.2001 Haka Olympia Stadion Europe
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 12 12.11.2000 Coventry City Anfield League
Related Articles
Gary McAllister’s Indian Summer at Liverpool

23/11/2018 by Glenn Billingham - Thesefootballtimes.

Gary McAllister on the best night of his career

21 February 2016

Golden Goal: Gary McAllister for Liverpool v Everton (2001)

Rigore!

We are pleased to welcome columnist Declan Sloan aboard at LFChistory.net. He takes a look at important penalties for Liverpool throughout the years.

Four LFC Macs

Liverpool's first ever team was known as The team of the Macs back in 1892-93. John Martin picks out four other Macs from later in Liverpool's history.

McAllister's promise to nurture stars of future

Liverpool Daily Post article on 26th May 2000.

Reds take treble chance

Liverpoolfv.tv report on Liverpool - Alaves on 16.05.2001.

McAllister leaves Coventry deep in the relegation mire

The Guardian report on Coventry - Liverpool on 28.04.2001.

Liverpool's late larceny

The Guardian report on Everton - Liverpool on 16.04.2001.

Liverpool Echo report

Liverpool Echo report on Arsenal - Liverpool on 21.08.2000.

Heskey's twist of fate

Liverpool Echo report on Liverpool - Bradford on 19.08.2000.

Houllier's recruits in 2000-2001

Liverpool's summer signings in the 2000/2001 season raised more than a few eyebrows.

I should have scored even more goals

Gary McAllister insists in May 2001 he should have scored even more goals this season.

Related Quotes

Gary McAllister reflects on his final appearance in a Liverpool jersey:

"I'll never forget today and I'll never forget how good the fans have been to me during my time at Anfield. I will never forget today and I want to thank all the fans who gave me such a great ovation. They were immense. I thought I would get a decent reception but that surpassed all my wildest dreams. That sort of ovation is normally reserved for players who have won European Cups for a club.

It was a brilliant day and it was nice to hear the Kop's humour at its best again when they were telling me to go back to Coventry."

Macca in May 2002

"Gary’s the best golfer in the team — a two handicapper. I’m having lessons to try to give him a proper challenge. We all wish he would do something about his footwear. He has four or five terrible pairs of two-tone shoes which look like they have been hired from a ten-pin bowling alley — yet he thinks they are the height of fashion."

Owen in 2001 on Gary Mac

"There was a time when I went into training and we were off to Rome, then on a jet to Cardiff for the League Cup final, then Barcelona, then Portugal, then down to qualify for the Champions League at Charlton. That's what you come into football for, to be involved in the best games against the best players where there's a lot at stake. It was magic."

Macca in 2004

Just a moment of inspiration I just went for it and it just managed to creep in the bottom corner, it just manages to miss a couple on the 18 yard line a few of the Everton players who could have got a head on it I think they were taken a wee bit by surprise that I went for goal, I think it was even suggested that it was a fluke but no, I´ve got to tell you that I did mean it, I did mean it!

Gary Mac on his spectacular free-kick 40 yards from goal deep into injury time in the Merseyside derby at Goodison

Scrapbook
Leeds' Gary Mac on the cover of Shoot! 16 December 1995
Leeds' Gary Mac on the cover of Shoot! 16 December 1995
Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Motherwell 1981-1982 Scotland 2 1 0 1 0
Motherwell 1982-1983 Scotland 1 1 0 1 0
Motherwell 1983-1984 Scotland 1 21 0 27 0
Motherwell 1984-1985 Scotland 2 35 6 40 7
Motherwell 1985-1986 Scotland 1 1 0 1 0
Leicester City 1985-1986 England First Division 31 7 33 8
Leicester City 1986-1987 England First Division 39 9 43 11
Leicester City 1987-1988 England Second Division 42 9 50 10
Leicester City 1988-1989 England Second Division 46 11 53 12
Leicester City 1989-1990 England Second Division 43 10 46 10
Leeds United 1990-1991 England First Division 38 2 55 5
Leeds United 1991-1992 England First Division 42 5 47 5
Leeds United 1992-1993 England Premier League 32 5 43 9
Leeds United 1993-1994 England Premier League 42 8 47 8
Leeds United 1994-1995 England Premier League 41 6 47 6
Leeds United 1995-1996 England Premier League 36 5 50 9
Coventry City 1996-1997 England Premier League 38 6 46 7
Coventry City 1997-1998 England Premier League 14 0 18 2
Coventry City 1998-1999 England Premier League 29 3 33 4
Coventry City 1999-2000 England Premier League 38 1 43 3
Coventry City 2002-2003 England First Division 41 7 46 9
Coventry City 2003-2004 England First Division 14 3 14 3
Total 665 103 784 128