Steve McMahon

Club playing career

Everton Halewood-born McMahon started his career at Everton, playing for them as a teenager after appearing at Goodison Park as a ball boy.

He played a crucial role in Liverpool's "double" winning side of his debut season, playing 36 games and scoring 10 goals. However, McMahon's joy at winning a League championship medal was tempered slightly by his omission from the starting line-up for the FA Cup final having been unavailable in the run-in after picking up an injury in the spring—his last appearance in the league was against Manchester City at Anfield on 31 March when he scored both goals in a 2–0 win, and five days later in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton he came off with 10 minutes remaining in what would prove to be his last appearance of the season—which saw Kevin MacDonald come in for him. Having recovered from injury and been declared fit just prior to the final, which was against his former club Everton, the first all Merseyside FA Cup final, McMahon was given the sole substitute's position at Wembley and ended up with a winners' medal when Liverpool won 3–1, though he did not get on to the pitch.

The following season, McMahon started all 50 of the games he appeared in, scoring 14 goals.

Dalglish reshaped the side the following season, incorporating new signings John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge and Ray Houghton, with McMahon a key member in the team as the midfield general with his reputation as one of the best hardmen in the game established.

"I’d kick my own brother if necessary. It's what being a professional footballer is all about." McMahon on his fighting spirit. McMahon clashed with John Fashanu and Dennis Wise frequently throughout the match. The club lost out on another "double" however when they were beaten 4–3 by Crystal Palace in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final, in which McMahon scored. Souness took 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, Beardsley, and Steve Staunton, thus removing some of Liverpool's best players under Dalglish and breaking up a title-winning team. After playing 15 games of the 1991/1992 season, McMahon left Liverpool to join Manchester City for £900,000 on Christmas Eve 1991 after playing 276 games in a stellar career with the Reds, during which time he scored 50 goals.

Manchester City 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 the team around him was not the same as at Anfield. Niall Quinn recalled in his autobiography that McMahon reminded him of Roy Keane in his intensity and will to win:

In 1993, McMahon was featured in Vinnie Jones's Soccer's Hard Men video, in which Jones talks about his adoration and respect for other "hard men" from the past and present including Souness, Bryan Robson, Mike Bailey, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Peter Storey, Ron Harris and Nobby Stiles. Jones described McMahon as his "only real rival" in modern-day football for the accolade of "hardest man in football". by kicking Jones to the floor with his studs at Anfield, 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.

International career "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!" Verse in the 1988 Liverpool F.C. song "Anfield Rap" voiced by commentator Brian Moore. In the second half of the first group game against Ireland, with England leading 1–0, McMahon failed to control the ball on the edge of the English 18 yard box. Immediately, Republic of Ireland player Kevin Sheedy pounced and drove a left foot shot beyond Peter Shilton in the English goal. McMahon had just come on to the pitch as a substitute for Peter Beardsley. The game ended up as a 1–1 draw. He made further appearances by starting in England's final group match with Egypt and their second round tie with Belgium though did not play in either England's quarter final or semi final matches where both times he was an unused substitute.

He made his 17th and final England appearance on 14 November 1990 in a 1-1 Euro 92 qualifying match draw against Ireland. He never scored for England at senior level.

Managerial and coaching career

Swindon Town When he arrived at Swindon Town in November 1994, they had recently been relegated from the Premier League and were battling against a second successive relegation. McMahon joined them as they were preparing for a League Cup match with Derby County. 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. His 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.

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, with 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 defeated 7–0 at Bolton Wanderers, 5–1 at Oldham Athletic and 4–0 at Ipswich Town in the process – ending up in 19th place.

In August 1996, following the departure of Alan Ball as Manchester City manager, McMahon was linked with a return to Maine Road as manager, but speculation that he would take the City job was swiftly ended when he signed a new five-year contract as Swindon manager.

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 heavy defeats – 6–0 at Manchester City, 6–0 at Middlesbrough and 5–0 at Norwich City.

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 United, 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 resigned on 22 September 1998.

Blackpool 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".

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 15 January press conference announcing his decision to withdraw the resignation following a talk with chairman Karl Oyston. At the time of his departure, McMahon was the fifth-longest-serving Blackpool manager in terms of Football League games in charge.

Perth Glory He was signed in early 2005 as the manager of Perth Glory FC for the inaugural Australian A-League Men season. However his tenure at the club was short and he left the club in December 2005, part way through the season.

Media career In early February 2006 through 2007, McMahon signed an initial eighteen-month contract to work as a television pundit for Asia-based ESPN Star Sports, and subsequently extended his contract by three years. There, he worked alongside the likes of John Dykes as commentators, written his own blog, and is based in Singapore. He has also been responsible for recruiting other former English football stars such as Les Ferdinand and fellow ex-Liverpool players, Ian Rush and Steve McManaman.

First XI In 2012–13, McMahon was featured in First XI, a reality television show that features amateur players and him being the head coach to guide them to professional footballing. They faced tough competitions and also went to Thailand and Spain to play friendly matches with BC Tero and Real Madrid Second Team. At the end of the season, they faced the All Stars team featuring former Singapore football players, Des Walker, as well as former Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and Steve Harkness. They lost 0–1 in 2012 and lost again 0–3 in 2013.

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 that the group had tried to purchase his former club, Everton, but were knocked back. In late July 2009, McMahon explained that Profitable Group had ended its interest in buying the club due to a lack of "communication and response" from Bill Kenwright.

Personal life McMahon's brother, John, is a former footballer and now coach.

McMahon is married to Julie and has two sons, Stephen and Paul.

In December 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 58. He had the tumour removed in January 2020 at Liverpool's Royal Hospital. 1988–89; runner-up: 1987–88 FA Charity Shield: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990

Individual PFA Team of the Year: 1987–88 First Division, 1989–90 First Division

Manager Swindon Town Football League Second Division: 1995–96

Blackpool Football League Third Division play-offs: 2001 Football League Trophy: 2001–02, 2003–04