Gary Mac speaks

[CarraLegend]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

 

GARY McALLISTER has explained why he's turned down the chance to make an emotional return to Liverpool as reserve team coach.

 

The Anfield hero met Rafa Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry to discuss the position soon to be vacated by Paco Herrera.

 

But for understandable family reasons, the popular Scot decided he's not ready to return to football.

 

McAllister's wife Denise recently lost her long battle with breast cancer, and with two young boys settled in the Midlands, the former midfielder explained the timing is not quite right for him to head back to Merseyside.

 

"I should make it clear I was not offered the reserve team manager's job, but we spoke about it," explained McAllister.

 

"I went to Liverpool to meet Rafa and Rick and we had a chat about the possibility of me returning. There is a vacancy on the coaching staff at the moment and we discussed it.

 

"I don't need to say how exciting and tempting an opportunity it was for me. Under any other circumstances I'd have jumped at the chance.

 

"But after we spoke I thought about the situation and realised the timing is just not quite right for me at this moment, so I told Rafa not to consider me for the job.

 

"I have two young boys and it's too early for me to start thinking about moving away from the Midlands so soon after Denise passed away.

 

"I'd never met Rafa before other than to say hello, but I thought he was an extremely impressive person."

 

McAllister joined Liverpool in 2000, and his inspirational performances helped the club to a glorious cup treble.

 

He departed two years later to manage Coventry City, but left football when his wife's condition deteriorated.

 

Speaking exclusively to the ECHO, McAllister said he's been over-whelmed by the level of support he's received from Merseyside since his wife's death.

 

"I was only at Liverpool two years, but the response I've received ever since is absolutely fantastic," said McAllister.

 

"I'd like to say through your newspaper how grateful I am for the support from everyone at Liverpool during what's been such a difficult period for me.

 

"The players, the coaching staff and the people at the top of the club have been wonderful to me.

 

"I was told The Kop was chanting my name in recent games and I was really touched by that. It would have been fantastic if I'd been able to return and I was very excited by the chance to discuss it.

 

"I still have ambitions to return to the game one day, and I'd love a similar opportunity to come around again in the future. Unfortunately, it's not quite right for me to return at the moment."

[Guest Kev]

Something tells me that Macca will be back one day.

[Jarg Armani]

shame that, really love gary mac. wonder if the club were thinking REALLY long term with this one? trying to get him in and groomed ready to take over when Rafa does go? ah well.

[Benitez]

love 'im

[oakie bob]

me too, it would be great to have him couching the reserves

[Stew F]

According to the Daily Express Pellegrino has also turned us down for the position. He wants to concentrate on his playing career with Alaves

[Mikael Akerfeldt]

Can't think of many other players so universally liked by the footballing public. Its not just Reds, Ive never heard any fans say a bad word about the guy. Top man.

[Boca]

Gary Mac is pure class.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Can't think of many other players so universally liked by the footballing public. Its not just Reds, Ive never heard any fans say a bad word about the guy. Top man.

 

I've heard Scotland fans boo him

[Cobs]

I've heard Scotland fans boo him

 

 

classless bunch of Englishwannabees

 

 

 

 

hello Scot !!!

[5InIstanbul]

I don't know of any other player who quite achieved true legend status for us in such a short space of time.

 

He really is a top top class fella and I doubt there are many who could give anything but the highest praise to him.

 

He's right up there with the best and it would be superb if he came back one day. I can see him as a future manager of our club if he wants to go that way in the future.

 

God bless ya Macca, you're welcome home anytime.

[JohnnyH]

Can't think of many other players so universally liked by the footballing public. Its not just Reds, Ive never heard any fans say a bad word about the guy. Top man.

 

I'm currently living in Scotland and he is not popular up here at all. I've been told by plenty of Scots that they don't like him because they feel he never performed for them. They also referred to the penalty miss v England, as if he missed it on purpose. Strange to not like him though just because he never played well for Scotland (if that is the only reason).

[Leo No.8]

Gary Mac was a wonderful footballer, and is clearly a fantastic bloke. I don't think many players can have won so much affection being at a club for as short a time as he was with us. He was majectic in the treble season, an absolute legend.

 

However, Scotland fans felt the need to hound McAllister out of the international game after he missed that penalty against England, regularly booing and abusing him.

 

Puts 'The Tartan Army' in a good light that does. The bitters of the British teams they are for more reasons than both playing in blue.

 

How can you hate a player for missing a penalty? F*cking morons.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Leo No.8

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I'm currently living in Scotland and he is not popular up here at all. I've been told by plenty of Scots that they don't like him because they feel he never performed for them. They also referred to the penalty miss v England, as if he missed it on purpose. Strange to not like him though just because he never played well for Scotland (if that is the only reason).

 

cf England fans with Barnes

 

international football breeds cockishness

[Guest Scot]

Gary Mac was a wonderful footballer, and is clearly a fantastic bloke. I don't think many players can have won so much affection being at a club for as short a time as he was with us. He was majectic in the treble season, an absolute legend.

 

However, Scotland fans felt the need to hound McAllister out of the international game after he missed that penalty against England, regularly booing and abusing him.

 

Puts 'The Tartan Army' in a good light that does. The bitters of the British teams they are for more reasons than both playing in blue.

 

How can you hate a player for missing a penalty? F*cking morons.

 

He was poorly treated by Scotland fans, no doubt. National teams are all sh*te.

 

Gary Mac's a fecking legend for me, both as a Liverpool and Scotland fan.

[Stevie H]

Gary Mac was a wonderful footballer, and is clearly a fantastic bloke. I don't think many players can have won so much affection being at a club for as short a time as he was with us. He was majectic in the treble season, an absolute legend.

 

However, Scotland fans felt the need to hound McAllister out of the international game after he missed that penalty against England, regularly booing and abusing him.

 

Puts 'The Tartan Army' in a good light that does. The bitters of the British teams they are for more reasons than both playing in blue.

 

How can you hate a player for missing a penalty? F*cking morons.

 

aye. especially as it was uri geller's fault.

[Leo No.8]

He was poorly treated by Scotland fans, no doubt. National teams are all sh*te.

 

Gary Mac's a fecking legend for me, both as a Liverpool and Scotland fan.

 

The support of fans on the international scene is always far more fickle. Loyalites always lie with clubs at heart, and McAllister having spent most of his career in England wouldn't have had that backing at all.

 

If he'd played his whole career at Celtic I'm sure there would have been a lot more tolerance to him missing a vital penalty.

 

I'm certainly not excusing it, its absolutely ridiculous but true nonetheless.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Leo No.8

[Guest Scot]

The support of fans on the international scene is always far more fickle. Loyalites always lie with clubs at heart, and McAllister having spent most of his career in England wouldn't have had that backing at all.

 

If he'd played his whole career at Celtic I'm sure there would have been a lot more tolerance to him missing a vital penalty.

 

I'm certainly not excusing it, its absolutely ridiculous but true nonetheless.

 

I wanted McCoist to take it. I already hated McCoist so there was nothing to lose.

[Huyton_Red]

No suprise the way the scottish treated him.....

 

Drunks or heroin addicts with the worst attitude on earth (apart from the Irish). The romans had it right when they built that wall to keep the f'ckers out

 

Gary Mac, however, is a brilliant man in every way despite being scottish.

[Guest Scot]

No suprise the way the scottish treated him.....

 

Drunks or heroin addicts with the worst attitude on earth (apart from the Irish). The romans had it right when they built that wall to keep the f'ckers out

 

Gary Mac, however, is a brilliant man in every way despite being scottish.

 

'kinell...morning

 

[Benitez]

'kinell...morning

 

 

 

[Phil236849]

dont suppose there are any recent former lfc stars, relatively youthful, coaching types, we could see in this position are there. there's plenty who would want it or could be candidates

 

jamie - harry says he wants to do coaching, but is he just too nice

digger - celtic, talks too much about a teams "DNA", would take the kids to the golden arches for treats

wright - he's had some smoke following his managerial career

saunders - a souness boy

sammy lee - he should have stayed

ronny whelan?

mcmahon, beglin - too bitter

beardsley - too ugly

stevie nicks - too USA, but sounds like he's doing well

aldo - too close

 

so it'll be a spaniard. or how bout Michael "Robin" Robinson?!

[Huyton_Red]

'kinell...morning

 

 

Afternoon over here....

 

One other type of scottish bloke - the ones who have a bit of common sense and leave the country = Scot....

[Spoone]

I'm currently living in Scotland and he is not popular up here at all. I've been told by plenty of Scots that they don't like him because they feel he never performed for them. They also referred to the penalty miss v England, as if he missed it on purpose. Strange to not like him though just because he never played well for Scotland (if that is the only reason).

 

Thats why gary Mac is such a likeable bloke - he's not typically scottish.

[Guest Red Flame]

Meanwhile, back on thread ......

 

I found that piece heart-warming for many reasons. Liverpool, I am certain, approached Gary Mac from a professional perspective rather than one of sentiment and it does both sides credit, Macca and Liverpool, that they were able to come to a considered and balanced decision for the benefit of the man, his boys and the club.

 

I hope one day Gary is able to return home to the Kop.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Red Flame