Player’s name: Jason McAteer
Age: 42
Nationality: English / Irish
Clubs: Marine, Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Tranmere Rovers (1991-2007)
Career high
In September 2001, McAteer scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over a classy Holland side including the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars, although the absence of Edgar Davids on the day is thought to have severely weakened the Dutch starting line-up.
Nevertheless the victory in Dublin virtually guaranteed the Green Army a World Cup place in Japan and South Korea the following year, where they suffered heartbreak in the last 16 losing to Spain on penalties.
Career low
Blackburn manager Grahame Souness sold McAteer to Sunderland for £1million, and he was part of the side that fell from the Premier League with just 19 points.
Despite relegation to the first division, McAteer stayed at the Stadium of Light until the end of the 2003/2004 season but the Black Cats failed to gain promotion, McAteer was left without a club for the majority of that summer at the age of 31.
He made the decision to head back to Merseyside where he signed a two-year-deal with Tranmere Rovers. In just two years, he had gone from playing in the Premier League and World Cup, to playing in the third tier of English football.
Did you know?
McAteer was the star of a televised Head & Shoulders advert where he promoted the shampoo whilst in the shower.
Where is he now?
This month, McAteer married Lucy Edwards in Limerick, but he has been busy since retiring in 2007, regularly making appearances for a Liverpool legends side that play charity games all over the world.
He was appointed assistant manager to John Barnes at Tranmere Rovers in October 2009, but was sacked along with Barnes after just two victories in 11 league games.
During a charity match in Dublin between Darndale F.C and a Liverpool/Manchester United legends team in April 2011, McAteer was punched in the face by goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton. The pair were immediately sent-off.
The newly married McAteer now works in the media for ESPN Star Sports, based in Asia and he regularly appears on LFC TV, providing punditry and match analysis for Liverpool Football Club.
By Adam Date
Editor – Liam Curtis
@lcurtis92
