Gordon Strachan openly confessed that he initially considered Gary McAllister to be somewhat outrageous when the midfielder informed him that Liverpool had shown interest in signing him during his time at Coventry City.

Joining Liverpool as a free transfer at the age of 35 in 2000 after the conclusion of his contract with Coventry City, McAllister surprised many with his move to the Reds. Despite the skepticism surrounding his transfer, McAllister quickly proved his worth, silencing skeptics like a young Steven Gerrard, and played a crucial role in Liverpool’s successful treble-winning season in 2000/01, solidifying his status as a modern-day legend at the club.

As the captain of Coventry at the time of his departure, McAllister had managed to attract Liverpool’s attention with his impressive performance, scoring 13 goals in all competitions during his final season with the Sky Blues, even in his later playing years. Strachan, reminiscing about the past, mentioned that when McAllister inquired about a new contract in April, expressing his interest in a move to Liverpool, he was initially dismissive, considering the idea far-fetched for someone of McAllister’s age.

Strachan recollected the amusing moment on the Football’s Greatest podcast with Jeff Stelling, where he shared his disbelief about McAllister’s Liverpool ambitions with the chairman and was proven wrong in the end. Despite his initial reservations, Strachan and McAllister share a history of friendship, having played together at Leeds United and forming a strong bond during their time together at Coventry.

Their friendship and professional relationship began at Leeds United, where they won the old First Division in 1992, continuing later to the Scotland national team and eventually reuniting at Coventry City. Strachan, who had joined Coventry as a player-coach in 1995, recounted how he managed to convince McAllister to make the move to the club, even joking about his methods of player recruitment.

Reflecting on McAllister’s dedication and hard work throughout his career, Strachan highlighted the relentless effort and commitment that ultimately led to McAllister’s dream transfer to Liverpool.

“I’ve known him for a long time,” he expressed. “We’ve become the best of friends. I truly love him.

We used to have our disagreements. Howard (Wilkinson) would set up training with two teams, pitting me against him, because he understood the fire between us. We both never wanted to lose. This setup pushed us in training and even in running sessions.

He is truly a remarkable person. Life’s challenges have shaped his character over the years. He is astute. When he moved to Leeds, he understood the need to improve his fitness and strength.

He often says that if he hadn’t joined Leeds, he might have retired at 31. But he went on to play until 37 with Liverpool, even shining as the man of the match in the UEFA Cup final.

His self-awareness led him to realize the importance of being fitter and stronger. This improvement enhanced his already outstanding skills and prolonged his focus.

Gary McAllister was physically and mentally superior at 35 compared to his younger self at 21, all because of his ability to learn and grow.

At Coventry, we played a role in keeping him fit and enhancing his strength, which resulted in an impressive goal-scoring record alongside Robbie Keane. His subsequent success at Liverpool was remarkable. It’s a testament to the rewards of dedicating yourself to fitness and professionalism later in your career.

Becoming the standout player in a European final at the age of 36 is truly a remarkable achievement.”