Having started his career at Liverpool Steve McManaman left Anfield at the end of the 1998-99 season in a blaze of controversy.
He had been an integral part of the Reds since his youth team days and he left on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.
This was a move that disappointed many supporters of Liverpool (Ammoroso for one?)for he was seen as a footballing genius by many.
In the early stages of his career he was compared to the Liverpool legend John Barnes, a combination of lightning pace and deft touch which won him many fans on the Kop.
At times he could turn a game by pulling a goal out of nothing.
Unfortunately for McManaman the praise he received was not shared around the country.
He often came under criticism if he did not set the stands alight week in week out, and those who didn't have the chance to assess his all round game fell under the illusion that he was an inconsistent performer.
In particular his England performances often came under the spotlight. He struggled to replicate the performances for Liverpool at international level, due to the system he was asked to play in and was barraged with critiscm.
In Euro '96 he managed to reproduce some of the magic he had previously displayed at grounds around the country and kept his critics quiet by turning out some brilliant performances.
Praise flooded in for Macca and the great Pele described him as a future star.
Yet just as quickly as he found his footing on the international stage he started to slip down again. A string of poor performances led to him playing a bit part during the World Cup in 1998.
At club level Liverpool were unable to emulate the success of the team in the seventies and eighties and he became continually frustrated that they failed to win many major trophies.
And so came his departure to Spain.
McManaman was able to develop his natural flair and creativity and he slotted into a side that was ready made for his talent.
Playing in the wing-back system suited him, it was a system he had played well for in both Liverpool and England.
He was able to make fantastic runs up and down the flanks and with the quality of players around him he developed his style and started to fill the potential that was seen four years ago.
For those supporters who had not seen him play since he went to Spain the Champions' League final came of a great surprise.
McManaman was one of the many shining jewels in Real's crown and he topped off an incredible performance with an equally incredible goal.
He has suddenly risen from international obscurity to the key player for England in the Championships this summer.
Although the final squad is yet to be named it is almost a certainty that he will be included - but should he feature in the starting XI?
In my eyes there is no doubt that he should be on the pitch at the beginning of every single England game. The player is currently in the best form of his career and his confidence is sky-high having has just won the most important cup in European football.
There are many who are wary that he is not an international player, but that does not worry me. I remember how he played in Euro '96 and for Liverpool and feel he will be even better this summer.
A lot depends on the other players that are selected and the role that Keegan will ask him to play. If England play a wing-back system and he is given a free role then he will be outstanding as he will have the chance to run at players and take them on.
If a more conventional 4-4-2 system is employed then McManaman will be more reliant on the players around him. He will have to work off the rest of the midfield and will be used more as a complete winger to get in the corners and cross the ball in to the box.
Either system will see McManaman having successful performances and as more and more people jump on the McManaman bandwagon - just remember that I, and pool_till_I_die are at
the front. I'm hoping for a not-so-rocky ride to the final.
What are your thoughts on McManaman?
Will he set Euro 2000 alight or do you think he will flatter to deceive?
He had been an integral part of the Reds since his youth team days and he left on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.
This was a move that disappointed many supporters of Liverpool (Ammoroso for one?)for he was seen as a footballing genius by many.
In the early stages of his career he was compared to the Liverpool legend John Barnes, a combination of lightning pace and deft touch which won him many fans on the Kop.
At times he could turn a game by pulling a goal out of nothing.
Unfortunately for McManaman the praise he received was not shared around the country.
He often came under criticism if he did not set the stands alight week in week out, and those who didn't have the chance to assess his all round game fell under the illusion that he was an inconsistent performer.
In particular his England performances often came under the spotlight. He struggled to replicate the performances for Liverpool at international level, due to the system he was asked to play in and was barraged with critiscm.
In Euro '96 he managed to reproduce some of the magic he had previously displayed at grounds around the country and kept his critics quiet by turning out some brilliant performances.
Praise flooded in for Macca and the great Pele described him as a future star.
Yet just as quickly as he found his footing on the international stage he started to slip down again. A string of poor performances led to him playing a bit part during the World Cup in 1998.
At club level Liverpool were unable to emulate the success of the team in the seventies and eighties and he became continually frustrated that they failed to win many major trophies.
And so came his departure to Spain.
McManaman was able to develop his natural flair and creativity and he slotted into a side that was ready made for his talent.
Playing in the wing-back system suited him, it was a system he had played well for in both Liverpool and England.
He was able to make fantastic runs up and down the flanks and with the quality of players around him he developed his style and started to fill the potential that was seen four years ago.
For those supporters who had not seen him play since he went to Spain the Champions' League final came of a great surprise.
McManaman was one of the many shining jewels in Real's crown and he topped off an incredible performance with an equally incredible goal.
He has suddenly risen from international obscurity to the key player for England in the Championships this summer.
Although the final squad is yet to be named it is almost a certainty that he will be included - but should he feature in the starting XI?
In my eyes there is no doubt that he should be on the pitch at the beginning of every single England game. The player is currently in the best form of his career and his confidence is sky-high having has just won the most important cup in European football.
There are many who are wary that he is not an international player, but that does not worry me. I remember how he played in Euro '96 and for Liverpool and feel he will be even better this summer.
A lot depends on the other players that are selected and the role that Keegan will ask him to play. If England play a wing-back system and he is given a free role then he will be outstanding as he will have the chance to run at players and take them on.
If a more conventional 4-4-2 system is employed then McManaman will be more reliant on the players around him. He will have to work off the rest of the midfield and will be used more as a complete winger to get in the corners and cross the ball in to the box.
Either system will see McManaman having successful performances and as more and more people jump on the McManaman bandwagon - just remember that I, and pool_till_I_die are at
the front. I'm hoping for a not-so-rocky ride to the final.
What are your thoughts on McManaman?
Will he set Euro 2000 alight or do you think he will flatter to deceive?