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# 7: Steve McManaman - Liverpool to Real Madrid
Steve Manaman is one of the most decorated English football players in history. English players have largely dominated the Premier League since its inception but very few of them have made a name for themselves in other football leagues.
McManaman began his football career with Liverpool in 1990. He was a key member of the Liverpool side of the 90s and was also a member of the infamous 'Spice Boys Club due to his activities and controversies off the football pitch.
McManaman was about to move to Barcelona in a £ 10 million deal in 1997, but the deal did not go through. His contract was about to run out in 1999. With five months left on his contract, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Spanish football giants Real Madrid, much to the dismay of Liverpool fans.
In 2000, McManaman became the first English player to win the Champions League with a non-English club, and two years later became the first English player to win the blue riband European club football competition twice.
He played 158 games for Real Madrid, scoing 14 goals and providing 20 assists, and also won the La Liga twice with the Los Blancos. .
# 6: Gary McAllister - Coventry to Liverpool
Here's another football player who was signed by a big club in the twilight years of his career and who surprised one and all with his performances.
The then 35-year-old midfielder Gary McAllister was signed by Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier from Coventry for free. Many Liverpool fans questioned the manager's decision and wondered if he was the player the Merseyside needed. McAllister had already built up quite a reputation for himself at Leeds United and Coventry City, but who knew he was saving the best for Liverpool Football Club.
Despite spending only two years at the Merseyside club, McAllister etched his name into club folklore. He was instrumental in the Liverpool's wins in the 2001 UEFA Cup Final and the 2001 FA Cup Final. The Scot scored the winning goal for Liverpool against Barcelona at Anfield in the second leg of the 2001 UEFA Cup semifinal
The next season, McAllister scored the winner in Liverpool's 2-1 victory over one of their biggest domestic football rivals, Manchester United, in the Charity Shield. He also scored a fabulous 40-yard free-kick in the fourth minute of extra time against Liverpool's local rivals, Everton.
Gary McAllister is now Steven Gerrard's assistant at Glasgow Rangers.
#5 Paul Pogba - Manchester United to Juventus
Paul Pogba has already established himself as one of the greatest midfielders in the history of football. Pogba was signed by Manchester United from AC Le Havre, a French football club, in 2009. Two years later, he was promoted to the senior side and made his debut in a League Cup match against Leeds United.
However, Pogba was frustrated due to a lack of first-team action. In August 2012, Paul Pogba joined Italian football club Juventus for free. He spent four successful years with the Italian giants, winning four Serie A titles, two Italian Cup trophies, and two Italian Super Cup trophies.
Pogba played 178 games for Juventus, scoring 34 times and setting up a goal on 40 occasions. He featured for Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final which the Bianconeri lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
The talismanic French midfielder was a great 'investment' for Juventus in more ways than one as he was sold back to Manchester United for a whopping € 105 million. Talk about getting the most out of your signings!
