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#TBT: Before Calling ElClásico Sunday On ESPN+, Steve McManaman Reflects On Playing For Real Madrid

ESPN FC analyst McManaman recalls the decision he made to leave his native Liverpool in the late '90s to become a legend for Real Madrid, which hosts FC Barcelona on Sunday

On Sunday, when Real Madrid hosts FC Barcelona in the third ElClásico of the 2021-2022 LaLiga season at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, analyst Steve McManaman will be in the booth calling the match with play-by-play commentator Ian Darke.

The match will be a homecoming for McManaman, who claimed two LaLiga titles, two Champions League trophies, a Spanish Supercup, UEFA Supercup, and an Intercontinental Cup – seven coveted trophies in European soccer – in four seasons at Real Madrid from 1999-2003. A legend in Madrid, he played alongside superstars Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Claude Makélélé, Iker Casillas during Real Madrid’s era of the Galacticos.

McManaman returns to Madrid as a key figure in ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of ElClásico from Madrid that begins today running through Sunday across the company’s English- and Spanish-language streaming, digital and linear television platforms.

In the #TBT video above, McManaman reflects on his move to play for Real Madrid after 11 seasons at Liverpool FC.

Spencer Jackson and Mac Nwulu produced the video.

Steve McManaman will team with Ian Darke (R) during ESPN’s LaLiga coverage. (Joma Garcia Gisbert/ESPN Images)
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