UCFB students recently enjoyed the unparalleled opportunity to meet current television football pundit and former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England midfielder, Steve McManaman, in an exclusive guest lecture at UCFB’s Wembley Stadium campus.
The atmosphere in the Pitch View West Auditorium overlooking the pitch at Wembley Stadium was electric, with students eager to hear from and question the most successful English player to have ever played overseas.
Becoming an instant favourite with students, McManaman walked the Wembley cohort through his successful career, providing a unique insight into the world of international sport, both as a world-class footballer but also as a broadcaster and academy coach.
The session began with McManaman talking about his early days in football as a young professional. Born and bred in Liverpool, he made his senior professional debut at Liverpool FC in 1990. He talked to the students about his nine years playing for Liverpool before his Bosman transfer to Real Madrid in 1999. The students relished McManaman talking about his legacy at Real Madrid, which made him the most successful English football export to ever play overseas, winning eight trophies and playing in 11 cup finals in his four years at the world’s biggest football club, including a Man of the Match performance in the victorious UEFA Champions League Final against Valencia in his first season.
Now working for BT Sport as one of the lead pundits for its English Premier League coverage, McManaman gave the aspiring media and broadcasting professionals at UCFB some sound advice on succeeding in the football business and sports industries:
“It’s extremely important for students to work hard. Not just in media and broadcasting but in all careers they may wish to pursue. In most jobs if you work hard, meet the right people, network with them and impress them, then you will reap the rewards in the end.”
Having visited UCFB for the first time, McManaman finished his Q&A by praising the students and the institution, commenting on how the facilities on offer were ‘incredible’.
