Gary Pallister

Middlesbrough

Although born in Ramsgate, Kent, Pallister grew up in Norton, County Durham and supported nearby Middlesbrough F.C. His footballing career started at non-league Billingham Town. At the age of 19 he joined his boyhood club, Middlesbrough, as a defender; he made 156 league appearances over nearly five seasons, and helped them win consecutive promotions to the Football League Second Division in 1987, and then the First Division in 1988. He moved to Manchester United on 29 August 1989 for £2.3 million.

Manchester United

Pallister's transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, as well as being the highest fee between British clubs, and the second highest fee to be paid by a British club (second only to Ian Rush's return to Liverpool from Juventus a year earlier). Pallister had the rare achievement of representing the England national side before appearing in the top flight; in 1988 when playing in the Second Division for Middlesbrough. Later that year he helped 'Boro win their second successive promotion and reach the First Division, just two years after they almost went out of business, but was unable to keep them there and they were relegated on the final day of the 1988–89 season. He began the 1989–90 season with Middlesbrough in the Second Division before his move to United was completed. Although it was his excellent defensive displays that helped Manchester United to the league title along with Steve Bruce at the heart of…

B team

Pallister made his debut for the England B team in May 1989; he started the match against Switzerland before being replaced by Alan McLeary in the 2−0 win at Stadion Schützenwiese. He made eight more appearances over the next three years with the last coming in the 3−0 victory against France in February 1992.

Senior

Pallister made his debut for England in the friendly with Hungary in April 1988. He played the whole game in the goalless draw at Népstadion in Budapest. He had to wait over three years to make his competitive debut when he played in the win against Turkey during qualifying for UEFA Euro 1992. England qualified for the tournament finals in Sweden but Pallister was not selected in the squad. He featured in the United States Cup in June 1993; he started the defeats against the United States and Germany, and the draw against Brazil, as England finished last place in the group. Pallister played three matches as England failed to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was used sporadically over the next three years, mainly playing in friendlies, before making his last appearances in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Poland in the autumn of 1996. Overall, Pallister won 22 caps and scored no goals.

He has since worked as a TV football pundit, appearing on the BBC and ITV.

In September 2010, Pallister became an Operations Director with former club Darlington.