Liverpool great Ian Rush has named the best defender that he ever played against during his decorated professional career.
Former Welsh international Rush began his first spell at Liverpool back in 1980, making a £350,000 transfer from Chester City FC which at the time was a record-fee paid for a teenager.
After departing for Italian side Juventus in 1987, Rush spent just one full season in Italy before making a permanent return to Anfield in 1988 which would span up until the summer of 1996.
Rush would go on to make a total of 600 appearances for the Reds across both spells where he would hit the back of the net on 346 occasions, making him the highest scoring player in Liverpool history.
In an interview with RTE One, Rush named none other than former Manchester United star Paul McGrath as the best defender that he ever come up against during his playing career.
“Weirdly enough he was Irish, [and played for] Manchester United, Paul McGrath.
I’ll tell you how good Paul McGrath was. Manchester United was the only club in the Premier League I had not scored against and I think it was like 15 games before I had scored against Manchester United. And this Paul McGrath – very shy, never said a word on the pitch. So after every game, Paul McGrath – this softly spoken voice would come over and say ‘thank you very much Mr. Rush’. That bugged me more than not scoring.
I remember Ronnie Whelan was running over to me and I went ‘Where’s that Paul McGrath now?’ He went: ‘He’s playing for Aston Villa you idiot.’
But that goes to show how good Paul McGrath was. What a player.”
McGrath made just shy of 200 appearances for Manchester United in the 7-years that he spent at the Premier League club. Known for his impressive technical ability, McGrath would go on to make over 300 appearances for Aston Villa and would play a key role in the club’s success in the 1993-94 and and 1995-96 League Cup campaigns.
The Irish defender also represented his country at both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
