By Mark Heys
June 12 2007

Former Republic of Ireland internatipnal Jason McAteer has announced his retirement from professional football after making over 400 appearances in a 15-year playing career which saw him serve Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Tranmere Rovers.

McAteer, who turns 36 later this month, was released by Tranmere at the end of last season after Rovers manager Ronnie Moore decided not to renew his contract.

In 1992 the Birkenhead-born midfielder joined Phil Neal's Bolton from non-league Marine in exchange for £500 and a set of tracksuits and within his first year as a professional he broke into the Wanderers midfield alongside more experienced campaigners such as Tony Kelly and Mark Patterson.

He played a major part in the Bolton sides which gained themselves a reputation as giantkillers and his goals against Arsenal in 1994 will live forever in the memory.

His energetic and commited displays endeared him to the Trotters crowd and by the 1994-1995 season many bigger clubs where casting their eye over McAteer and his team mates Alan Stubbs and Alan Thompson.

A memorable performance in the 1995 Coca Cola Cup Final wasn't enough to help Bolton gain their first piece of major silverware since 1958 as Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners.

Liverpool never forgot McAteer and within six months he joined his boyhood favourites in a £4.5 million transfer shortly after helping Bolton to the top flight via the Play Offs.

In his first year at Anfield he helped the Reds to runner up status in the FA Cup Final and along with the likes of Phil Babb, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler he earned the nickname as one of the Spice Boys.

Reds manager Roy Evans played McAteer in an unfamiliar role of right wing back, brought about due to the endless injury problems suffered by one time England international Rob Jones.

The appointment of French coach Gerard Houllier saw McAteer's chances at Liverpool decrease and by early 1999 he made the switch to Blackburn Rovers where he was joined by a rather large ex-Wanderers contingent.

In 2001 he helped Rovers to promotion to the Premiership but three years later he was less successful with Sunderland as he missed a spot kick in the penalty shoot out.

His three year spell at Sunderland saw him work once again with former Irish national boss Mick McCarthy and during one of his 100 or so appearances for the Wearsiders he scored the winner in an all important relegation battle between Bolton and the Black Cats in 2002.

By 2004, he joined Tranmere and was delighted to once again be working in his native Merseyside. His signing for the Wirrall club proved quite a coup as he had snubbed offers from a higher level most notably Leeds United and Leicester City.

Please click here to read our profile of Jason McAteer