Liverpool coach asked player to join club in McDonald's after Everton offer

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has told how he signed for the Reds over Everton after being approached by coach Hugh McAuley during an unexpected encounter at McDonald's

Stephen Warnock started his career at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock has disclosed that he ultimately chose to join the Reds rather than Everton after a chance meeting with a youth coach at McDonald's.

Warnock, who was critical of Liverpool's performance against Wolves on Tuesday, went on to make 67 appearances for the Reds and build a solid Premier League career. The left-back progressed through the club's youth system in the early 2000s and became a dependable member of the first-team squad. After leaving in 2007, he went on to represent England and perform admirably at sides including Blackburn, Aston Villa and Leeds.

While the 44-year-old began his professional journey at Liverpool, he had originally committed his future to Everton. That all changed following an unplanned meeting at McDonald's.

"I was playing for a local team. We had a manager who basically built the best of the best in our league," Warnock said on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.

"We started playing against Liverpool, Man United and Everton, and basically going around these games. That's how we used to get picked up. We didn't have scouts going to every game as you do now.

"Initially, I got picked up by Everton and then played Liverpool a few weeks later. I played well in the game, but didn't hear anything. We went to McDonald's on the way home, and the Liverpool coach walked in.

Warnock now works as a pundit(Image: Getty Images)

You can listen to brand new episodes of In The Mixer on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

"We were all in there. Hugh McAuley, who was the Liverpool coach, he walked in and said, 'Oh, we missed you after the game. Do you want to come on trial?' So I sacked Everton off, went on trial at Liverpool, and I think I was there from the age of like 10.

"It was different. We only trained twice a week. It's not like it is now. Like being taken out of school, and the way things happen now. We had one game on a Sunday, and that was it.

"But growing up as a Liverpool fan, it was unbelievable. I don't think you realise the magnitude of it, how big it could actually be, or where you could actually get to. I grew up on the Kop.

"I'm from a split family. Me and my mum are Reds. My dad and my brother are Blues. My dad used to have season tickets to Everton. He had three season tickets for me, my brother and him.

"So I used to go to all the Everton games but sing with the away fans. Then I'd go to Liverpool the week after and stand on the Kop."

Discussing his father's response to him playing for Liverpool, Warnock continued: "My dad didn't care. He was just like, 'Wherever you're happy and you're playing football, that's all I care about.'

"My brother is a Blue. Both his boys are Reds. He takes them to Liverpool games. He's not bothered. He's like, 'Well, that's who they support.'"