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Gary Pallister, Manchester United foodballer Signed Autograph

It was the national record for a defender at the time, 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.

Already one of the most respected defenders in the English game, he had the rare achievement of representing the English national side before appearing in the top flight, in early 1988 when still 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. As one of the highest regarded defenders in England, his days at Ayresome Park were looking numbered as soon as Boro were relegated but he did begin the 1989–90 season still at the club 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 the defence, forming one of the best central defensive partnerships in the club's history, in the 1992–93 season, he scored a memorable goal in the final home game of the season against Blackburn Rovers. Into stoppage time, with his team winning 2–1, he stepped up to drive a free-kick into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. It was his first goal of the season and just about summed up an incredible season for Manchester United. He partnered Bruce in central defence for virtually every game until Bruce left United to join Birmingham City on a free transfer at the end of the 1995–96 season. The following campaign saw Pallister partnered with either Bruce's former understudy David May or with new signing Ronny Johnsen, and ended with United winning their fourth league title in five seasons.

The final season Pallister played for Manchester United was the 1997–98 season in which Manchester United came second in the league table, losing by one point to Arsenal.

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