McManaman conducted his departure, it is believed that many fans still regard McManaman, along with Fowler, as the two players who kept Liverpool in a good position through the 1990s. In 2012, as part of the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards, McManaman was named on the shortlist for the award of best right midfielder, which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2018, Sky Sports named McManaman and Fowler the third greatest goals-assists partnership in the Premier League era, just behind Drogba/Lampard, Sheringham/Anderton and just ahead of Pires/Henry. In 2020, Sky Sports placed McManaman at number 25 on a list of the "top 50 players to have never won a Premier League title", while FourFourTwo magazine listed McManaman at number 22 on a list of the Premier League's 25 best players of the 1990s. In June 2022, Liverpool's elite fan website, This is Anfield placed McManaman at number 4 of the top 10 players with the most assists in Liverpool's history; ranking only behind John Barnes, Steven Gerrard and Sir Kenny Dalglish. "Spice Boys" As the fame of McManaman and his teammates increased, tabloid newspaper stories of lad culture excesses emerged and this, fused with underachievement on the pitch, brought criticism in the media. Defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in three title races (from 1995–96 through 1996–97) including the 1996 FA Cup final, a game where the Liverpool team arrived to inspect the pitch wearing cream coloured Armani suits- intensified the criticism. McManaman and other team-mates were reported to have cashed in on their newfound fame as stars of the nascent Premier League, to live a high life involving groupies, clubbing and other "high jinks". Modelling contracts and deals with fashion labels like Top Man, Hugo Boss and Armani culminated in their collective nickname, the "Spice Boys". The situation was further aggravated by stories of McManaman and best friend Robbie Fowler's lifestyles off the pitch following an interview with the magazine Loaded, which depicted the duo as hedonists and 'scally' characters, as well as stories about McManaman and Fowler's lack of decorum and disruptive influence in the dressing room. McManaman responded by joining The Times to write a weekly column, becoming the first footballer of his generation to do so. McManaman's columns were known for articulating opinions on matters from a player's perspective, and in one particular column, discussed the issue of how the Bosman ruling impacted the