 He also played in the 1996 FA Cup Final against Manchester United in which Liverpool lost to a single goal scored by Eric Cantona.Towards the end of the 1998–99 season, Blackburn Rovers manager Brian Kidd signed McAteer for £4 million.Rovers were relegated that season, but McAteer would help the club to promotion back to the Premiership in 2001 during his second full season with the club.