McManaman had the privilege to play for both Liverpool and Real Madrid between 1990 and 2003 before a move to Manchester City became his swansong.
In his time at Anfield, McManaman won the FA Cup and the League Cup, coupled with scoring 46 goals in 272 league games for the Reds. He joined Los Blancos in the summer of 1999 after nine successful years in Liverpool.
At Santiago Bernabeu, he won two Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, McManaman says his former sides have similar pressure to succeed and insists winning is what matters to both clubs.
Real Madrid is very much like Liverpool,” the 48-year-old said.
“As in two huge clubs in their particular countries, steeped in history, always looking at the past.”
“You have got these pictures all over the walls at Liverpool – it will be Emlyn Hughes, it will be Graeme Souness, Phil Thompson lifting these European Cups.”
“In Madrid, it was the same, you’ve got Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento, Ferenc Puskas, you’ve got pictures everywhere and the pressure is on every single season to win a trophy.”
“If it’s not the league, it’s the Champions League.”
“You have to deliver silverware, and that was exactly the same at Liverpool.”
“I went to Madrid, the faces were different and they spoke a foreign language but the pressure to win trophies was all that mattered.”
