Steve McMahon is the hard man of football with the soft centre. He seeks no sympathy when he's cut down in a combative midfield battle, and likewise detests whingers who feign injury and exaggerate their pain. McMahon has succeeded the classic hard men of the past like Dave McKay, Johnny Giles, Alan Ball and Norman Hunter. He has an abundance of skills as well as that determination to win the ball, an England international in a different league to the so-called hard men like anti-hero Vinny Jones. But off the field there is a stunning contrast. He is a softly spoken gentleman, committed family man, and caring individual. His reaction to Hillsborough, the pain and anguish of the relatives of the bereaved and the survivors, revealed a man who has shared the nightmare of the 95 who died on the Leppings Lane terraces. It is easy to understand why Liverpool have signed McMahon on the longest contract among all the superstars at the club. McMahon, 29 in August 1990, signed a six-year deal in July 1989, which will take him to the end of his illustrious career at Anfield and include a testimonial. As Liverpool strode toward their seemingly impossible dream of League and Cup double after Hillsborough, England manager Bobby Robson said: "McMahon was probably the most outstanding midfield player in the country at the end of that season. He was the force behind the Liverpool run towards the FA Cup and League Championship". This is the full, personal account of a remarkable man and an extraordinary footballer.