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{{short description|English footballer and sports television pundit (born 1965)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Gary Pallister
| image          = 
| fullname       = Gary Andrew Pallister<ref name="hugman">{{Hugman|15197|access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1965|6|30|df=y}}<ref name="hugman"/>
| birth_place    = [[Ramsgate]], Kent, England<ref name="hugman"/>
| height         = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=Jim |title=Manchester United: The Biography |year=2008 |publisher=Sphere |location=London |isbn=978-1-84744-088-4 |page=425 }}</ref>
| position       = [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|Centre-back]]<ref name="hugman"/>
| youthyears1    = |youthclubs1 = [[Billingham Town F.C.|Billingham Town]]
| years1         = 1984–1989 |clubs1 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]         |caps1 = 156 |goals1 = 5
| years2         = 1985      |clubs2 = → [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]] (loan)      |caps2 = 7   |goals2 = 0
| years3         = 1989–1998 |clubs3 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps3 = 317 |goals3 = 12
| years4         = 1998–2001 |clubs4 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]         |caps4 = 55  |goals4 = 1
| totalcaps      = 535 |totalgoals = 18
| nationalyears1 = 1988–1996 |nationalteam1 = [[England national football team|England]]     |nationalcaps1 = 22 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1989–1992 |nationalteam2 = [[England national football B team|England B]] |nationalcaps2 = 9  |nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
'''Gary Andrew Pallister''' (born 30 June 1965) is an English former professional [[association football|footballer]] and sports television pundit. As a player he was a [[defender (association football)|defender]] from 1984 to 2001 and is most noted for his nine-year spell at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], where he formed a formidable defensive partnership with [[Steve Bruce]] and won 15 trophies including four [[Premier League]] titles, three [[FA Cup]]s and the [[European Cup Winners Cup]].

Pallister also had several spells with [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] that yielded over 200 appearances combined over both periods, as well as briefly playing on loan with [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]] in 1985. He was [[cap (sport)|capped]] 22 times by [[England national football team|England]] between 1988 and 1996, as well as earning nine caps for the [[England national football B team|England B team]].

Following his retirement, Pallister has worked in the media and has appeared as a television pundit for both [[BBC Sport]] and [[ITV Sport]], with appearances on ''[[Football Focus]]'' and ''[[Final Score]]''.

==Club career==

===Middlesbrough===
Although born in [[Ramsgate]], Kent, Pallister grew up in [[Norton, County Durham]] and supported nearby [[Middlesbrough F.C.]]<ref>[https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/pally-couldnt-resist-returning-3741684 Pally couldn't resist returning]</ref> His footballing career started at non-league [[Billingham Town F.C.|Billingham Town]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://billinghamtownfc.net/firstteam/history.html | title=History | access-date=1 June 2022 | archive-date=16 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916174855/https://billinghamtownfc.net/firstteam/history.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> At the age of 19 he joined his boyhood club, Middlesbrough, as a [[defender (association football)|defender]]; he made 156 league appearances over nearly five seasons, and helped them win consecutive promotions to the [[Football League Second Division]] in 1987, and then the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in 1988. He moved to Manchester United on 29 August 1989 for [[Pound sterling|£]]2.3&nbsp;million.

===Manchester United===
Pallister's transfer broke the national record for a fee paid for a defender, 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 F.C.|Liverpool]] from [[Juventus]] a year earlier).{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Pallister had the rare achievement of representing the England national side before appearing in the top flight; in 1988 when 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 in English football|1988–89 season]]. He began the [[1989–90 in English football|1989–90 season]] with Middlesbrough 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 in English football|1992–93]] season, he scored a memorable goal in the final home game of the season against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|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. He partnered Bruce in central defence for virtually every game until Bruce left United to join [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] on a free transfer at the end of the [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96 season]]. The following campaign saw Pallister partnered with either Bruce's former understudy [[David May (footballer)|David May]] or with new signing [[Ronny Johnsen]], and ended with United winning their fourth league title in five seasons. A highlight of this season for Pallister was scoring twice in a 3–1 win against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Anfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-james-hands-title-to-united-1268339.html|title=James hands title to United|work=The Independent|date=19 April 1997 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

The final season Pallister played for Manchester United was the [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]] season in which Manchester United came second in the league table, losing by one point to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].

During his time at Manchester United, Pallister won the [[FA Cup]] in 1990, 1994 and 1996, the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] in 1991, the [[Football League Cup]] in 1992 and [[Premier League]] titles in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997, amongst other honours. He was also part of the team that came second in the league in 1992, 1995 and 1998, as well as the team that finished runners-up in the League Cup in 1991 and 1994 and the FA Cup in 1995. By the time of his departure from [[Old Trafford]] after nine years, he was the only player to have collected winner's medals in all of the club's successes under [[Alex Ferguson]]'s management, and second only to [[Brian McClair]] (who left United at the same time) he was the club's longest serving player.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

He also scored some crucial goals for United. He scored an equaliser in extra time against [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in the [[1994–95 FA Cup]] semi-final at [[Villa Park]], forcing a replay which United won and in which Pallister made the scoresheet once again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2015/Oct/5-pivotal-Manchester-United-wins-over-Crystal-Palace-in-FA-Cup-and-League-matches.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030133146/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2015/Oct/5-pivotal-Manchester-United-wins-over-Crystal-Palace-in-FA-Cup-and-League-matches.aspx |archive-date=30 October 2015 |title=5 pivotal United wins against Crystal Palace |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> In April 1997, he scored twice against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in a match billed the "title decider" which ended in a 3–1 United win at [[Anfield]]. These would be the last two goals he scored for the club, who went on to win their fourth league title in five seasons shortly afterwards. His first goal for United had come on 12 November 1989, as he scored their only goal in the 1–0 home win over [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] in the First Division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1989-1990.html |title=Manchester United Results 1989-1990, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426175846/http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1989-1990.html |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>

===Return to Middlesbrough===
With Pallister now aged 33 and United having signed [[Jaap Stam]] from [[PSV Eindhoven]], Pallister was sold back to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] in July 1998 for £2.5&nbsp;million, £200,000 more than when he first moved to Manchester United. He was brought back to [[Teesside]] by manager [[Bryan Robson]], who had played alongside Pallister at [[Old Trafford]] until 1994. He scored once against Southampton<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-boros-cabinet-is-bare-1118768.html |title=Boro's cabinet is bare |work=[[The Independent]] |date=11 September 1999 |access-date=4 November 2009 |location=London |first=Simon |last=Turnbull }}</ref> in 55 league appearances, as well as appearing in two FA Cup matches and four League Cup matches.

His final playing season, in which Middlesbrough finished 14th in the table, was season [[2000–01 in English football|2000–01]]. He retired from playing due to a succession of injuries on 4 July 2001, at the age of 36, just three weeks after the appointment of [[Steve McClaren]] as manager following the departure of Robson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/1421995.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Injuries force Pallister to retire |date=4 July 2001 }}</ref>

==International career==
===B team===
Pallister made his debut for the [[England national football B team|England B]] team in May 1989; he started the match against [[Switzerland national football B team|Switzerland]] before being replaced by [[Alan McLeary]] in the 2−0 win at [[Stadion Schützenwiese]].<ref name="engonlineB">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmB.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102001146/http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmB.html |archive-date=2 November 2019 |title=England's Matches the B team |work=EnglandFootballOnline.com |publisher=England Football Online |first1=Chris |last1=Goodwin |first2=Glen |last2=Isherwood |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> He made eight more appearances over the next three years with the last coming in the 3−0 victory against [[France national football B team|France]] in February 1992.<ref name="engonlineB"/>

===Senior===
Pallister made his debut for [[England national football team|England]] in the friendly with [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] in April 1988.<ref name="engstats">{{cite web|url=https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425073239/https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1003 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |title=Gary Andrew Pallister |work=EnglandStats.com |publisher=England International Database 1872−2020 |first=Davey |last=Naylor |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> He played the whole game in the goalless draw at [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium|Népstadion]] in [[Budapest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=632 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425074229/https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=632 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |title=Hungary 0−0 England |work=EnglandStats.com |publisher=England International Database 1872−2020 |first=Davey |last=Naylor |date=27 April 1988 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> He had to wait over three years to make his competitive debut when he played in the win against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] during [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 7|qualifying]] for [[UEFA Euro 1992]].<ref name="engstats"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425074938/https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=670 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |title=Turkey 0−1 England |work=EnglandStats.com |publisher=England International Database 1872−2020 |first=Davey |last=Naylor |date=1 May 1991 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> England qualified for the tournament finals in Sweden but Pallister was not selected in the squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/92e-full.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421174257/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/92e-full.html |archive-date=21 April 2020 |title=European Championship 1992 – Final Tournament – Full Details |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> He featured in the [[1993 U.S. Cup|United States Cup]] in June 1993;<ref name="engstats"/> he started the defeats against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-englands-new-low-as-us-pile-on-the-misery-dooley-and-lalas-add-a-further-chapter-to-taylors-1490806.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810081020/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-englands-new-low-as-us-pile-on-the-misery-dooley-and-lalas-add-a-further-chapter-to-taylors-1490806.html |archive-date=10 August 2018 |title=Football: England's new low as US pile on the misery |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |date=10 June 1993 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> and [[Germany national football team|Germany]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-malaise-still-lingers-1492683.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912005433/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-malaise-still-lingers-1492683.html |archive-date=12 September 2016 |title=Football: Malaise still lingers |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Norman |last=Fox |date=20 June 1993 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> and the draw against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-helps-england-to-right-route-taylor-draws-comfort-at-last-as-flowers-and-pallister-1491671.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804184231/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-helps-england-to-right-route-taylor-draws-comfort-at-last-as-flowers-and-pallister-1491671.html |archive-date=4 August 2019 |title=Football: Platt helps England to right route |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |date=14 June 1993 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> as England finished last place in the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englandstats.com/comp.php?tid=11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425083919/https://www.englandstats.com/comp.php?tid=11 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |title=United States Cup |work=EnglandStats.com |publisher=England International Database 1872−2020 |first=Davey |last=Naylor |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Pallister played three matches as England failed to [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|qualify]] for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name="engstats"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/world-cup-football-england-find-themselves-in-seventh-hell-wright-gets-it-right-but-poland-result-1505158.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005203508/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/world-cup-football-england-find-themselves-in-seventh-hell-wright-gets-it-right-but-poland-result-1505158.html |archive-date=5 October 2018 |title=World Cup Football: England find themselves in seventh hell |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |date=18 November 1993 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> He was used sporadically over the next three years, mainly playing in friendlies, before making his last appearances in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|qualifiers]] against [[Moldova national football team|Moldova]] and [[Poland national football team|Poland]] in the autumn of 1996.<ref name="engstats"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-avoid-banana-skins-1361364.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727161201/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-avoid-banana-skins-1361364.html |archive-date=27 July 2018 |title=World England avoid banana skins |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Glenn |last=Moore |date=2 September 1996 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/shearer-restores-englands-pride-1357735.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909060345/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/shearer-restores-englands-pride-1357735.html |archive-date=9 September 2016 |title=Shearer restores England's pride |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |first=Glenn |last=Moore |date=9 October 1996 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Overall, Pallister won 22 caps and scored no goals.<ref name="engstats"/>

==Media career==
He has since worked as a TV football pundit, appearing on the BBC and ITV.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Personal life==
In September 2010, Pallister became an Operations Director with former club [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2155618,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217142921/http://www.darlington-fc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10339~2155618,00.html |archive-date=17 December 2010 |title=Pallister Joins Quakers |work=Darlington-FC.net |publisher=Darlington Football Club |first=Martin |last=Walker |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=25 April 2020 }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Manchester United'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]], [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Premier League|1995–96]], [[1996–97 FA Premier League|1996–97]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/320/Gary-Pallister/overview |title=Gary Pallister: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=17 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1990 FA Cup Final|1989–90]], [[1994 FA Cup Final|1993–94]], [[1996 FA Cup Final|1995–96]]
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[1992 Football League Cup Final|1991–92]]
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]]: [[1990 FA Charity Shield|1990]] (shared), [[1993 FA Charity Shield|1993]], [[1994 FA Charity Shield|1994]], [[1996 FA Charity Shield|1996]], [[1997 FA Charity Shield|1997]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1991 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1990–91]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1991 European Super Cup|1991]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year]]: [[1989–90 Manchester United F.C. season|1989–90]]<ref name="Individual">{{cite web |title=Gary Pallister |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersP/BioPallisterGA.html |website=England Football Online |access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
*[[PFA Players' Player of the Year]]: 1991–92<ref name="Individual"/>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)#Third Division 8|1986–87 Third Division]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)#Second Division 9|1987–88 Second Division]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#First Division 3|1991–92 First Division]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League|1992–93 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 2|1993–94 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 3|1994–95 Premier League]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 6|1997–98 Premier League]]<ref name="Individual"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080605022626/http://www.4sportsake.com/ Gary Pallister blog] at 4sportsake.com
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=4105&searchname=Pallister&ap=p Gary Pallister profile] at thefa.com
*[https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/gary-pallister Gary Pallister – Official Manchester United Website] at manutd.com

{{Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year}}
{{1986–87 Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1987–88 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1991–92 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1992–93 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{1993–94 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{1994–95 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{1997–98 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pallister, Gary}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Kent]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Billingham Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Darlington F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Ramsgate]]
[[Category:People from Norton, County Durham]]
[[Category:Footballers from County Durham]]