Paul McGrath Named Man Utd Legend as His Toughest Opponent

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Paul McGrath named former Manchester United teammate Mark Hughes as the toughest opponent he faced during his career.

The tough nature of Premier League football perhaps reached its peak during the nineties and Paul McGrath battled the very toughest forwards in top-flight history.

McGrath is recognised as one of the best centre-backs during that era and fans who watched him during that time were often blown away by his dominance. Whether it be challenging for a header or making a last-ditch sliding tackle, the Irishman used his pace and power effectively.

Spells at Manchester United and Aston Villa earned McGrath legendary status among English football fans. In his homeland of the Republic of Ireland, he is still celebrated as one of the best talents to represent the country.

McGrath didn't always have it easy, though, when pitting himself against similarly fearsome attackers. He particularly didn't enjoy clashing with one of his 'former United teammates, explaining why trying to contain him became "more difficult" than others.

McGrath spent seven years at Old Trafford and played in a United side that won two FA Cups in the eighties. He left for Villa in 1989 and his best period came while with the Villans, thriving in Ron Atkinson's defence and earning the PFA Players' Player of the Year for his exploits during the 1992-93 campaign.

The former 83-cap Ireland international returned to the Theatre of Dreams to face the Red Devils for the first time since departing in March 1993. He quickly learned just why defenders of his time feared one of Alex Ferguson's frontmen.

During an appearance on the Macca and Beats podcast hosted by Chris McGrath and Darren Beattie, he revealed his toughest opponent: "I played against Sparky [Mark Hughes] one time. Tough, tough man. A brilliant footballer as well, but a tough man. He would give the kicks back."

Hughes had been at the peak of his powers when McGrath visited Old Trafford as his opponent and the Welshman got on the scoresheet with a header in a 1-1 draw. A traditional target man, he threw himself into duels with defenders, partly why he managed to evolve into a midfielder in the latter stages of his career.

McGrath delved into his ormer teammate's aggressiveness: "As a centre-half, I thought we were the tough [guys]. It was exciting as well. You wanted to do better than him, but when he’s built like Sparky is, it’s more difficult."

What made Hughes such a nightmare to play against was his ability to not only best his defensive opponents but to eventually put the ball in the back of the net. He did that 161 times in 462 games for United, helping the club win two league titles.

Such was the former 72-cap Wales international's unique playing style that he headed abroad after his first Old Trafford spell. Before the likes of Gareth Bale were making a name for himself in Spain, Hughes attempted to take the Welsh fighting spirit over to Catalonia.

Hughes left United for Barcelona in July 1986, joining the Catalan giants for £2 million and linking up with England icon Gary Lineker . He'd been expected to become a superstar at Camp Nou but it just didn't work out.

The Welshman started out well before enduring a difficult spell and he has since put his struggles with Barca down to failing to adapt to life abroad. But he also felt that unlike Lineker, whose quick movement suited Spanish football, his aggression wasn't a good match.

Speaking back in May 2007, he explained to FourFourTwo : "I was an aggressive player, but by the time I left Barcelona I wasn’t playing as aggressively as I knew I should be, so I was less of a player. I don’t regret it; I just think I didn’t realise what an opportunity it was."

Hughes left Barca on loan for Bayern Munich in 1987 before returning to United in 1988 where he picked up where he left off. He bullied defences en route to two European Cup Winners' Cups with the Red Devils in 1991 and Chelsea in 1998.

Wayne Rooney does not make the grade in Manchester United's 10 hardest footballers of all time.

Not only did he wreak havoc against weaker opposition, but former manager Sir Alex Ferguson described him as 'the best big-game player' he knew. He was just as tough mentally as he was physically and is one of the strikers who are used as examples for young aspiring attackers nowadays.

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