At first there were just The Spice Girls - but in nineties Merseyside a similar name was coined for a number of Anfield's high-profile players.
'The Spice Boys' was a media nickname given to Liverpool FC players Jamie Redknapp, David James, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Jason McAteer, and occasionally teammates like Stan Collymore and Paul Ince, by the press in the 1990s.
Being a play on girl-band The Spice Girls - when girl power swept the globe and following rumours that Robbie Fowler was dating Baby Spice, Emma Bunton - the name stuck.
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Football at the time had entered a new era, with corporate sponsorship, satellite broadcasts and global marketing. The nickname also alluded to "popstar looks, trendy haircuts and high-profile endorsements."
Despite the perception, Liverpool could play and were tipped to take the title at the beginning of the 96/97 season. But along the way, 'The Spice Boys' attracted criticism and rumours began circulating of "late-nights" and "distractions."
Many will remember when Liverpool’s players infamously strode into Wembley in cream-coloured Emporio Armani two-pieces for the 1996 FA Cup Final, said to be picked by goalkeeper James who was the new face of the designer label at the time.
The final against Manchester United ended in the Reds defeat following a late goal from Cantona and the game and outfits are still remembered.
For many, the players continued to be associated with the promising but ultimately unfulfilled era which defined the opening third of the club’s three decade-long league title drought which was finally brought to an end with Jurgen Klopp’s effervescent side winning the Premier League in 2020.
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Over the years, former players have spoken of their frustration at the ‘Spice Boy’ reputation and have said their off-field commitments never impinged on their playing careers.
And whilst the 1990s only feels like yesterday for many, in the last few decades the players have retired from playing, went on to have successful careers in the media and started families.
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Since then they have seen MBEs, pundit careers, reality television appearances, charitable work and heartbreak and hard times.
Here we take brief look at some of the things a couple of the LFC players of the time did next.
Jamie Redknapp
Under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool paid a then-record fee of £350,000 (rising to £500,000) for 17-year-old Jamie Redknapp in the early 1990s.
His full debut against French side Auxerre in the UEFA Cup in October 1991 saw him became the youngest player to appear for Liverpool in European competition and begin his 11-year-career with The Reds.
Redknapp played more than 237 league games for the club which included a spell as captain and he was also involved in winning the 1995 Football League Cup Final.
He ended his football career at Southampton, retiring from the game in 2005 at the age of 31. Redknapp was also capped 17 times by England, scoring one goal.
Redknapp began his pundit career in 2004, later becoming known for his work alongside former England teammate Gary Neville on Sky Sports.
His successful career in the media has continued, being a Team Captain on Sky One’s BAFTA award-winning A League of Their Own and also appearing shows Redknapp's Big Night Out and DNA Journey in more recent years. In 2020, he released his first book.
Hailing from a famous football family - with father Harry Rednapp, uncle Frank Lampard senior and cousin Frank - Jamie was married to Eternal singer Louise Nurding for 18 years before their separation in 2016 and together they have two sons.
Last October, Redknapp married model Frida Andersson and they welcomed a son in November 2021.
David James
It was Graeme Souness who brought a young David James to Anfield from Watford for £1m in July 1992
James made his Liverpool debut in August that year in a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest, which led him to making 277 appearances for the Reds and collecting a League Cup.
The former goalkeeper left Liverpool for Aston Villa in 1999 and in 2010, he became the oldest goalkeeper to appear in an FA Cup Final.
In 2014, he retired after spells abroad in India with Kerala Blasters and in Iceland with IBV. James was also capped 53 times by England between 1997 and 2010.
James has four children with his former wife Tanya, whom he divorced in 2005 and since retiring from the sport, James has worked as a pundit and continued his media career.
A keen artist, he has taken to painting regularly, auctioning off several of his creations for charity and also illustrating popular children's book, Harry's Magic Pockets: The Circus, in 2008.
In 2012, James was appointed an MBE for his services to football and charity, but fell on harder times two years later after being declared bankrupt, resulting in him selling hundreds of items of football memorabilia he collected over the years.
No stranger to television, in 2019 he appeared in the seventeenth series of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing partner with Nadiya Bychkova, as well as Celebrity Mastermind and Pointless Celebrities more recently.
Steve McManaman
Winger Steve McManaman arrived at Liverpool at age 14 and appeared in the starting line-up in the opening game of the 1991-92 season.
During his nine years with The Reds, he made 364 appearances and scored 66 goals, winning the FA Cup and the League Cup.
McManaman transferred to Real Madrid in July 1999, becoming the second English player to ever play for the Spanish team.
After four years with Real Madrid, he went back to the English Premier League and signed with Manchester City in 2003 and later retired as a player in 2005.
Now a football TV pundit, McManaman married long-term girlfriend Victoria and together they have two daughters and one son.
After his retirement as a player, he began his media career, later working with the BBC, ITV and Setanta.
He joined ESPN fulltime in August 2010 as the primary match analyst for Barclays Premier League and a studio analyst for international matches on ESPN networks in the United States.
He also serves as a pundit on BT Sport’s football coverage.
Robbie Fowler
Toxteth-born striker Robbie Fowler broke into Liverpool's first team when he was 18 and by the time he notched a four minute hat-trick against Arsenal, a year later had become a true Kop favourite.
He scored over 30 goals for three successive seasons in the mid 1990s before suffering a serious knee injury against Everton, but recovered to play his part in the Reds' cup treble of 2001.
He signed for Leeds United for £11.75m later that year, but returned to Anfield in 2006 under manager Rafa Benitez. Fowler finished up with 183 goals for Liverpool in 369 games.
He later moved to Cardiff City and also had spells at Blackburn Rovers, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory. In 2011, he joined Thai side Muangthong United as a player, but later was appointed player-manager. He remained in this role until 2012 when he retired.
With wife Kerrie, Fowler has three daughters and a son. After retiring, he embarked on his international managerial career, being appointed manager for Muangthong United, Brisbane Roar and East Bengal.
He has also supported Liverpool-based charities such as Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice and Claire House Children’s Hospice and also released an autobiography.
Now an LFC club ambassador, in 2013, Fowler returned to Liverpool to assist with the coaching of the academy under-18 and under-21 sides, alongside former Liverpool players Steve McManaman and Rob Jones.
In March 2019, Fowler participated in a TV series called Harry’s Heroes and last year, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher teamed up to open an academy at Liverpool's former training ground, Melwood.
Jason McAteer
Centre-midfielder, right-winger and full-back Jason McAteer was signed to Bolton Wanderers at 21, where he played 114 games before transferring to Liverpool in 1995.
During his time with LFC, he played 139 games and scored six goals until 1999, when he transferred to Blackburn Rovers.
He also had spells at Sunderland and Tranmere Rovers, as well as being a regular for the Republic of Ireland national side making 52 appearances over a 10 year period.
Playing professionally for 15 years, McAteer finally hung up his boots in 2007 at the age of 36.
Upon retiring from playing, McAteer briefly joined Tranmere Rovers as former Liverpool team-mate John Barnes’ assistant, but this was a short-lived appointment of four-months.
He has since played for the Liverpool legend team and has also worked with ESPN and LFCTV.
He previously opened up about how he suffered with a “bad bout of depression” and contemplated suicide and LFCTV later premiered Jason McAteer: Through the Storm, a documentary examining the impact of mental health problems in football and wider society, a topic he still raises awareness about.
He tied the knot Lucy Edwards in 2013 and together they have two children. This year, McAteer also appeared in Paddy Power 's latest viral video in which the ex-Anfield star casts his mind back to the wardrobe choices of the Spice Boys, reports the Irish Mirror.
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