Gary McAllister enjoyed a successful career in football and was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in England during the 1980s and '90s.

He won the First Division with Leeds United in 1992 before having an extremely fruitful two-year spell with Liverpool, where he won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup last decade.

Following retirement he spent time as a coach and manager, but he is now enjoying the life of a pundit with BT Sport and was confirmed as part of their new lineup for European football next season.

BT Sport Europe is the new home of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and Sports Mole was at the launch to chat to McAllister about Barcelona, Liverpool, Leeds and more.

You must be excited by the announcement of BT as the sole broadcaster of European football in the UK?

"It's very exciting. The capture of the Champions League is a massive coup and after watching the final last Saturday I think everybody's pretty excited about the levels that we saw there and that it continues next year."

You do a lot of work for BT on Scottish football. How important is it to have big Scottish sides in Europe?

"The fact that Rangers didn't get up to the Premiership and are still in the Championship means that it's crucial another iconic club North of the border makes it into the Champions League proper.

"When Celtic qualify, Celtic Park in particular on a European night is as good as any you'll see right across the whole of Europe.

"Celtic have proven that Scottish fans can make a big difference. Their home record in Europe is outstanding - they've struggled away from home - but given that in recent years Celtic have beaten Milan and Barcelona. They're capable."

You mention Barcelona - thinking back to when you scored a winner from the penalty spot against them in the 2001 UEFA Cup, how different is this side to the one of 14 years ago?

"I'd have to say that the one I played against - the De Boers, Xavi was around then, Patrick Kluivert - they had some fantastic players as well, but if you were comparing them, this one with the world's best player (Lionel Messi) leading the line and aided probably by two of the next three best players in the world, I think they probably edge it!

"It's something pretty special when you play against those colours, for sure."

Is Messi the greatest of all time?

"You sometimes look to players more of your era and you tend to favour them - I'm a big Johan Cruyff fan and massive Diego Maradona fan. I thought Maradona was sensational but I'd have to say, I'm like most people, Messi with the things he's done the last four or five years is the best ever."

Some argue that to surpass all others he has to win a World Cup with Argentina. Do you go along with that?

"No I don't. I would argue that the Champions League has probably jumped ahead of the World Cup in quality and so to do it in the Champions League (he has won it four times) year after year is enough to say that he's the best."

You mention that you came up against Xavi. He must be a player that you particularly admire given that he plays a similar position to you?

"Absolutely. I've got to say, by coincidence, I've got a 14-year-old son who plays football and isn't that impressed by any of the things that I've done over the years, but we pulled a box out of the loft the other day and there was a Xavi Barcelona shirt in there which I'd swapped with him.

"That was the first time he went 'oh, wow, you were actually on the pitch with this guy'. He's a fantastic player and what a career."

You scored the winner in the semi-final and then went to be named man of the match in the final for a goal and three assists as Liverpool beat Alaves 5-4. What are your memories of that now?

"I remember it well as I was involved in a few of the goals and managed to score one myself from the penalty spot.

"The highlight was certainly being named man of the match and being presented with the trophy by Johan Cruyff, one of my idols. That was quite special."

Would you say that was the greatest achievement of your career?

"Well, I think when you really break it down, winning the league is always the toughest thing to do and winning the league with Leeds has to be up there. The UEFA Cup run does run it close, though."

You've got experience as a manager, but you seem pretty committed to being a pundit. Is in front of the cameras how you see your immediate future?

"I do, yes. I think I've had a really good lengthy spell in the game as a player, coach and manager. You have to be incredibly blinkered and selfish and now it's my family's turn.

"I don't want my kids to move schools. When you move clubs I've had to pick the kids out of school and move up and down the country. We're settled in Yorkshire and I'm quite happy at the moment."

Living in Yorkshire, you must follow how Leeds are getting on and the troubles they're experiencing at the moment?

"Well [owner Massimo Cellino] has come in and there's been loads of talk about doing this and doing that and I'd just like to see it finally being pushed through.

"It looks as if he's been able to keep the four or five promising youngsters, which I think is key. Leeds is a club where they love that affiliation between the crowd and local lads. Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook had great seasons, Sam Byram too and I think Luke Murphy is actually starting to look the part again.

"It would be nice to see some big signings too because the fans deserve it. I think I've watched them seven or eight times this year. Fortunately I get invited to go for a bit of lunch at Elland Road sometimes and even when you arrive at 11.30am (for a 3pm kickoff), there's that feeling of a matchday.

"You don't get that at many Championship clubs and that just tells me that they shouldn't be in the Championship, they should be in the Premier League."

It's now 11 years since Leeds were last in the top flight, though, and they've hardly showed signs of threatening promotion in recent seasons. How do they change this?

"It's certainly a big step. For them to make the leap to even get into the playoffs is going to require some big investment.

"I think they need to make a signing which sends a message that they are real contenders and actually want to be part of the mix to get out of the league.

"When Leeds were trying to get out of the old Second Division, they made signings like Gordon Strachan and Vinnie Jones - two very contrasting players, but they were characters. They're the sort of players Leeds need."

BT Sport Europe is the new home of top European football, with all UEFA Champions League matches and all UEFA Europa League matches exclusively live. Visit btsport.com/europe for more information.