Alex Rae has revealed that he tried to convince Rangers to sign his former Sunderland team-mate Kevin Phillips, describing the striker as phenomenal.
Rae took part on a Twitter question and answer session recently and was asked numerous questions about his playing career, which included a five-year stay at the Stadium of Light.
And asked who the best player he played with in his career was, Black Cats legend Phillips was his obvious answer.
Rae replied: "Best player was Kevin Phillips. He scored 30 league goals in 38 league games at the top level in England. He was a phenomenal striker and I tried to talk David Murray [former Rangers chairman] into signing him."
It wasn't the only Sunderland-related answer Rae gave either.
Asked what he regards as his biggest achievements in his career, he said: "Winning the leagues with Sunderland and Rangers are the standouts. As a player you want to win things."
Rae was, of course, part of Peter Reid's Division One title-winning side in 1999, and consequently the side that finished seventh in two consecutive Premier League seasons.
And finally, asked what his best non-Rangers memory was, he recalled: "Whilst at Sunderland we had an open-top bus parade after winning the league. An estimated 300,000 fans attended, it was an unbelievable experience for everyone."
