Gordon Strachan was 35, recovering from serious back surgery and had lost his captaincy, penalty-taking duties and even his familiar No.7 shirt.
Yet according to Leeds author Rocco Dean, the Scottish midfielder was playing the best football of his career.
That makes Strachan's contribution to Leeds United's remarkable 1992-93 season even more striking. The champions finished 17th in the newly formed Premier League, but Strachan remained one of the outstanding performers in a campaign when almost everything around him went wrong.
“It's up there. He was unbelievable that season,” Dean told Football Presse.
“35, 36 at the time in '92-'93, and buzzing around with the energy of a guy half his age and his ability on the ball. It was absolutely magnificent.”
Strachan had already established himself as a Leeds legend before that season. He had arrived from Manchester United in March 1989, captained Howard Wilkinson's side to promotion from the Second Division in 1989-90 and then helped Leeds finish fourth in their first season back in the top flight.
In 1991-92, he captained Leeds to their third First Division title, denying his former club Manchester United the championship.
But his body was beginning to cause concern. A serious back problem meant he missed the opening weeks of the 1992-93 campaign, with Eric Cantona initially filling his place in Wilkinson's new-look attack.
When Strachan returned, however, Dean says he was extraordinary.
“I would put him up there with, for me, Raphinha is probably the best modern-day player that I've seen at Elland Road. And Strachan, I think, was better than him.
“He was just magnificent, everywhere, touching every blade of grass, dictating the play, fantastic skills and flair. He was awesome.”
The numbers underline how much Strachan remained involved. He started 31 Premier League matches and scored four goals, while making 44 appearances in all competitions. He was subsequently named Leeds' Player of the Year.
What makes it even more remarkable is what had happened to his status within the team.
Gary McAllister had taken over as captain, while Strachan's penalty duties had also gone to his fellow Scot. Then Cantona took the No.7 shirt during the 1992-93 season, leaving Strachan wearing No.8 for a period.
Dean is struck by how little any of it appeared to affect him.
“He'd had the captain's armband taken off him, so the captaincy went to McAllister. He'd had the penalty-taking duties taken off him, that went to McAllister. And he even lost his number 7 shirt because McAllister—sorry, Cantona was wearing number 7 and Strachan was made to wear number 8.
“But it didn't affect him whatsoever. It's just water off a duck's back.”
For Dean, that response says as much about Strachan's character as his performances.
“Some players might have had their nose put out by that, especially what he'd achieved and what he'd given to the club. But yeah, there was none of that.”
There was also the extraordinary physical workload. Leeds were competing in the league, European Cup, FA Cup and League Cup, with replays adding to the fixture list, yet Strachan continued to play at an age when most players would have been carefully managed.
“He was there every single week,” Dean said. “And, yeah, never missed a game, after missing the first weeks of the season.”
Leeds' European campaign ended against Rangers in the famous Battle of Britain tie, while their domestic season eventually became a fight for survival. Yet Strachan's individual level remained remarkably high. He even scored a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers on April 10, 1993, in a 5-2 win at Elland Road.
For Dean, one of the clearest memories of Strachan is not a particular goal or assist, but the way he moved.
“Just buzzing around, yeah, just buzzing around with the ball at his feet, non-stop, yeah, like a Duracell bunny.”
It is an image that captures why Dean believes Strachan's Leeds career deserves to be remembered at its highest level.
“He'll forever be a legend at Leeds. Just, yeah, an unbelievable player.”
Strachan eventually left Elland Road after the 1994-95 season, having spent six years at the club and helped deliver both the Second Division and First Division titles.
But perhaps the most revealing verdict comes from the man who managed him.
“Howard Wilkinson said the same,” Dean said. “He said, in like January of '93, that Strachan was playing the best football of his career.”
For a player who had already won trophies with Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds, and who was approaching his 36th birthday, it was a remarkable peak.
And perhaps the strangest part is that it came during a season when Leeds were falling apart around him.
Rocco Dean's book "Sgt Wilko's defending champions" is from Pitch Publishing - which is available here.
