The ascent was so fast and thrilling. From stacking supermarket shelves to the Premier League in the blink of an eye. Scoring a brilliant winner at the Stretford End of Old Trafford to beat his beloved Manchester United and ensure Derby County avoided relegation.
There was England recognition and a move to Middlesbrough as Steve McClaren created a team that would win the League Cup and reach the UEFA Cup final, but the descent was torturous and prolonged.
It is the dark side of our beautiful game, a world of injuries and medical mistakes, broken promises and a vanishing network of support and it plunged Malcolm Christie into a spiral of despair that ended in a breakdown and therapy.