Leeds United legend spoke to The Football Show about the gifts of two Republic of Ireland players for the club, in Stephen McPhail and Alan Maybury.
Gray had the fortune and skill to play, coach and manage at Leeds, so few are better-placed to give their opinion on Ireland's finest exports to the club.
He relayed a story about Harry Kewell that indicated the regard in which McPhail, in particular, was held at Elland Road.
Harry Kewell
"It's funny, Harry Kewell came from Australia and you would say to him 'Who was the best player you played with?' He would always say to you 'Stephen McPhail'.
"Stephen was tremendously gifted. If he had another half a yard of pace, Stephen would have been like Liam Brady. He had that much talent - great control of the ball, great vision as well.
"There was none more gifted than Stephen McPhail."
McPhail was not the only Irish player that was predicted to achieve great things in his football career.
Alan Maybury
"When [Irish players] were coming through when they were really young, you would have backed Alan Maybury to be the most successful. He and Harry Kewell were the youngest players to play when David O'Leary and George Graham were at the club.
"But Alan just lost it a little bit, but he made a great career for himself. He was captain of the Youth Cup-winning team - he was reliable and solid.
"He just had a disappointing game for the first team at Elland Road and it affected him for a long time. He ended up having a great career in Scotland - a top player."
Leeds United's youth machine
As any Premier League fan of a certain vintage will attest, the young players produced and purchased by Leeds was arguably second only to Manchester United in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
"Jonathan Woodgate ended up at Real Madrid. Jonathan played centre-back for England at 19, there are not many players that do that.
"We had signed Rio Ferdinand and had to sell him through financial circumstances. So as well as it being good times, it was the start of the downfall of the club.
"I was caretaker manager when we got relegated. I regret going back in a way, I only went back because of a guy called Trevor Birch, who was looking after the financial situation at the time.
"I was disappointed in myself that I couldn't get the club out of trouble. It was the hardest day of my whole career."
A brilliant chat with an #LUFC legend - being booted by Jack, what made Giles great and #Leeds' chances this year!
Check it out ⬇️ | @paddypowerhttps://t.co/ngzOIVDqbe— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 8, 2020
