Manchester United’s association with Ireland is a rich one as many great players from both Northern and the Republic of Ireland have pulled on our famous red kit. Even now the likes of John O’Shea, Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans all play important roles in the first team
It has been announced today by the Football Association of Ireland that United will be taking on select XI to mark the opening of Dublin’s new Aviva stadium so I thought I would pay homage to some of the great Irish men that have called Old Trafford home.
There was only going to be one person to start this list off, Roy Keane. United’s most successful captain ever, who in his 12 year spell at Old Trafford would win 7 league titles as well as numerous FA Cups and the Champions League. A tough tackling midfield general, Keane remains my favourite player ever with his never say die attitude.
Ever reliable, Denis Irwin‘s place as United’s greatest ever Left back has only recently come under threat due to the emergence of Patrice Evra. United’s second most decorated player, Irwin could also play right back as well as take free kicks and penalties meaning in his 529 appearances he notched 33 goals.
Maradona? Good, Pele? Better, George Best! Possibly one of the most talented players to ever play at Old Trafford, ‘El Beatle’ was able to create as well as score goals and in the 60s was part of United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ alongside Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton. His goals saw him win numerous league titles as well as the European Cup in 1968 and the European Player of the Year.
Despite a somewhat short United career Paul McGrath was one of the finer centre backs to play for the club. Signed by Ron Atkinson in 1982 McGrath was fast, strong and showed an ability to read the game that made his job that much easier. Although his only trophy at Old Trafford was a the FA Cup in 1985, it was a performance that saw he named man of the match as he marked both Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp out of the game.
Like McGrath, injury plagued Norman Whiteside’s career but when he was fit he was a joy to behold. Breaking the record for the youngest player to appear for the first team on his debut, Whiteside would win the FA Cup twice with United. Physical but skillful Whiteside could score goals but also didn’t mind helping out in midfield and got the winner in the ’85 cup final.
Ya they don`t tell the fans.They they have to buy a two game 85 euro international package in order to get a ticket for united game which will be around 50 euro.Ire v paraguay and ire v algeria.Dont they know theres a fuckin recession in ireland.Id rather shit on a stick.
How could you forget Liam (Billy) Whelan? Probably the most famous Irish man to play for Man Utd.
Maybe it was foolish on his behalf not to state these were players he had seen play.
Interesting article, but I think Paul Scholes now has more honours than Irwin. And Gary Neville is equal with him. And if we count just leagues, FA cups and European Cups then Scholes and Neville are way ahead of Irwin. So referring to Irwin as the 2nd most decorated player seems a little incorrect.
Just a minor quibble.
Im aware of Whelan but being 21 I would feel like a fraud including someone on the list I hadn’t seen play.
Pardon me don’t know what I was thinking putting Irwin is our second most decorated player!?
Moment of madness!
But like Chudi said, these were only players I have seen, I could have put Stapleton, McIlroy a push as well.
“Possibly one of the most talented players to ever play at Old Trafford”
Did this cockhead ever see George Best play???
“DEFINATELY one of the most talented players to ever play anywhere” would be a more apt description.
@ Colin there’s no need to be rude, some people may pick Ronaldo the older generation may say Best.
If my writer has produced a piece I don’t expect to see him getting abused by fellow United fans, even if you have a gripe with the content.
Not that the current system has any problems, but I do imagine what it would look like if there was a UK team. Of course this wouldn’t apply to players from the Rep. of Ireland, but for the others, they would be at a whole other level if they played unified like they do at the Olympics.
The majority of the players would be English, but the elite from the other countries would have a chance to truly compete on the global scale. Take the current English squad, but eliminate some of the chaff and throw in Evans, Fletcher, Bale etc…and you’d have a squad more capable to take this year’s WC. It’ll never happen, but one can still wonder.
I think they are looking at a UK team for the 2012 Olympics so we may just get to see such a thing