The Best Football Stars To Come Out Of Ireland

Ireland has given the world plenty, but something that you may not have thought of is all of the great Irish footballers that have come from this great country. Here are some of the best football stars to come out of Ireland, and have really given the rest of the world a run for their money.

Johnny Giles

When talking about footballers from the Republic of Ireland, you have to talk about Johnny Giles. He started off as a 17 year old player with Manchester United, before moving on to Leeds United. During his career as a midfielder, he won every domestic honour available in English football, which is no mean feat.

If you compare his record to other footballers, it does feel like he has less caps for the republic overall, but that is because when he was playing there were less international friendlies and matches. With 57 caps under his belt, he did plenty to further the sport.

After he left the pitch, he stayed in football by managing their Republic of Ireland, and really improving their reputation by having a great run at the 1978 World Cup.

Denis Irwin

Another Irish footballer that made a splash in the English football scene is Denis Irwin. He was signed from Oldham Athletic in 1990, and played a part ins some of the most success the club had in that period. You may see some people understating the amount that he did to win those accolades, but his consistency on the pitch worked hard to get the team where they got to.

Irwin got to represent his country at the 1994 World Cup, and is very much considered to be the best left-back that the Republic of Ireland had ever had. In fact, many fields that he has not been properly replaced yet.

Paul McGrath

Paul McGrath may well be known for the personal battles he had to face, including chronic knee issues as well as alcoholism. However, he worked hard to become one of the greatest players from the Republic of Ireland. He really cemented his place in football history during his time with Manchester United and Aston Villa.

He has many successes under his belt, including his 83 caps, which is the ninth highest ever reached by a Republic of Ireland player. With so much success to his name, he very much is a household name in terms of Irish football.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane is probably one of the most well-known footballers on this list, being the all-time leading goal scorer for the Republic of Ireland. He is currently capped 131 times, Is the captain of his country, and still is playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy team in Major League Soccer. Currently Robbie Keave is the Maccabi Tel Aviv coach, currently ranked as favourites in the Israeli Premier League according to the Irish bookies at Ivea. Bookmakers have consistently discussed how Robbie Keane is key to the team’s recent success.

He started his career back in 1997, when he made his debut for the Wolverhampton Wanderers. Since then, he has gone on to represent pen clubs, including Leeds United, Coventry City, Liverpool, and Tottenham.

Currently, Keane has 62 goals to his name, which averages at just under a goal every other game for his national team.

Roy Keane

This is another Irish footballer that pretty much any football fan can name, no matter where they are located. He is very much one of the most talented footballers to come out of Ireland, earning 67 caps between 1991 and 2005.

This may know him because of his controversy when he was representing his national team, especially when he had a falling out with manager Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup, and was then sent home from the tournament.

Despite all the controversy, he still works in football as an assistant coach to Martin O’Neill for the national team, allowing him to bring his expertise and talent to the newer Irish footballers on the scene.

George Best

We cannot talk about iconic Irish footballers without talking about George Best. While he never reached the numbers of the other people on this list, he still has garnered a reputation for being an incredible footballer with fans around the world.

He is best known for his time playing with Manchester United, making 470 appearances and scoring 179 goals. He was also known for his personal life, having battled with alcoholism for much of that time on the pitch. He passed away in 2005, and a solely missed by the football community.

These are just a few of the best Irish footballers who have come out of the country. This shows just how amazing Irish football can be, and that we have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. Keep an eye on Irish football to see what comes next.