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{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{other persons|Paul McGrath}}
{{for|the Gaelic player born 1966|Paul McGrath (Gaelic footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| playername = Paul McGrath
| name = Paul McGrath
| image =
| image = [[File:McGrath, Paul.jpg]]
| fullname = Paul McGrath
| caption = McGrath in 2018
| fullname = Paul McGrath<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|12540|access-date=18 February 2019}}</ref>
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1959|12|4|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|12|4|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/>
| cityofbirth = [[Ealing]]
| countryofbirth = [[England]]
| birth_place = [[Greenford]], England
| height = 1.85 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul McGrath Defender, Profile & Stats {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/37/Paul-McGrath/overview |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
| position = [[Defender (association football)#Centre back|Centre back]]
| position = [[Centre back]]<ref name=Hugman/>
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Pearse Rovers
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Fatima Rangers

| youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Dalkey United

| years1 = 1981–1982 |clubs1 = [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] |caps1 = 27 |goals1 = 4
| youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Dalkey United
| years2 = 1982–1989 |clubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps2 = 163 |goals2 = 12
| years3 = 1989–1996 |clubs3 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] |caps3 = 252 |goals3 = 9
| years1 = 1981–1982 |clubs1 = [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] |caps1 = 26 |goals1 = 4
| years4 = 1996–1997 |clubs4 = [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] |caps4 = 24 |goals4 = 0
| years2 = 1982–1989 |clubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps2 = 163 |goals2 = 12
| years5 = 1997 |clubs5 = → [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (loan) |caps5 = 7 |goals5 = 0
| years3 = 1989–1996 |clubs3 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] |caps3 = 253 |goals3 = 9
| years6 = 1997–1998 |clubs6 = [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] |caps6 = 5 |goals6 = 0
| years4 = 1996–1997 |clubs4 = [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] |caps4 = 24 |goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1997 |clubs5 = → [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (loan) |caps5 = 7 |goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1997–1998 |clubs6 = [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] |caps6 = 5 |goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 478 |totalgoals = 25
| nationalyears1 = 1985–1997 |nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] |nationalcaps1 = 83 |nationalgoals1 = 8
| nationalyears1 = 1985–1997 |nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] |nationalcaps1 = 83 |nationalgoals1 = 8
}}
}}
'''Paul McGrath''' (born 4 December 1959) is a retired [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Association football|footballer]], who played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]]. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/features/stpatricksathleticlegends.html RTÉ Sport: St Patrick's Athletic<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.tribune.ie/sport/other-sport/article/2009/dec/13/who-is-the-greatest-irish-sports-star/</ref><ref>[http://www.spunout.ie/forum/php-BB-3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2521 SpunOut.ie - Forum • View topic - The Greatest Irish Sportsperson Ever<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


'''Paul McGrath''' (born 4 December 1959) is an Irish former professional [[Association football|footballer]], who played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]]. McGrath is widely considered to be one of the great defenders of the 1980s and 1990s and was known by the nickname 'God' at [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. Mainly a [[centre back]], he also played as [[defensive midfielder]]. He spent the majority of his career at Villa and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (seven seasons apiece). He is one of only six defenders to have won the [[PFA Players' Player of the Year]] award. He also played for [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]], [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].
In a career greatly hampered by physical and off-the-field problems, he played 14 professional seasons with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (seven apiece). A tough tackler, he often defied medical knowledge, due to the conditioning of his [[knee]]s. It is more likely to believe it was due to his knees falling off. This is also associated with current Spurs defender [[Ledley King]] <ref name="cult">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/4382344.stm|title=Cult XI – defenders|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=29 December 2005|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref>


Also a long-time member of the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]], he appeared at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] [[FIFA World Cup]]s, as well as [[UEFA Euro 1988]], the team's first-ever international tournament.
Also a long-time member of the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]], he appeared at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]] [[FIFA World Cup]]s, as well as [[UEFA Euro 1988]], the team's first-ever international tournament.


==Childhood==
==Early life==
McGrath was born in [[Ealing]], [[London]] to an [[Irish people|Irish]] mother and a [[Nigeria]]n father. According to [[Donald McRae (author)|Donald McRae]], his father disappeared soon after his conception, while his mother, Betty McGrath, gave him up for [[adoption]] when he was four weeks old: terrified that her father would find out she had become pregnant outside of marriage and in an [[Miscegenation|interracial relationship]], she travelled in secret to London to have her child, who was considered [[Legitimacy (law)|illegitimate]].<ref name="mcrae">{{cite web |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1929825,00.html |title='I remember the blood pouring and the nanny screaming' |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |first=Donald |last=McRae |date=24 October 2006 |accessdate=26 February 2010 }}</ref>
McGrath was born in [[Greenford]], [[Middlesex]],<ref name=Hugman/> to a Nigerian father who met his Irish mother during his medical studies in [[Dublin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mixed Race Irish Families and Adoption |url=https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/amri-exhibition/598/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=The Mixed Museum |language=en}}</ref> His father disappeared soon after his conception. His mother, Betty McGrath, was terrified that her father would find out she had become pregnant outside marriage and in an [[Miscegenation|interracial relationship]]. She travelled in secret to London to have her child, who was considered [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimate]]. She was strongly advised to give her son up for [[adoption]] at the [[Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation|Mother and Baby home]] in [[Acton, London|Acton]], where she refused to do so numerous times. Upon her arrival back in her hometown Paul was forcibly taken away from her, placed with a foster family and later transferred to the Smyly Trust Home. This was arranged and carried out by the Catholic Crusade members in Dublin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mixed Race Irish Families and Adoption |url=https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/amri-exhibition/598/ |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=The Mixed Museum |language=en}}</ref> It was assumed that Betty McGrath gave him up for [[fostering]] in Ireland when he was four weeks old.<ref name="mcrae 2006">{{cite news|last=McRae |first=Donald |date=24 October 2006 |title=I remember the blood pouring and the nanny screaming |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/oct/24/sport.comment |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref>


When he was five years old, one of the daughters of the family he had been fostered by came to Betty to say they could not control him. At that stage, his mother had him back for a number of days before having to put him into an orphanage. Despite being Paul McGrath on his birth certificate, the admission form required the name of the father, hence he was known as Paul Nwobilo for a time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gibbons|first=Margaret|date=1927|title=Margaret Aylward (1810-1889.) (Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Faith)|journal=The Irish Monthly|volume=55|issue=647|pages=247–259|jstor=20518114|issn=2009-2113}}</ref>
Although McGrath's mother would eventually track him down again, Paul Nwobilo, as he was then known, was brought up in a number of [[orphanage]]s in [[Dublin]].<ref name="mcrae"/>


Betty would later have a second black child, a daughter named Okune, and both Betty and Okune would visit Paul while he was in care. Regretting giving Paul into care, Betty kept Okune with her, but growing up, this caused confusion within Paul who also wanted to live with her.<ref name="Battling to be Irish">{{cite news |last=Kelleher |first=Lynne |date=27 September 2020 |title='I spent half my life battling to be Irish' - soccer star Paul McGrath |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/my-heart-is-breaking-mcgrath-tribute-to-mum/39504969.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="Magill Real Macca">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=25 October 2006 |title=The real Macca |url=https://magill.ie/archive/real-macca |work=[[Magill]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="IT Black Pearl">{{cite news |last=Duggan |first=Keith |date=18 November 2006 |title=Perilous times of the Black Pearl |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/perilous-times-of-the-black-pearl-1.1031014 |work=[[The Irish Times]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>
==Club career==
McGrath began as a schoolboy with Pearse Rovers and played junior football for Dalkey United. While at the latter, he attracted the attention of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] scout [[Billy Behan]]. Before becoming a full time professional with [[League of Ireland]] club [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] in 1981, he briefly worked as an apprentice metal worker and a security guard in Dublin.


McGrath remained in various forms of foster care around Dublin until he turned 18. In his later teenage years, he was able to reconcile with his mother, as well as his maternal grandfather.<ref name="Battling to be Irish"/><ref name="Magill Real Macca"/>
McGrath made his debut in a [[League of Ireland Cup]] clash with [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] in August at [[Richmond Park]]. He ultimately excelled at ''St Pat's'', earning the nickname "The Black Pearl of Inchicore"<ref name="loved">{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2348432/McGrath-loved-by-all-but-himself.html |title=McGrath loved by all but himself |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |last=Philip |first=Robert |date=20 October 2006 |accessdate=26 February 2010 }}</ref> and receiving the [[PFAI Players' Player of the Year|PFAI Player of the Year Award]] in his first and only season,<ref name="my_lord">{{cite web |url=http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/paul-mcgrath-my-lord-paul-mcgrath.html |title=Paul McGrath, My Lord, Paul McGrath |publisher=The Offside |date=17 March 2008 |accessdate=28 July 2010 }}</ref> scoring four goals in 31 total appearances.


By {{circa}} 1979, McGrath had begun to excel in sports, playing for the youth football club Dalkey United. However, it was at this time that McGrath suffered a "catastrophic mental breakdown" that would ultimately last for an entire year. McGrath was placed in the psychiatric hospital [[St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan|St. John of God in Stillorgan]]; there McGrath remained in a "trance-like state, unspeaking, incontinent and covered in bedsores" while Doctors feared that McGrath may never walk again.<ref name="Magill Real Macca"/> McGrath was eventually able to recover from his episode and resume his sporting career.
In 1982, McGrath moved to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], then managed by [[Ron Atkinson]]. His only honour there was the [[1984–85 FA Cup|1984–85]] [[FA Cup]], in a 1–0 defeat of [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. He was named ''[[Man of the match]]'' in the game, which was remembered for the [[Ejection (sports)|sending off]] of [[Kevin Moran (footballer)|Kevin Moran]] – the first ever in the competition's final. In his early years at Manchester United, McGrath was frequently used as a [[midfielder]], changing to defender still at [[Old Trafford]]. Lacking in pace, he often relied on his strength and ability to read the game.<ref name="cult"/> Ben Dyson quoted: 'Defending is known as the devil of football, McGrath makes it seem like a work of art'.
Often regarded as one of the best pure defenders in the game, several [[knee]] injuries stopped McGrath from becoming a regular under new United manager [[Alex Ferguson]]. The pair also faced a turbulent relationship,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6102216.stm|title=Ferguson's human side revealed|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 November 2006|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> as McGrath's [[alcohol]] addiction and physical problems led to United offering him a retirement package of [[Pound sign|£]]100,000 with a testimonial. McGrath refused, and instead Ferguson began to inform clubs of his availability. Although McGrath's former manager Atkinson made an offer from [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]'s offer was accepted and McGrath signed on 3 August 1989 for a fee of £400,000,<ref>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=42031 Paul McGrath - Aston Villa FC - Football-Heroes.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> after 194 official appearances for the ''Reds'', with 16 goals - the last of which came in a 2-1 league defeat against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] at [[Carrow Road]] on 25 February 1989.<ref>[http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1988-89.html Manchester United Results 1988-89, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Club career==
During this time McGrath was offered terms at [[S.S.C. Napoli]] [http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/one-on-one/364/article.aspx].
===St Patrick's Athletic===
[[File:Paul McGrath Inchicore traffic light box.jpg |thumb|[[Street art]] dedicated to McGrath outside [[Richmond Park (football ground)|Richmond Park]], home ground of his first club [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]].]]
McGrath made his debut for [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]] in a [[League of Ireland Cup]] clash with [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] on 30 August 1981 at [[Richmond Park (football ground)|Richmond Park]]. He scored the winner in his next game in a [[Leinster Senior Cup (association football)|Leinster Senior Cup]] clash.<ref> https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1981%2F09%2F03&id=Ar01408&sk=92A212A3&viewMode=image</ref> Manager Charlie Walker stated in his notes in the match programme that ''"Since the end of last season I have been acquiring new players: three are local lads from junior clubs- Billy Reid (Fatima Rangers), Paul McGrath (Dalkey United) and John Cleary (Ballyfermot United). Given a time and a little encouragement I feel that by the end of the season they will have done the club proud."''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comeheretome.com/2010/04/28/the-saints-sunday-30th-august-1981-st-patricks-athletic-f-c-versus-shamrock-rovers-f-c/|title="The Saints" (Sunday 30th August 1981) St. Patricks Athletic F.C versus Shamrock Rovers F.C|date=28 April 2010}}</ref> He ultimately excelled at [[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|The Saints]], earning the nickname "The Black Pearl of [[Inchicore]]" and winning the [[PFAI Players' Player of the Year]] award for 1982.<ref name="loved">{{cite news|last=Philip |first=Robert |date=20 October 2006 |title=McGrath loved by all but himself |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2348432/McGrath-loved-by-all-but-himself.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref>


===Manchester United===
While at Villa, McGrath played some of the best football of his career, despite recurrent problems in his knees. Villa came close to winning the title in McGrath's [[1989–90 Football League|first season]], finishing second to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. [[1990–91 Football League|The next season]] saw the club fighting relegation for much of the campaign, after boss [[Graham Taylor (footballer)|Graham Taylor]] left to take control of [[England national football team|England]].
In 1982, McGrath moved to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], then managed by [[Ron Atkinson]]. He missed out on a place in the [[1983 FA Cup Final|FA Cup]] victory over [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] the following year but soon ousted [[Gordon McQueen]] to become the regular partner to [[Kevin Moran (footballer)|Kevin Moran]] in the centre of defence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://strettynews.com/auction-gordon-mcqueen-1978-signed-shirt/|title=Auction: Gordon McQueen signed jersey|date=23 November 2014}}</ref>


In [[1985–86 in English football|1985–86]], it appeared that McGrath was on course to pick up a league title medal after United won their first 10 league games of the season, but injuries to key players including [[Bryan Robson]] soon took their toll on the side and they eventually finished fourth in the table, 12 points behind champions [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/nov/27/scott-murray-85-86-football-season|title=Football: Scott Murray on the absorbing 1985-86 season|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=27 November 2008}}</ref> A dismal start to the [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87 season]] saw Ron Atkinson sacked as manager and replaced by [[Alex Ferguson]] in November 1986, but McGrath initially remained a regular member of the first team. United finished second behind Liverpool in the league a year later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2011/Nov/on-this-day-6-november-1986-alex-ferguson-appointed.aspx|title = Man Utd News &#124; Team news, injury updates, transfers, new signings}}</ref>
Atkinson then took over and Aston Villa again ended as [[1992–93 FA Premier League|runner-up]], to McGrath's former employer Manchester United. He won the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1287470.stm|title=Only here for the peers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2001|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> and would also win his first trophy with the ''Villans'', defeating Manchester United in the [[1993–94 Football League Cup]].


By the [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89 season]], McGrath was struggling with knee injuries and was becoming a less regular member of the first team, facing competition from new signings [[Steve Bruce]] and [[Mal Donaghy]]. His relationship with manager Ferguson was becoming strained.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6102216.stm|title=Ferguson's human side revealed|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 November 2006|access-date=28 July 2010|first=Simon|last=Austin}}</ref>
After winning another [[1996 Football League Cup Final|League Cup]], McGrath left Aston Villa in 1996, widely regarded one of the greatest players in the side's history, being [[nickname]]d 'God' by their fans, who also remember his services by singing a [[Football chant|terrace chant]] every matchday to the tune of "[[Kumbaya]]".<ref name="my_lord"/> Subsequently, he retired from the game at almost 39, after very brief spells with [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]: he helped the former to a secure 12th place finish in [[1996–97 FA Premier League|its first]] [[Premier League]] season, and guiding the latter to the [[1997–98 FA Cup]] semi-finals, also helping the side secure a playoff place – although it was beaten by [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in the semi-finals.


===Aston Villa===
For many years, McGrath suffered from [[alcoholism]], and missed occasional matches as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6084262.stm|title=McGrath back from the brink|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Austin|first=Simon|date=27 October 2006|accessdate=26 February 2010}}</ref> In an interview with [[FourFourTwo]], he admitted to playing football while still under the influence of alcohol; additionally, his recurrent knee problems resulted in him undergoing a total of eight operations during his career. McGrath's autobiography, ''Back from the Brink'', co-written with journalist Vincent Hogan, was the most successful Irish sports book ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=6908|title=Paul Mcgrath Scores Irish Sports Book Award|publisher=William Hill Media|date=|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> Upon retiring, he settled in [[Monageer]], [[County Wexford]].
During the late 1980s, McGrath was offered terms at [[S.S.C. Napoli]], but the deal did not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/one-on-one/364/article.aspx |title=Paul McGrath: One-on-One |quote=I got an enquiry from Napoli when Maradona played for them and they were Italy's best team in the late '80s. I was holidaying near Naples on the coast in Sorrento when a delegation of Napoli officials came to see me at my hotel. I was amazed that they knew I was there. We had a big chat, but nothing came of it. |work=FourFourTwo |date=January 2007 |access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> McGrath signed for Aston Villa in August 1989. While at Villa, McGrath played some of the best football of his career, despite recurrent problems in his knees. Villa came close to winning the title in McGrath's [[1989–90 Football League|first season]], finishing second to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. [[1990–91 Football League|The next season]] saw the club fighting relegation for much of the campaign after boss [[Graham Taylor]] left to take control of [[England national football team|England]]. Despite the managerial upheaval, McGrath's performances continued to impress. Under [[Jozef Vengloš]], the first top-flight manager to hail from the European mainland, McGrath became a consistent mainstay of the Villa lineup. After Vengloš' [[1990–91 AVFC season|solitary season (1990–91)]] at Villa, Ron Atkinson took over, building a decent squad in the early Premier League era. In the inaugural season of the Premier League (1992–93), Aston Villa again finished as [[1992–93 FA Premier League|runners-up]], behind Manchester United. As a sign of the regard he was now held in by his fellow professionals, McGrath won the [[PFA Players' Player of the Year]] award at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1287470.stm|title=Only here for the peers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 April 2001|access-date=28 July 2010}}</ref>


===Later career===
In 2004, one year after being taken to court, charged with a breach of the peace,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3265099.stm|title=Ex-football star in court
He played his final game as a professional for Sheffield United against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] on 9 November 1997, just before his 38th birthday. He officially retired at the end of the season.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|5119|1997|name=Paul McGrath|access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>
|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=12 November 2003|accessdate=26 February 2010}}</ref> McGrath returned to the football world after five years, moving to [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] in Ireland as [[director of football]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3486981.stm|title=McGrath gets Waterford post|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 February 2004|accessdate=26 February 2010}}</ref>


==International career==
==International career==
In 1990, the Republic of Ireland [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualified]] for its first [[FIFA World Cup]], in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] in Italy, eventually reaching the quarter-finals, where they lost to the hosts (1–0 in [[Rome]]), with McGrath ever present in the lineups (five matches, 480 minutes played). He [[Captain (association football)|captained]] the team four times in 1992 after the retirement of [[Mick McCarthy]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years|publisher=Sportsworld|first=Peter|last=Byrne|year=1996|location=[[Dublin]]|isbn=1-900110-06-7|page=229}}</ref>
Despite being born in England, McGrath chose to play for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] at international level due to his mother being Irish and the fact that he spent most of his early life in the country. He won his first full [[Cap (sport)|cap]] against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in 1985, last playing 12 years later, against [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. During that time, he was often regarded as the single most influential player Ireland had in the national team's glory days. He was capped 83 times, scoring eight goals.


In the Republic of Ireland's opening game of the 1994 World Cup – a 1–0 win against favourites Italy, thanks to [[Ray Houghton]]'s early goal – in a perfect example of his commitment to the game, McGrath put up an astonishing defensive performance despite excruciating knee problems, including blocking a shot from [[Roberto Baggio]] with his face.<ref name="loved"/>
McGrath was a major part of the breakthrough of Ireland's national team of the late 1980s and early 90s. During the early part of [[Jack Charlton]]'s era, he played as a [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|defensive midfielder]], due to the wealth of talent Ireland had in defence. In [[UEFA Euro 1988]], as the national side first qualified for an international tournament, McGrath was present in the 1–0 group stage win against [[England national football team|England]].


==Post-professional football life==
In 1990, Ireland [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualified]] for its first [[FIFA World Cup]], in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] in [[Italy]], eventually reaching [[1990 FIFA World Cup#Quarter-finals|the quarterfinals]], where they lost to the hosts (1–0 in [[Rome]]), with McGrath ever present in the lineups (five matches, 480 minutes played). He [[Captain (association football)|captained]] the team four times in 1992 after the retirement of [[Mick McCarthy]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years|publisher=Sportsworld|first=Peter|last=Byrne|year=1996|location=[[Dublin]]|isbn=1-900110-06-7|page=229}}</ref> and ignored a painful [[shoulder]] [[virus]] to play in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]].
McGrath suffers from [[alcoholism]] and missed occasional matches as a result.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6084262.stm|title=McGrath back from the brink|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Austin|first=Simon|date=27 October 2006|access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref> In an interview with [[FourFourTwo]], he admitted to playing football while still under the influence of alcohol; additionally, his recurrent knee problems resulted in him undergoing a total of eight operations during his career. McGrath's autobiography, ''Back from the Brink'', co-written with journalist [[Vincent Hogan]], was the inaugural winner of the [[William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year]] (2006).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/sports-stars-longlisted-irish-award.html?quicktabs_1=0 |title=Sports stars longlisted for Irish award |work=[[The Bookseller]] |author=Staff writer |author-link=Staff writer |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=27 November 2012}}</ref>


Upon retiring, he settled in [[Monageer]], [[County Wexford]]. In 2004, one year after being taken to court, charged with a breach of the peace,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3265099.stm |title=Ex-football star in court |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=12 November 2003 |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref> McGrath returned to the football world after five years, moving to [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]] in Ireland as [[director of football]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3486981.stm |title=McGrath gets Waterford post |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 February 2004 |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref>
In Ireland's opening game of the 1994 World Cup – a 1–0 win against favourites Italy, thanks to [[Ray Houghton]]'s early goal – in a perfect example of his commitment to the game, McGrath put up an astonishing defensive performance in spite of excruciating knee problems, including blocking a shot from [[Roberto Baggio]] with his face.<ref name="loved"/>
Even after his retirement from international football in 1997, he is still regarded today as one of the greatest ever players to put on [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland's]] green shirt.


In 2011, Paul launched his singing career with a cover version of the [[Gerry Goffin]] and [[Carole King]] song "[[Goin' Back]]". The recording is to be followed by an album of covers by the footballer, with a percentage of the album's proceeds going to the Acquired Brain Injury Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|title=
In 2011, McGrath recorded a cover version of the [[Gerry Goffin]] and [[Carole King]] song "[[Goin' Back]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Manchester United and Aston Villa star Paul McGrath begins music career|publisher=The Metro|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/874869-ex-man-united-and-aston-villa-star-paul-mcgrath-begins-music-career|date=8 September 2011|access-date=9 September 2011}}</ref> He followed that single up with an 11 track album released in 2011 with profits going to his two designated charities the Acquired Brain Injury Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.independent.ie/entertainment/music/now-paul-tackles-the-music-business-with-debut-album-26769242.html|title=Now Paul tackles the music business with debut album}}</ref>
Ex-Manchester United and Aston Villa star Paul McGrath begins music career|publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/874869-ex-man-united-and-aston-villa-star-paul-mcgrath-begins-music-career|accessdate=09 September 2011}}</ref>


On 29 June 2013, McGrath was arrested over an alleged public order offence at a hotel in [[County Offaly]]. He was bailed and appeared at [[Tullamore]] district court on 17 July.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/02/paul-mcgrath-arrested-ireland |title=Paul McGrath arrested over alleged public order offences |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |agency=Press Association |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=2 July 2013}}</ref>
==Honours==

==Personal life==
Paul's half-sister Okune McGrath died in March 1994 due to complications stemming from a lifelong rare blood disorder.<ref name="Heart is breaking 2020">{{cite news |last=Hogan |first=Vincent |date=5 September 2020 |title='My heart is breaking': McGrath tribute to mum |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/my-heart-is-breaking-mcgrath-tribute-to-mum/39504969.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> Their mother Betty McGrath-Lowth died 4 September 2020, aged 83.<ref name="Heart is breaking 2020"/>

As a result of the trauma of his early life and the subsequent alcoholism, McGrath has openly discussed through his autobiography and through interviews that he suffered through at least four major suicide attempts in his life. One attempt came in November 1989 after Manchester United sold him to Aston Villa.<ref name="mcrae 2006"/> McGrath would return to play for Aston Villa on 5 November 1989, in a 6–2 victory over Everton, but during the game had to hide wounds to his wrists using wristbands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football365.com/news/profile-of-an-icon-paul-mcgrath |title=Portrait of an icon: Paul McGrath |last=Storey |first=Daniel |date=9 December 2015 |website= |publisher= |access-date=15 May 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

Until he got his drinking under control in the 2010s,<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Toole |first=Jack |date=17 March 2017 |title=Healthy looking Paul McGrath opens up about alcohol addiction on The Late Late Show |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/healthy-looking-paul-mcgrath-opens-up-about-alcohol-addiction-on-the-late-late-show/35542482.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> the precariousness of McGrath's long-term mental health impacted his family life; McGrath has been divorced twice.<ref name="mcrae 2006"/> In 2019, McGrath claimed to have been roughly [[High-functioning alcoholic|functional]] since 2014, although admitted to still occasionally consuming alcohol.<ref name="Hogan interview 2019">{{cite news |last=Hogan |first=Vincent |date=25 May 2019 |title='I'm still drinking a little bit. But not to half the extent I used to' - Vincent Hogan meets Paul McGrath |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/im-still-drinking-a-little-bit-but-not-to-half-the-extent-i-used-to-vincent-hogan-meets-paul-mcgrath/38146656.html |work=[[The Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>

McGrath is the father of five sons and a daughter, and, as of 2019, has five grandchildren.<ref name="Hogan interview 2019"/>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
;Manchester United
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1984–85 FA Cup|1984–85]]
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]<ref name="nft"/>
|[[1981–82 League of Ireland|1981–82]]
|[[League of Ireland]]
|26||4||3||0||3||1||32||5
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[1982–83 Manchester United F.C. season|1982–83]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|14||3||1||0||1||0||16||3
|-
|[[1983–84 Manchester United F.C. season|1983–84]]
|First Division
|9||1||0||0||3||0||12||1
|-
|[[1984–85 Manchester United F.C. season|1984–85]]
|First Division
|23||0||7||2||2||0||32||2
|-
|[[1985–86 Manchester United F.C. season|1985–86]]
|First Division
|40||3||4||0||9||1||53||4
|-
|[[1986–87 Manchester United F.C. season|1986–87]]
|First Division
|35||2||1||0||4||0||40||2
|-
|[[1987–88 Manchester United F.C. season|1987–88]]
|First Division
|22||2||0||0||2||1||24||3
|-
|[[1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season|1988–89]]
|First Division
|20||1||5||0||1||0||26||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!163!!12!!18!!2!!22!!2!!203!!16
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
|[[1989–90 Aston Villa F.C. season|1989–90]]
|First Division
|35||1||5||0||7||0||47||1
|-
|[[1990–91 Aston Villa F.C. season|1990–91]]
|First Division
|35||0||2||0||7||0||44||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Aston Villa F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|41||1||5||0||2||0||48||1
|-
|[[1992–93 Aston Villa F.C. season|1992–93]]
|[[Premier League]]
|42||4||4||0||4||1||50||5
|-
|[[1993–94 Aston Villa F.C. season|1993–94]]
|Premier League
|30||1||2||0||12||0||44||1
|-
|[[1994–95 Aston Villa F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|40||0||2||0||7||0||49||0
|-
|[[1995–96 Aston Villa F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|30||2||4||0||6||0||40||2
|-
|[[1996–97 Aston Villa F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|0||0||0||0||1||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!253!!9!!24!!0!!46!!1!!323!!10
|-
|[[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
|[[1996–97 Derby County F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|24||0||2||0||0||0||26||0
|-
|[[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
|[[1997–98 Sheffield United F.C. season|1997–98]]
|First Division
|12||0||0||0||2||0||14||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!478!!25!!47!!2!!73!!4!!598!!31
|}


===International===
;Aston Villa
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
*[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]: [[1993–94 Football League Cup|1993–94]], [[1996 Football League Cup Final|1995–96]]
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="nft">{{NFT player|15495|name=Paul McGrath|accessdate=15 May 2016}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
|1985||7||0
|-
|1986||6||1
|-
|1987||7||2
|-
|1988||6||0
|-
|1989||7||1
|-
|1990||9||0
|-
|1991||7||1
|-
|1992||8||1
|-
|1993||6||1
|-
|1994||8||0
|-
|1995||9||1
|-
|1996||2||0
|-
|1997||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!83!!8
|}


===Individual===
==Honours==
'''Manchester United'''
*[[PFAI Players' Player of the Year|PFAI Player of the Year]]: 1982
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1985 FA Cup Final|1984–85]]
*[[PFA Player of the Year]]: 1993

'''Aston Villa'''
* [[Football League Cup]]: [[1993–94 Football League Cup|1993–94]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-cocacola-cup-final-saunders-destroys-united-s-dream-aston-villa-s-master-plan-puts-paid-to-ferguson-s-malfunctioning-big-red-machine-as-kanchelskis-is-dismissed-1432264.html |title=Football / Coca-Cola Cup Final: Saunders destroys United's dream: Aston Villa's master plan puts paid to Ferguson's malfunctioning Big Red Machine as Kanchelskis is dismissed |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |website=The Independent |date=27 March 1994 |access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> [[1995–96 Football League Cup|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/milosevic-gives-villa-a-touch-of-magic-1343925.html |title=Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic |website=The Independent |date=25 March 1996 |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[PFAI Players' Player of the Year]]: 1982
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1985–86 Football League#First Division|1985–86 First Division]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=146}}</ref> [[1992–93 Premier League]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=149}}</ref>
* [[FAI International Football Awards|FAI Senior International Player of the Year]]: 1990, 1991
* [[PFA Players' Player of the Year]]: 1993
* [[Football League 100 Legends]]: 1998 (inducted)
* [[English Football Hall of Fame]]: 2015 (inducted)
* [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] Hall of Fame: 2020 (inducted)<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul McGrath and Anne O'Brien inducted into FAI Hall of Fame|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/paul-mcgrath-anne-obrien-inducted-22489551|publisher=Irish Mirror|date=August 2020|access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
* [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] Player of the Season: [[1989–90 Aston Villa F.C. season|1989–90]], [[1990–91 Aston Villa F.C. season|1990–91]], [[1991–92 Aston Villa F.C. season|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Aston Villa F.C. season|1992–93]]<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 July 2011 |title=Villa's Fab 50 top player countdown: 4 Paul McGrath |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2011/07/22/villas-fab-50-top-player-countdown-4-paul-mcgrath |access-date=16 July 2024 |website=Aston Villa FC}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of people on stamps of Ireland]]
* [[List of people on the postage stamps of Ireland]]
* [[List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland]]


==References==
==References==
;Specific
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


;General
==External links==
* {{Citation|last1=McGrath|first1=Paul|first2=Vincent |last2=Hogan|title=Back From the Brink|publisher=Arrow|year=2006|isbn=978-0-09-949955-8}}
*{{soccerbase|5119|Paul McGrath}}
*[http://www.astonvillayears.com/years/1990-1994starplayers.htm Aston Villa archives]
*{{nfteams|16164}}


{{Navboxes
{{Republic of Ireland Squad Euro 1988}}
|title=Awards
{{Republic of Ireland Squad 1990 World Cup}}
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{{Republic of Ireland Squad 1994 World Cup}}
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{1985–86 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1985–86 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1992–93 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{1992–93 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{PFAI Players' Player of the Year}}

{{FAI Senior International Player of the Year}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Aston Villa F.C. Player of the Season}}
| NAME = Macgrath, Paul
{{Aston Villa F.C. Hall of Fame}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = 4 December 1959
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Ealing]], [[England]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}
{{Navboxes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macgrath, Paul}}
| title = Republic of Ireland squads
| bg = #00994A
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{{Republic of Ireland squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGrath, Paul}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:People from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:People from Dalkey]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish male singers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Black Irish sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]
[[Category:Derby County F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
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[[Category:21st-century Irish autobiographers]]
[[Category:Irish people of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Irish people of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:Citizens of Ireland through descent]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association footballers]]
[[Category:Association football defenders]]
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[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
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[[Category:Premier League players]]
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[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland international footballers]]
[[Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from London]]

[[ar:باول مكغراث]]
[[bn:পল ম্যাকগ্রাথ]]
[[de:Paul McGrath (Fußballspieler)]]
[[es:Paul McGrath]]
[[fr:Paul McGrath]]
[[ga:Paul McGrath]]
[[it:Paul McGrath]]
[[ja:ポール・マグラー]]
[[no:Paul McGrath]]
[[pl:Paul McGrath]]
[[pt:Paul McGrath]]
[[ru:Макграт, Пол]]
[[tr:Paul McGrath (futbolcu)]]
[[zh:保罗·麦格拉斯]]

Latest revision as of 21:22, 22 December 2024

For the Gaelic player born 1966, see Paul McGrath (Gaelic footballer).

Paul McGrath
McGrath in 2018
Personal information
Full name Paul McGrath[1]
Date of birth (1959-12-04) 4 December 1959 (age 65)[1]
Place of birth Greenford, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back[1]
Youth career
Fatima Rangers
Dalkey United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1982 St Patrick's Athletic 26 (4)
1982–1989 Manchester United 163 (12)
1989–1996 Aston Villa 253 (9)
1996–1997 Derby County 24 (0)
1997 → Sheffield United (loan) 7 (0)
1997–1998 Sheffield United 5 (0)
Total 478 (25)
International career
1985–1997 Republic of Ireland 83 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul McGrath (born 4 December 1959) is an Irish former professional footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely considered to be one of the great defenders of the 1980s and 1990s and was known by the nickname 'God' at Aston Villa. Mainly a centre back, he also played as defensive midfielder. He spent the majority of his career at Villa and Manchester United (seven seasons apiece). He is one of only six defenders to have won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. He also played for St Patrick's Athletic, Derby County and Sheffield United.

Also a long-time member of the Republic of Ireland national team, he appeared at the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 1988, the team's first-ever international tournament.

Early life

[edit]

McGrath was born in Greenford, Middlesex,[1] to a Nigerian father who met his Irish mother during his medical studies in Dublin.[3] His father disappeared soon after his conception. His mother, Betty McGrath, was terrified that her father would find out she had become pregnant outside marriage and in an interracial relationship. She travelled in secret to London to have her child, who was considered illegitimate. She was strongly advised to give her son up for adoption at the Mother and Baby home in Acton, where she refused to do so numerous times. Upon her arrival back in her hometown Paul was forcibly taken away from her, placed with a foster family and later transferred to the Smyly Trust Home. This was arranged and carried out by the Catholic Crusade members in Dublin.[4] It was assumed that Betty McGrath gave him up for fostering in Ireland when he was four weeks old.[5]

When he was five years old, one of the daughters of the family he had been fostered by came to Betty to say they could not control him. At that stage, his mother had him back for a number of days before having to put him into an orphanage. Despite being Paul McGrath on his birth certificate, the admission form required the name of the father, hence he was known as Paul Nwobilo for a time.[6]

Betty would later have a second black child, a daughter named Okune, and both Betty and Okune would visit Paul while he was in care. Regretting giving Paul into care, Betty kept Okune with her, but growing up, this caused confusion within Paul who also wanted to live with her.[7][8][9]

McGrath remained in various forms of foster care around Dublin until he turned 18. In his later teenage years, he was able to reconcile with his mother, as well as his maternal grandfather.[7][8]

By c. 1979, McGrath had begun to excel in sports, playing for the youth football club Dalkey United. However, it was at this time that McGrath suffered a "catastrophic mental breakdown" that would ultimately last for an entire year. McGrath was placed in the psychiatric hospital St. John of God in Stillorgan; there McGrath remained in a "trance-like state, unspeaking, incontinent and covered in bedsores" while Doctors feared that McGrath may never walk again.[8] McGrath was eventually able to recover from his episode and resume his sporting career.

Club career

[edit]

St Patrick's Athletic

[edit]
Street art dedicated to McGrath outside Richmond Park, home ground of his first club St Patrick's Athletic.

McGrath made his debut for St Patrick's Athletic in a League of Ireland Cup clash with Shamrock Rovers on 30 August 1981 at Richmond Park. He scored the winner in his next game in a Leinster Senior Cup clash.[10] Manager Charlie Walker stated in his notes in the match programme that "Since the end of last season I have been acquiring new players: three are local lads from junior clubs- Billy Reid (Fatima Rangers), Paul McGrath (Dalkey United) and John Cleary (Ballyfermot United). Given a time and a little encouragement I feel that by the end of the season they will have done the club proud."[11] He ultimately excelled at The Saints, earning the nickname "The Black Pearl of Inchicore" and winning the PFAI Players' Player of the Year award for 1982.[12]

Manchester United

[edit]

In 1982, McGrath moved to Manchester United, then managed by Ron Atkinson. He missed out on a place in the FA Cup victory over Brighton & Hove Albion the following year but soon ousted Gordon McQueen to become the regular partner to Kevin Moran in the centre of defence.[13]

In 1985–86, it appeared that McGrath was on course to pick up a league title medal after United won their first 10 league games of the season, but injuries to key players including Bryan Robson soon took their toll on the side and they eventually finished fourth in the table, 12 points behind champions Liverpool.[14] A dismal start to the 1986–87 season saw Ron Atkinson sacked as manager and replaced by Alex Ferguson in November 1986, but McGrath initially remained a regular member of the first team. United finished second behind Liverpool in the league a year later.[15]

By the 1988–89 season, McGrath was struggling with knee injuries and was becoming a less regular member of the first team, facing competition from new signings Steve Bruce and Mal Donaghy. His relationship with manager Ferguson was becoming strained.[16]

Aston Villa

[edit]

During the late 1980s, McGrath was offered terms at S.S.C. Napoli, but the deal did not come to fruition.[17] McGrath signed for Aston Villa in August 1989. While at Villa, McGrath played some of the best football of his career, despite recurrent problems in his knees. Villa came close to winning the title in McGrath's first season, finishing second to Liverpool. The next season saw the club fighting relegation for much of the campaign after boss Graham Taylor left to take control of England. Despite the managerial upheaval, McGrath's performances continued to impress. Under Jozef Vengloš, the first top-flight manager to hail from the European mainland, McGrath became a consistent mainstay of the Villa lineup. After Vengloš' solitary season (1990–91) at Villa, Ron Atkinson took over, building a decent squad in the early Premier League era. In the inaugural season of the Premier League (1992–93), Aston Villa again finished as runners-up, behind Manchester United. As a sign of the regard he was now held in by his fellow professionals, McGrath won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award at the end of the season.[18]

Later career

[edit]

He played his final game as a professional for Sheffield United against Ipswich Town on 9 November 1997, just before his 38th birthday. He officially retired at the end of the season.[19]

International career

[edit]

In 1990, the Republic of Ireland qualified for its first FIFA World Cup, in 1990 in Italy, eventually reaching the quarter-finals, where they lost to the hosts (1–0 in Rome), with McGrath ever present in the lineups (five matches, 480 minutes played). He captained the team four times in 1992 after the retirement of Mick McCarthy.[20]

In the Republic of Ireland's opening game of the 1994 World Cup – a 1–0 win against favourites Italy, thanks to Ray Houghton's early goal – in a perfect example of his commitment to the game, McGrath put up an astonishing defensive performance despite excruciating knee problems, including blocking a shot from Roberto Baggio with his face.[12]

Post-professional football life

[edit]

McGrath suffers from alcoholism and missed occasional matches as a result.[21] In an interview with FourFourTwo, he admitted to playing football while still under the influence of alcohol; additionally, his recurrent knee problems resulted in him undergoing a total of eight operations during his career. McGrath's autobiography, Back from the Brink, co-written with journalist Vincent Hogan, was the inaugural winner of the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year (2006).[22]

Upon retiring, he settled in Monageer, County Wexford. In 2004, one year after being taken to court, charged with a breach of the peace,[23] McGrath returned to the football world after five years, moving to Waterford United in Ireland as director of football.[24]

In 2011, McGrath recorded a cover version of the Gerry Goffin and Carole King song "Goin' Back".[25] He followed that single up with an 11 track album released in 2011 with profits going to his two designated charities the Acquired Brain Injury Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ireland.[26]

On 29 June 2013, McGrath was arrested over an alleged public order offence at a hotel in County Offaly. He was bailed and appeared at Tullamore district court on 17 July.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Paul's half-sister Okune McGrath died in March 1994 due to complications stemming from a lifelong rare blood disorder.[28] Their mother Betty McGrath-Lowth died 4 September 2020, aged 83.[28]

As a result of the trauma of his early life and the subsequent alcoholism, McGrath has openly discussed through his autobiography and through interviews that he suffered through at least four major suicide attempts in his life. One attempt came in November 1989 after Manchester United sold him to Aston Villa.[5] McGrath would return to play for Aston Villa on 5 November 1989, in a 6–2 victory over Everton, but during the game had to hide wounds to his wrists using wristbands.[29]

Until he got his drinking under control in the 2010s,[30] the precariousness of McGrath's long-term mental health impacted his family life; McGrath has been divorced twice.[5] In 2019, McGrath claimed to have been roughly functional since 2014, although admitted to still occasionally consuming alcohol.[31]

McGrath is the father of five sons and a daughter, and, as of 2019, has five grandchildren.[31]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[32]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
St Patrick's Athletic[33] 1981–82 League of Ireland 26 4 3 0 3 1 32 5
Manchester United 1982–83 First Division 14 3 1 0 1 0 16 3
1983–84 First Division 9 1 0 0 3 0 12 1
1984–85 First Division 23 0 7 2 2 0 32 2
1985–86 First Division 40 3 4 0 9 1 53 4
1986–87 First Division 35 2 1 0 4 0 40 2
1987–88 First Division 22 2 0 0 2 1 24 3
1988–89 First Division 20 1 5 0 1 0 26 1
Total 163 12 18 2 22 2 203 16
Aston Villa 1989–90 First Division 35 1 5 0 7 0 47 1
1990–91 First Division 35 0 2 0 7 0 44 0
1991–92 First Division 41 1 5 0 2 0 48 1
1992–93 Premier League 42 4 4 0 4 1 50 5
1993–94 Premier League 30 1 2 0 12 0 44 1
1994–95 Premier League 40 0 2 0 7 0 49 0
1995–96 Premier League 30 2 4 0 6 0 40 2
1996–97 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 253 9 24 0 46 1 323 10
Derby County 1996–97 Premier League 24 0 2 0 0 0 26 0
Sheffield United 1997–98 First Division 12 0 0 0 2 0 14 0
Career total 478 25 47 2 73 4 598 31

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[33]
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 1985 7 0
1986 6 1
1987 7 2
1988 6 0
1989 7 1
1990 9 0
1991 7 1
1992 8 1
1993 6 1
1994 8 0
1995 9 1
1996 2 0
1997 1 0
Total 83 8

Honours

[edit]

Manchester United

Aston Villa

Individual

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d "Paul McGrath". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Paul McGrath Defender, Profile & Stats | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Mixed Race Irish Families and Adoption". The Mixed Museum. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Mixed Race Irish Families and Adoption". The Mixed Museum. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b c McRae, Donald (24 October 2006). "I remember the blood pouring and the nanny screaming". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  6. ^ Gibbons, Margaret (1927). "Margaret Aylward (1810-1889.) (Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Faith)". The Irish Monthly. 55 (647): 247–259. ISSN 2009-2113. JSTOR 20518114.
  7. ^ a b Kelleher, Lynne (27 September 2020). "'I spent half my life battling to be Irish' - soccer star Paul McGrath". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "The real Macca". Magill. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  9. ^ Duggan, Keith (18 November 2006). "Perilous times of the Black Pearl". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. ^ https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA.Edu/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=IPR%2F1981%2F09%2F03&id=Ar01408&sk=92A212A3&viewMode=image
  11. ^ ""The Saints" (Sunday 30th August 1981) St. Patricks Athletic F.C versus Shamrock Rovers F.C". 28 April 2010.
  12. ^ a b Philip, Robert (20 October 2006). "McGrath loved by all but himself". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Auction: Gordon McQueen signed jersey". 23 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Football: Scott Murray on the absorbing 1985-86 season". TheGuardian.com. 27 November 2008.
  15. ^ "Man Utd News | Team news, injury updates, transfers, new signings".
  16. ^ Austin, Simon (4 November 2006). "Ferguson's human side revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Paul McGrath: One-on-One". FourFourTwo. January 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2016. I got an enquiry from Napoli when Maradona played for them and they were Italy's best team in the late '80s. I was holidaying near Naples on the coast in Sorrento when a delegation of Napoli officials came to see me at my hotel. I was amazed that they knew I was there. We had a big chat, but nothing came of it.
  18. ^ "Only here for the peers". BBC Sport. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  19. ^ "Games played by Paul McGrath in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  20. ^ Byrne, Peter (1996). Football Association of Ireland: 75 years. Dublin: Sportsworld. p. 229. ISBN 1-900110-06-7.
  21. ^ Austin, Simon (27 October 2006). "McGrath back from the brink". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  22. ^ Staff writer (6 November 2008). "Sports stars longlisted for Irish award". The Bookseller. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  23. ^ "Ex-football star in court". BBC News. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  24. ^ "McGrath gets Waterford post". BBC Sport. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  25. ^ "Ex-Manchester United and Aston Villa star Paul McGrath begins music career". The Metro. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  26. ^ "Now Paul tackles the music business with debut album".
  27. ^ "Paul McGrath arrested over alleged public order offences". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  28. ^ a b Hogan, Vincent (5 September 2020). "'My heart is breaking': McGrath tribute to mum". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  29. ^ Storey, Daniel (9 December 2015). "Portrait of an icon: Paul McGrath". Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  30. ^ O'Toole, Jack (17 March 2017). "Healthy looking Paul McGrath opens up about alcohol addiction on The Late Late Show". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  31. ^ a b Hogan, Vincent (25 May 2019). "'I'm still drinking a little bit. But not to half the extent I used to' - Vincent Hogan meets Paul McGrath". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  32. ^ Paul McGrath at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  33. ^ a b "Paul McGrath". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  34. ^ Lovejoy, Joe (27 March 1994). "Football / Coca-Cola Cup Final: Saunders destroys United's dream: Aston Villa's master plan puts paid to Ferguson's malfunctioning Big Red Machine as Kanchelskis is dismissed". The Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  35. ^ "Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic". The Independent. 25 March 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  36. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 146.
  37. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
  38. ^ "Paul McGrath and Anne O'Brien inducted into FAI Hall of Fame". Irish Mirror. August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Villa's Fab 50 top player countdown: 4 Paul McGrath". Aston Villa FC. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
General
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