Denis Irwin

For the double bassist, see Dennis Irwin.

Denis Irwin

Irwin outside The Cliff, United's former training ground
Personal information
Full name	Denis Joseph Irwin
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Full back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1986	Leeds United
1986–1990	Oldham Athletic
1990–2002	Manchester United
2002–2004	Wolverhampton Wanderers
International career
1986–1987	Republic of Ireland U21
1990	Republic of Ireland B
1990–1999	Republic of Ireland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Denis Joseph Irwin (born 31 October 1965 in Cork, Ireland) is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of major trophies during the 1990s and at the start of the 2000s.

He was capped by the Republic of Ireland national side 56 times, scoring four goals and featuring in the side that reached the second round (last 16) at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Earlier in his career he played for Leeds United and Oldham Athletic.

Early life

Denis Irwin grew up in Cork and was educated at Coláiste Chríost Rí. As a schoolboy he excelled at both Gaelic football and hurling, and played at Croke Park more than once, on one occasion marking future Irish team mate, Niall Quinn.

Club career

Irwin began his career with Leeds United in 1983, making 72 appearances in the Second Division, before moving on to Oldham Athletic on a free transfer in 1986. He helped Oldham reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Football League Cup in 1990 before he was transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £625,000.

In 12 years at Old Trafford, he made 296 Premier League appearances and won seven Premier League title medals, as well as three FA Cup winners medals (1994, 1996 and 1999), a League Cup winner's medal and Champions League and Cup Winners' Cup honours. He was comfortable in either of the full back positions and an expert at free kicks and penalties, and even in his mid thirties he was United's first choice left-back in preference to the much younger Phil Neville.

Irwin made his last appearance for Manchester United at Old Trafford against Charlton Athletic on the final day of the 2001-02 Premier League season (12 May 2002), which ended in a 0-0 draw. For his final game as a Manchester United player, Alex Ferguson awarded him the captain's armband.

Irwin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2002, coincidentally at the same time as his former Manchester United teammate Paul Ince made the move to the West Midlands club, having previously been at Middlesbrough.

After Wolves won promotion to the Premier League in 2003, Irwin was applauded by the Manchester United supporters when he walked onto the pitch at Old Trafford. Wolves were relegated at the end of the 2003-04 season, and the 38-year-old Irwin then announced his retirement.

Career after retirement

Since 2004, Denis Irwin has been back at Old Trafford working as a presenter at MUTV.

International career

Irwin was capped 56 times for the Republic of Ireland between 1990 and 1999, and scored 4 goals. He played for his country at the 1994 World Cup. His international career ended when the then Irish manager Mick McCarthy dropped him from the first team and told the most decorated and respected Irish footballer ever to "Prove me wrong".

Statistics

Player

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United	1983–84	19	0
	1984–85	41	1
	1985–86	12	0
	Total	72	1	3	0	5	0	2	0
Oldham Athletic	1986–87	41	1
	1987–88	43	0
	1988–89	41	2
	1989–90	42	1
	Total	167	4	13	0	19	3	5	0
Manchester United	1990–91	34	0
	1991–92	38	4
	1992–93	40	5
	1993–94	42	2
	1994–95	40	2
	1995–96	31	1
	1996–97	31	1
	1997–98	25	2
	1998–99	29	2
	1999–2000	25	3	–
	2000–01	21	0
	2001–02	12	0
	Total	368	22	43	7	31	0	87	4
Wolverhampton Wanderers	2002–03	43	2
	2003–04	32	0
	Total	75	2	5	0	2	0	3	0
Total		682	29	64	7	57	3	97	4

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	29 April 1992	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	United States	4–0	Win	Friendly
2	29 October 1997	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	Belgium	1–1	Draw	1998 World Cup qualification Play-offs
3	5 September 1998	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	Croatia	2–0	Win	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
4	10 February 1999	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	Paraguay	2–0	Win	Friendly

Honours

Club

Manchester United

• Premier League (7): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
• FA Cup (3): 1994, 1996, 1999
• League Cup (1): 1992
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1999
• Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1991
• European Super Cup (1): 1991
• Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Division One Play-off (1): 2003

External links

• Dennis Irwin at Soccerbase
• Biography at ManUtd.com