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Denis Irwin

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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.[2]

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.[3]

Career after retirement

Since 2004, Denis Irwin has been back at Old Trafford working as a presenter at MUTV.[4]

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 Irish footballer ever to "Prove me wrong".

Statistics

Player

[1]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[5] 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

[6]

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

Wolverhampton Wanderers

References

  1. ^ a b Denis Irwin at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ Irish Times, 9 July 2008
  3. ^ "Irwin confirms retirement plans". BBC Sport. 2003-08-22. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  4. ^ MUTV - - Presenters Profiles Manchester United Official Web Site
  5. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  6. ^ "SoccerScene.ie - International Profile of Denis Irwin". Retrieved 2008-11-17.
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