Denis Irwin

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Denis Irwin

Irwin outside of The Cliff, United's former training ground
Personal information
Full name Denis Joseph Irwin
Date of birth October 31, 1965 (1965-10-31) (age 42)
Place of birth    Cork, Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Full back (retired)
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1983–1986
1986–1990
1990–2002
2002–2004		 Leeds United
Oldham Athletic
Manchester United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Total		 072 0(1)
167 0(4)
368 (22)
075 0(2)
682 (29)   
National team
1991-2000
 Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland B		 056 0(4)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)
For the double bassist, see Dennis Irwin

Denis Joseph Irwin (born October 31, 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 dominated the Premiership throughout the 1990s. He is regarded by some as arguably being one of the game's greatest fullbacks because of his high work-rate, professionalism, and his versatility, playing both left-back and right-back roles for club and country.

Contents

[edit] Club Career

Irwin began his career with Leeds United, before moving on to Oldham Athletic on a free transfer in 1988. 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.

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.[1]

[edit] Career after Retirement

Since 2004, Denis Irwin has been back at Old Trafford working as a presenter at MUTV.[2]

[edit] 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 manager Mick McCarthy dropped him from the starting eleven and controversially asked one of the most accomplished and respected professionals in the game's history to "Go out and prove himself".

[edit] Honours

Manchester United

[edit] Career statistics

All-Time Club Performance
Country Club Season Domestic League Domestic Cups International Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Flag of England Leeds United 1983–86 72 1 8 0 2 0 82 1
Oldham Athletic 1986–90 167 4 32 3 5 0 204 7
Manchester United 1990–02 368 22 74 7 87 4 529 33
Wolves 2002–04 75 2 7 0 3 0 85 2
Career Totals 682 29 121 10 97 4 900 43

[edit] References

  1. ^ Irwin confirms retirement plans. BBC Sport (2003-08-22). Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  2. ^ MUTV - - Presenters Profiles Manchester United Official Web Site

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Republic of Ireland squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup
1 Bonner • 2 Irwin • 3 Phelan • 4 Moran • 5 McGrath • 6 Keane • 7 Townsend • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Sheridan • 11 Staunton • 12 G. Kelly • 13 Kernaghan • 14 Babb • 15 Coyne • 16 Cascarino • 17 McGoldrick • 18 Whelan • 19 McLoughlin • 20 D. Kelly • 21 McAteer • 22 A. Kelly • Coach: Charlton
 Flag of Ireland