The Birmingham-born Villa youngster has Irish grandparents and has represented the Boys in Green at U21 level, though doubt continues to surround his international future, with his father suggesting he may yet opt to play for England.
But should he choose to declare for the Irish team, he would join an impressive list of excellent footballers, some of which are ranked below.
Such a list will always be subjective to a degree as there is no one fail-safe way to measure a footballers’ overall ability. In this instance, we’ve taken the achievements of both their club and international careers into consideration.
Consequently, while the likes of Mick McCarthy and Jason McAteer had memorable moments at international level, their club careers can’t compare with some of the players that made the list. Similarly, although players such as James McCarthy and Michael Robinson have had some excellent moments at club level, their achievements with the national side don’t compare with the players that made the cut.
9. Tony Cascarino
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
While there has been controversy surrounding his eligibility, Cascarino is undoubtedly one of the most invaluable non-Irish-born players to represent the country. His career may have had its dark points, most notably during his notoriously unsuccessful spell at Celtic, however he ended on a high in France. Moreover, at international level, he was the record caps holder at one point, and is currently the side’s third highest goalscorer ever, featuring in the squad for every major tournament that Jack Charlton took the team to.
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8. Andy Townsend
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Captained the side that famously beat Italy in the 1994 World Cup, Townsend also played in all five of Ireland’s matches at Italia 90. His club career may have been relatively modest compared with some of the players on this list, but the Maidstone-born footballer still established himself as a solid top-flight player for many seasons, and won two League Cups with Villa to boot.
7. Shay Brennan
S&G and Barratts / EMPICS Sport
S&G and Barratts / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
One of the less well-known players on the list, Brennan was the first-ever second generation player to represent Ireland. He made 19 appearances for the Boys in Green, but will be most remembered for his club career, making over 300 appearances for Man United and winning both the league and European Cup for the Red Devils.
6. John Aldridge
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Aldridge’s 330 league goals remains the sixth highest in English football history, including 50 in 83 appearances for Liverpool. He also had a memorable spell with Real Sociedad in Spain before ending his career in similarly prolific form at Tranmere. For Ireland, he managed 19 goals in 69 appearances, and like Cascarino, made the squad for every major tournament that Jack Charlton took the team to.
5. Ray Houghton
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Scored not one but two of the most famous goals in Irish footballing history, against England and Italy respectively, Houghton also made over 100 appearances and won two league titles with Liverpool, as well as the League Cup later in his career at Villa.
4. Kevin Sheedy
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The first-ever Ireland player to score a goal in the World Cup finals with a famous equaliser against England, Sheedy also played in all three of his side’s matches at Euro 88 and won 46 caps in total. His club career was similarly distinguished, winning the league twice with Everton and featuring in the PFA Team of the Year for two seasons in the 1980s.
3. David O’Leary
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Made a club record 722 appearances for Arsenal, winning two league titles in the process, the London-born star came 14th in a list of Arsenal’s greatest ever players. He also famously scored the winning penalty for Ireland against Romania in the last 16 of Italia 90, having been controversially banished from the team prior to Euro 88.
2. Mark Lawrenson
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
An integral part of the Liverpool side that won five league titles in the 80s, Lawrenson played an important part in helping Ireland reach Euro 88, but was unfortunately injured ahead of the tournament. He was generally unlucky, as his peak as a player came just before the Charlton era was in full swing.
1. Paul McGrath
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EMPICS Sport
Born in Ealing but raised in Dublin, not only is McGrath the most talented non-Irish-born player to have represented Ireland, there is also a case made for him being the greatest Irish player of all time. His supreme talent meant he could be similarly effective as both a midfielder and a centre-back, and he featured at Euro 88 as well as World Cup 90 and 94. A famous victim of Alex Ferguson’s obsession with discipline, off-the-field issues meant McGrath probably underachieved a little at club level, nevertheless he still finished league runner-up on two occasions with Villa and claimed the PFA Player of the Year in 1993.
Do you agree with our choices? Let us know in the comments section below.
Power ranking the 9 best-ever non-Irish-born players to represent Ireland
THERE’S BEEN PLENTY of talk in recent days about Jack Grealish, and whether or not he’ll declare for Ireland.
The Birmingham-born Villa youngster has Irish grandparents and has represented the Boys in Green at U21 level, though doubt continues to surround his international future, with his father suggesting he may yet opt to play for England.
But should he choose to declare for the Irish team, he would join an impressive list of excellent footballers, some of which are ranked below.
Such a list will always be subjective to a degree as there is no one fail-safe way to measure a footballers’ overall ability. In this instance, we’ve taken the achievements of both their club and international careers into consideration.
Consequently, while the likes of Mick McCarthy and Jason McAteer had memorable moments at international level, their club careers can’t compare with some of the players that made the list. Similarly, although players such as James McCarthy and Michael Robinson have had some excellent moments at club level, their achievements with the national side don’t compare with the players that made the cut.
9. Tony Cascarino
While there has been controversy surrounding his eligibility, Cascarino is undoubtedly one of the most invaluable non-Irish-born players to represent the country. His career may have had its dark points, most notably during his notoriously unsuccessful spell at Celtic, however he ended on a high in France. Moreover, at international level, he was the record caps holder at one point, and is currently the side’s third highest goalscorer ever, featuring in the squad for every major tournament that Jack Charlton took the team to.
8. Andy Townsend
Captained the side that famously beat Italy in the 1994 World Cup, Townsend also played in all five of Ireland’s matches at Italia 90. His club career may have been relatively modest compared with some of the players on this list, but the Maidstone-born footballer still established himself as a solid top-flight player for many seasons, and won two League Cups with Villa to boot.
7. Shay Brennan
One of the less well-known players on the list, Brennan was the first-ever second generation player to represent Ireland. He made 19 appearances for the Boys in Green, but will be most remembered for his club career, making over 300 appearances for Man United and winning both the league and European Cup for the Red Devils.
6. John Aldridge
Aldridge’s 330 league goals remains the sixth highest in English football history, including 50 in 83 appearances for Liverpool. He also had a memorable spell with Real Sociedad in Spain before ending his career in similarly prolific form at Tranmere. For Ireland, he managed 19 goals in 69 appearances, and like Cascarino, made the squad for every major tournament that Jack Charlton took the team to.
5. Ray Houghton
Scored not one but two of the most famous goals in Irish footballing history, against England and Italy respectively, Houghton also made over 100 appearances and won two league titles with Liverpool, as well as the League Cup later in his career at Villa.
4. Kevin Sheedy
The first-ever Ireland player to score a goal in the World Cup finals with a famous equaliser against England, Sheedy also played in all three of his side’s matches at Euro 88 and won 46 caps in total. His club career was similarly distinguished, winning the league twice with Everton and featuring in the PFA Team of the Year for two seasons in the 1980s.
3. David O’Leary
Made a club record 722 appearances for Arsenal, winning two league titles in the process, the London-born star came 14th in a list of Arsenal’s greatest ever players. He also famously scored the winning penalty for Ireland against Romania in the last 16 of Italia 90, having been controversially banished from the team prior to Euro 88.
2. Mark Lawrenson
An integral part of the Liverpool side that won five league titles in the 80s, Lawrenson played an important part in helping Ireland reach Euro 88, but was unfortunately injured ahead of the tournament. He was generally unlucky, as his peak as a player came just before the Charlton era was in full swing.
1. Paul McGrath
Born in Ealing but raised in Dublin, not only is McGrath the most talented non-Irish-born player to have represented Ireland, there is also a case made for him being the greatest Irish player of all time. His supreme talent meant he could be similarly effective as both a midfielder and a centre-back, and he featured at Euro 88 as well as World Cup 90 and 94. A famous victim of Alex Ferguson’s obsession with discipline, off-the-field issues meant McGrath probably underachieved a little at club level, nevertheless he still finished league runner-up on two occasions with Villa and claimed the PFA Player of the Year in 1993.
Do you agree with our choices? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Andy Townsend Johnny Carey Mark Lawrenson non-Irish-born players Paul McGrath Power Ranking Stars Ireland Republic