Denis Irwin
Joseph Denis Irwin (born 31 October 1965) is an Irish former professional footballer and sports television presenter. Irwin is the joint most successful Irish footballer in history, a record he shares with fellow Manchester United stalwart Roy Keane, having won 19 trophies in his career.
|
Irwin in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Denis Irwin | ||
| Date of birth | 31 October 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Cork, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1983 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1986 | Leeds United | 72 | (1) |
| 1986–1990 | Oldham Athletic | 167 | (4) |
| 1990–2002 | Manchester United | 368 | (22) |
| 2002–2004 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 75 | (2) |
| Total | 682 | (29) | |
| International career | |||
| 1986–1987 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 1989 | Republic of Ireland U23 | 1 | (1) |
| 1990 | Republic of Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
| 1990–1999 | Republic of Ireland | 56 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
As a player, he played as a full back from 1983 to 2004. Irwin is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in a team that won a host of domestic and European trophies including seven Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League from 1990 to 2002. He has been regarded by Alex Ferguson as, pound for pound, his greatest ever signing. Earlier in his career he played for Leeds United and then Oldham Athletic, and finished his career with a two-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club he supported as a child.
Irwin 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.