Alan Mannus facts for kids
Mannus playing for St Johnstone in 2014.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alan Mannus | ||
| Date of birth | 19 May 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Larne (Goalkeeping Coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2009 | Linfield | 211 | (1) |
| 2000 | → Larne (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2001 | → Carrick Rangers (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Shamrock Rovers | 69 | (0) |
| 2011–2018 | St Johnstone | 192 | (0) |
| 2018–2023 | Shamrock Rovers | 156 | (0) |
| Total | 638 | (1) | |
| International career | |||
| Northern Ireland U16 | 3 | (0) | |
| 2004 | Northern Ireland U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2004–2016 | Northern Ireland | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alan Mannus (born 19 May 1982) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently a goalkeeping coach for Larne. Alan started his career at Linfield. During his time there, he also played on loan for Larne and Carrick Rangers. Mannus then joined Shamrock Rovers. In 2011, he moved to St Johnstone before returning to Rovers in 2018. He finished his playing career in 2023. Alan also played for the Northern Ireland national team.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Linfield
Alan Mannus began his football journey at Linfield when he was sixteen. He quickly moved up through their youth teams. Early in his career, he had trials with big English clubs like Everton and Fulham, but these didn't lead to a contract.
He gained experience by playing on loan. He played one game for Larne in October 2000. Then, he played nine games for Carrick Rangers.
In the 2001–02 season, Alan became Linfield's main goalkeeper. He helped the team reach the UEFA Cup and win the Irish Cup. He even won another cup with Linfield's reserve team, the Swifts, making it a double win for him that season.
Becoming a Key Player
Alan became a very important player for Linfield. In 2003, he even scored a goal from a long kick! This was a rare achievement for a goalkeeper. He was named Player of the Month for October 2003.
He helped Linfield win the league championship in 2004. He also won the County Antrim Shield twice in a row (2004 and 2005). In 2005, he helped Linfield win the first-ever Setanta Cup.
The 2005–06 season was very successful. Alan helped Linfield win four trophies: the Irish League Cup, the County Antrim Shield, the league title, and the Irish Cup. He played 57 games that season and kept 31 clean sheets (meaning the other team didn't score).
Alan continued to play well, keeping many clean sheets. He made his 250th appearance for Linfield before his 25th birthday. In 2007, he helped the club win the league and the Irish Cup again. He was named the 2007–08 Ulster Footballer of the Year.
After many successful years, Alan decided to leave Linfield in 2009 to try playing in England or Scotland. He was a fan favorite and helped the club win many trophies.
Moving to Shamrock Rovers
On 4 August 2009, Alan Mannus signed an 18-month contract with Shamrock Rovers. He quickly became the team's first-choice goalkeeper.
In 2010, Alan played a big part in Shamrock Rovers winning the League of Ireland title. This was the first time the club had won the league since 1995. He played in every game that season, making 50 appearances. He was also nominated for the PFAI Players' Player of the Year award and won the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
He signed a new contract in 2011. Alan helped Shamrock Rovers win the Setanta Sports Cup that year. He also helped them advance in the Champions League qualifiers. Even after he left the club in July 2011, he received a medal because Shamrock Rovers went on to win the league again that season.
Time at St Johnstone
Alan joined Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone on 21 July 2011. He was initially a backup goalkeeper. However, he soon became the main goalkeeper in February 2012. He helped St Johnstone improve their results and qualify for European competitions.
In the 2012–13 season, Alan continued to impress with many great saves. He helped St Johnstone finish third in the league, which meant they qualified for Europe again. He was recognized with several "Player of the Year" awards from supporters' groups.
The 2013–14 season was memorable. Alan helped St Johnstone reach the Scottish Cup final. In the final, he made several important saves as the Saints won 2–0. This was the first major trophy in the club's 130-year history!
In the 2014–15 season, Alan helped St Johnstone advance in the Europa League qualifiers by saving a penalty in a shootout. He signed a new two-year contract in April 2015. He played in every league game that season, helping the team qualify for the Europa League for the third year in a row.
In the 2015–16 season, Alan faced more competition for his spot. He was briefly dropped but returned to play. He captained the team for the first time in February 2016.
He continued to compete for the starting spot in the 2016–17 season. Alan made his 200th appearance for St Johnstone in April 2017. His contributions helped the club qualify for the Europa League again. He signed another one-year contract.
Alan left St Johnstone at the end of the 2017–18 season. He had made 192 appearances for the club during his time there.
Return to Shamrock Rovers
On 18 April 2018, Alan Mannus signed to return to Shamrock Rovers. He officially rejoined the club on 1 July 2018.
He made his second debut for the club on 22 July 2018, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. He quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper again.
In 2019, Alan helped Shamrock Rovers win the FAI Cup. He made crucial saves in the penalty shootout during the final. He was named to the PFAI Team of the Year for his excellent performance.
The 2020 season was also very successful. Alan helped Shamrock Rovers win the League of Ireland title for the 18th time. The team finished the season without losing a single game. He kept 13 clean sheets in 18 league games. He won the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year Award again and was named to the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year.
In 2021, Alan helped Shamrock Rovers win the league title for the second time in a row. He made 43 appearances that season and signed another contract extension.
The 2022 season saw Alan win the President of Ireland's Cup with Shamrock Rovers. He also played a key role in the club qualifying for the group stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time. His performance was highly praised, with a teammate calling him the best goalkeeper in the league. Shamrock Rovers won their third league title in a row that year. Alan made his 200th appearance for the club in October 2022. He won the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year Award for 2022.
In his final season, 2023, Alan helped Shamrock Rovers win the league for the fourth time in a row. He retired at the end of the 2023 season. Alan finished his career with a record six League of Ireland titles and a club record of 128 clean sheets in 285 appearances for Shamrock Rovers.
Life After Playing
In January 2023, Alan Mannus started working as a goalkeeping coach educator for the Irish Football Association. On 14 August 2024, he returned to Linfield as their new goalkeeping coach. On 6 January 2025, Alan was appointed as a goalkeeping coach for Larne.
Playing for His Country
Alan Mannus could have played for Canada, where he was born, or Northern Ireland, because his parents are from there. He chose to play for Northern Ireland.
He played for Northern Ireland at different age levels, including the Under-18 and Under-23 teams. Alan made his debut for the senior Northern Ireland team on 6 June 2004, against Trinidad and Tobago.
He continued to be called up to the national squad over the years. In 2013, he made his first start for Northern Ireland in a friendly match against Malta, keeping a clean sheet.
In May 2016, Alan was chosen by manager Michael O'Neill to be part of Northern Ireland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He was the third-choice goalkeeper during the tournament. Even though he didn't play, he said it was a great experience to be part of the team.
Alan retired from international football after Northern Ireland's attempt to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was unsuccessful.
About Alan Mannus
Alan Mannus was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents moved back to Northern Ireland, and he grew up in Carryduff. He has two brothers, Ian and Toby. His brother Paul has moved back to Canada.
Before becoming a full-time professional footballer, Alan worked as a fitness instructor. He was known for his patience, earning him the nickname "Job" during his time at Linfield. As a teenager, he also tried mixed-martial arts but chose to focus on football.
In the summer of 2015, Alan married his partner, Leanne. They have two children together.
Alan has an engineering degree from Queen's University. He planned to get coaching licenses after his playing career ended, which he has now done.
Awards and Trophies
Linfield
- Irish League/Irish Premier League: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Irish Cup: 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Irish League Cup: 2005–06, 2007–08
- County Antrim Shield: 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
- Setanta Cup: 2005
Shamrock Rovers
- League of Ireland Premier Division: 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- FAI Cup: 2019
- Setanta Cup: 2011
- President of Ireland's Cup: 2022
St Johnstone
- Scottish Cup: 2013–14
Individual Awards
- Ulster Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
- SWAI Goalkeeper of the Year: 2010, 2020, 2022
- League of Ireland Premier Division Most Clean Sheets: 2022
- PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2010, 2020
See also
In Spanish: Alan Mannus para niños
