Alan Mannus facts for kids

Alan Mannus (born 19 May 1982) is a former professional footballer from Northern Ireland. He played as a goalkeeper. Alan started his career at Linfield and also played for Larne and Carrick Rangers on loan. He then joined Shamrock Rovers and later moved to St Johnstone in 2011. Alan finished his playing career back at Shamrock Rovers in 2023. He also represented Northern Ireland in international matches.

Club Career

Linfield

Alan Mannus began his football journey at Linfield when he was sixteen. He quickly moved up through the club's youth teams. Early in his career, he had trials with English clubs like Everton and Fulham, but these didn't lead to a contract.

He gained experience by playing on loan at Larne and Carrick Rangers. Alan made his first team debut for Linfield on 24 October 2001, helping them win 3–0 against Bangor. He soon became the team's main goalkeeper.

In the 2001–02 season, Alan helped Linfield win the Irish Cup. He described it as a "fairy tale" season for him. He also helped the Linfield Swifts (youth team) win another cup, making it a double win. The arrival of goalkeeper coach Tommy Wright was very important for his development.

Alan became Linfield's first-choice goalkeeper at a young age in the 2002–03 season. He showed his skill by saving a penalty against Glentoran. He also had several runs of keeping clean sheets (not letting the other team score).

In the 2003–04 season, Alan achieved something very rare for a goalkeeper: he scored a goal! His long goal kick bounced over the opposing goalkeeper and into the net. This amazing moment earned him the Player of the Month award for October 2003. He helped Linfield win the County Antrim Shield and the league championship. He was even named in the Team of the Season.

Alan continued to be a key player for Linfield. In the 2004–05 season, he helped the club win the County Antrim Shield again. He also played in the Setanta Cup final, where Linfield won 2–0. He was named in the Team of the Season for the second year in a row.

The 2005–06 season was very successful for Alan and Linfield. He helped the team win four trophies: the Irish League Cup, the County Antrim Shield, the league title, and the Irish Cup. He kept 31 clean sheets that season.

In the 2006–07 season, Alan turned professional and signed a three-year deal with Linfield. He had a great run of six consecutive clean sheets in the league. He also made his 250th appearance for the club before his 25th birthday. Alan helped Linfield win the league title for the second time in a row and also won the Irish Cup final by saving three penalties in a shootout.

The 2007–08 season saw Alan help Linfield win three more trophies: the Irish League Cup, the league title, and the Irish Cup. His excellent performances earned him the 2007–08 Ulster Footballer of the Year award.

Alan decided to leave Linfield at the end of the 2008–09 season. He was a fan favorite and had helped the club win many important trophies. He had trials with other clubs, including Bradford City, before finding his next team.

Shamrock Rovers (First Spell)

On 4 August 2009, Alan Mannus joined Shamrock Rovers. He quickly became the team's main goalkeeper. In his first season, he helped the club keep three clean sheets in a row.

In 2010, Alan played in every match for Shamrock Rovers. He made some crucial saves, including a last-minute penalty save against St Patrick's Athletic. He also helped the team in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. Alan played a big part in Shamrock Rovers winning the League of Ireland title for the first time since 1995. He was nominated for the PFAI Players' Player of the Year award and won the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

Alan signed a new contract with Shamrock Rovers for the 2011 season. He continued his excellent form, helping the team keep many clean sheets. He also helped Shamrock Rovers win the Setanta Sports Cup final. His last game for the club was a Champions League qualifier where he kept a clean sheet. Even after he left, he received a medal when Shamrock Rovers won the league title again.

St Johnstone

Alan Mannus signed a one-year contract with Scottish club St Johnstone on 21 July 2011. He initially started as a backup goalkeeper. However, after a few months, he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the team. He made his league debut for St Johnstone in a 0–0 draw against Aberdeen.

In the 2012–13 season, Alan continued to be a key player. He made many important saves, including a penalty save against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. His strong performances helped St Johnstone finish third in the league, which meant they qualified for European competitions again. He signed another one-year contract and won several club awards.

The 2013–14 season was a memorable one for Alan. He helped St Johnstone win their first major trophy in their 130-year history: the Scottish Cup. He made several crucial saves in the final match. Earlier in the season, he had a red card and a thumb injury but returned quickly.

In the 2014–15 season, Alan played in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. He saved a penalty in a shootout against Luzern, helping St Johnstone advance. He was an ever-present player that season, meaning he played in every game. His consistent performances helped the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the third year in a row. He signed a new two-year contract and won more club awards.

The 2015–16 season was a bit tougher for Alan. He received a red card in a match against Dundee United. Later in the season, he lost his starting spot for a while but returned for the final game.

In the 2016–17 season, Alan faced more competition for his spot. He dealt with an illness that kept him out for much of the season. However, he returned to become the first-choice goalkeeper again towards the end of the season. He made his 200th appearance for St Johnstone and helped the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League. He signed another one-year contract.

The 2017–18 season was Alan's last with St Johnstone. He started as the main goalkeeper but later shared the role. He made his final appearance for the club as captain in a 1–1 draw against Ross County. St Johnstone announced he would leave when his contract ended.

Shamrock Rovers (Second Spell)

On 18 April 2018, Alan Mannus signed a contract to return to Shamrock Rovers. 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 team's first-choice goalkeeper again.

In the 2019 season, Alan aimed to win more trophies with Shamrock Rovers. He helped the team keep many clean sheets throughout the season. He also made his 100th appearance for the club. Alan played a big part in Shamrock Rovers winning the FAI Cup final, making crucial saves in the penalty shootout. He was named in the PFAI Team of the Year.

The 2020 season was very successful for Alan and Shamrock Rovers. He helped the club keep many clean sheets and finish the league season without losing a single game. Shamrock Rovers won the League of Ireland title for a record 18th time. Alan was again named Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year and PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year. He signed another contract extension, planning to play beyond 40 years old.

In the 2021 season, Alan continued his strong performances. He helped Shamrock Rovers win the league title for the second time in a row. He also played in European matches, including the Champions League qualifiers and UEFA Europa Conference League.

The 2022 season saw Alan help Shamrock Rovers win the President of Ireland's Cup. He played a key role in the club's qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time. His performances were highly praised by his teammates and manager. On 24 October 2022, Shamrock Rovers won their third league title in a row. Alan made his 200th appearance for the club and 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 title for the fourth time in a row. He suffered a finger injury during the season but returned to play. Alan Mannus retired at the end of the 2023 season. He finished his career with a club record of 128 clean sheets in 285 appearances for Shamrock Rovers and a total of six league titles.

Post-playing Career

After retiring from playing, Alan Mannus began a career in coaching. In January 2023, he became a goalkeeping coach educator for the Irish Football Association. He returned to Linfield as their new goalkeeping coach on 14 August 2024. On 6 January 2025, Alan was appointed as a goalkeeping coach for Larne.

International Career

Alan Mannus could have played for either Canada, where he was born, or Northern Ireland, because of his parents. He chose to represent Northern Ireland at different age levels.

He made his debut for the Northern Ireland Under-23 team in April 2004. A few months later, on 6 June 2004, Alan earned his first cap for the senior Northern Ireland team against Trinidad and Tobago.

After a few years without playing for the senior team, Alan made appearances in friendly matches in 2008 and 2009. He wanted to become Northern Ireland's main goalkeeper.

On 6 February 2013, Alan made his first start for Northern Ireland against Malta, keeping a clean sheet. He played in a few more matches over the next couple of years.

In May 2016, Alan Mannus was chosen by manager Michael O'Neill to be part of Northern Ireland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He was very honored to be included. Although he was the third-choice goalkeeper and didn't play in the tournament, he said it was a great experience.

Alan retired from international football after Northern Ireland's attempt to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was unsuccessful.

Personal Life

Alan Mannus was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. His parents moved back to Northern Ireland, where he grew up in Carryduff in County Down. He has two brothers, Ian and Toby, who live in Northern Ireland. His brother Paul has moved back to Canada.

Before becoming a full-time professional footballer, Alan worked as a fitness instructor. He also attended Dunmurry High School. As a teenager, he tried mixed-martial arts but stopped to focus on football.

In the summer of 2015, Alan married his long-term partner, Leanne. They have two children together. Alan has an engineering degree from Queen’s University and plans to get coaching licenses for his future career.

Honours

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 (6): 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

• Ulster Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
• SWAI Goalkeeper of the Year: 2010, 2020, 2022
• League of Ireland Premier Division Most cleansheet: 2022
• PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year (1): 2010, 2020

See Also

In Spanish: Alan Mannus para niños