Denis Irwin facts for kids
_(cropped).jpg)
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 | |||
Joseph Denis Irwin (born on October 31, 1965) is a former professional footballer from Ireland. He also works as a sports television presenter. Denis Irwin is one of the most successful Irish footballers ever. He shares this record with Ronnie Whelan and Roy Keane, having won 19 trophies during his career.
Denis played as a full back from 1983 to 2004. He is most famous for his long and successful time at Manchester United. There, he became a very important player in a team that won many national and European awards between 1990 and 2002. These included seven Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. His manager, Alex Ferguson, even called him his best signing ever, considering how much he achieved for his cost.
Before Manchester United, Denis played for Leeds United and then Oldham Athletic. He finished his career with two years at Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was the club he supported as a child. Denis also played for the Republic of Ireland 56 times, scoring four goals. He was part of the team that reached the second round (last 16) at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Denis Irwin's Early Life
Denis Irwin was born and grew up in Cork, Ireland. He went to Togher Boys' National School and Coláiste Chríost Rí. When he was a schoolboy, he was very good at both Gaelic football and hurling. He even played at Croke Park more than once. On one occasion, he played against his future teammate, Niall Quinn.
Denis Irwin's Club Career
Starting His Football Journey
Denis Irwin started his football career with Leeds United in 1983. He played 72 games in the Second Division. In 1986, he moved to Oldham Athletic for free. He helped Oldham reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the League Cup in 1990. After this, he moved to Manchester United for £650,000.
Time at Manchester United
.JPG)
Denis played for 12 years at Old Trafford, Manchester United's home stadium. He played 296 games in the Premier League and won seven Premier League titles. He also won the FA Cup twice (in 1994 and 1996), one League Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Denis was very good at playing in either of the full back positions. He was also an expert at taking free kicks and penalties. Even when he was in his mid-thirties, he was still Manchester United's first-choice left back, even over younger players like Phil Neville.
He scored 22 league goals for Manchester United, including many penalties. His last game for Manchester United at Old Trafford was against Charlton Athletic on May 11, 2002. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. For his final appearance, manager Alex Ferguson made him the team captain.
Playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers
After the 2001–02 season, Denis Irwin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for free. His former Manchester United teammate, Paul Ince, also joined Wolves at the same time. Denis scored two goals in his first season with Wolves.
In 2003, Wolves won promotion to the Premier League. When Denis walked onto the pitch at Old Trafford for a game against Manchester United, the United fans cheered for him. Wolves were relegated (moved down a league) at the end of the 2003–04 season. Denis, who was 38 years old, then announced he was retiring from football.
Denis Irwin's International Career
Denis Irwin played for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 team. He played 56 times for the Republic of Ireland senior team between 1990 and 1999, scoring four goals. His first game was on September 12, 1990, when Ireland beat Morocco 1-0.
Denis played in his only international tournament for the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. He played as a right back in the team's first two group games.
Denis Irwin's Style of Play
Experts in football think Denis Irwin was one of the best full-backs of his time and in Premier League history. He was good with both feet, which meant he could play as either a left-back or a right-back. He was also good at crossing the ball. In 2021, football pundit Gary Lineker praised Denis for being smart and good at passing. Denis was also known for working hard and playing consistently well. Even though he was a defender known for strong tackles, he could also score goals, especially from free kicks and penalties. This meant he helped his team both in defense and attack.
Denis Irwin's Media Career
Since 2004, Denis Irwin has worked as a presenter for MUTV, which is Manchester United's TV channel. He has also helped cover several football tournaments for RTÉ, an Irish broadcaster. He writes a column for Ireland's Sunday World newspaper. He also helped with RTÉ Sport's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Honours and Awards
Denis Irwin won many trophies and awards during his career:
Oldham Athletic
- Football League Cup runner-up: 1989–90
Manchester United
- Premier League: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
- FA Cup: 1993–94, 1995–96
- Football League Cup: 1991–92
- FA Charity Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1996, 1997
- UEFA Champions League: 1998–99
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1990–91
- European Super Cup: 1991
- Intercontinental Cup: 1999
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Football League First Division play-offs: 2003
Individual Awards
- PFA Team of the Year: 1989–90 (Second Division), 1993–94 (Premier League), 1998–99 (Premier League), 2002–03 (First Division)
- PFA Team of the Century (1997–2007): 2007
- English Football Hall of Fame: 2016
See also
In Spanish: Denis Irwin para niños
