John Aldridge facts for kids
Aldridge in 2023
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John William Aldridge | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1978–1979 | South Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1984 | Newport County | 170 | (69) |
| 1984–1987 | Oxford United | 114 | (72) |
| 1987–1989 | Liverpool | 83 | (50) |
| 1989–1991 | Real Sociedad | 63 | (33) |
| 1991–1998 | Tranmere Rovers | 243 | (138) |
| Total | 673 | (442) | |
| International career | |||
| 1986–1996 | Republic of Ireland | 69 | (19) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–2001 | Tranmere Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John William Aldridge (born 18 September 1958) is a famous former footballer and manager. People often called him "Aldo". He was an amazing striker who scored many goals. In fact, his 442 goals in the Football League make him the sixth-highest scorer in English football history!
John Aldridge started his career in the lower football leagues. He slowly worked his way up to the top. He played for Liverpool for over two successful seasons. There, he won the league title and the FA Cup. After Liverpool, he played for Real Sociedad in Spain. He was the first player not from the Basque region to join the club in many years. In 1991, he came back to England to play for Tranmere Rovers. He later became their player-manager in 1996. He stopped playing in 1998 and left his manager role in 2001.
Even though he was born in Liverpool, he played for the Republic of Ireland. This was because his great-grandmother was from Ireland. His time with Ireland was very successful. He even played in two World Cups!
Contents
John Aldridge's Club Career
Starting Out: South Liverpool and Newport County
It took John Aldridge a while to reach the top of English football. He began playing in the mid-1970s for a non-league team called South Liverpool. When he was 20, he got his first professional contract. He joined Newport County in the Fourth Division on 2 May 1979. The transfer cost £3,500.
While at Newport County, he played 198 games and scored 87 goals. That's about one goal every two games! In his first season, 1979–80, he scored 14 goals. He helped Newport win the Welsh Cup and get promoted to the Third Division. The next year, they even reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup. He continued to score many goals for Newport County. By February 1984, he had scored 26 goals in the 1983–84 season.
Playing for Oxford United
On 21 March 1984, Aldridge moved to Oxford United. He made his first appearance on 7 April 1984. His first goal for Oxford was in a big 5–0 win against Bolton Wanderers.
The next season, he became the first player in 19 years to score 30 goals in the Second Division. He scored 34 goals in total that season (30 in the league). This broke Oxford's record for most goals in a single season. Oxford United was promoted to the top league, the First Division, for the first time ever. Aldridge also won a Second Division title medal.
In 1986, Aldridge finally played in the First Division. He was the third-highest scorer in the league. He also scored six goals in Oxford's League Cup run. They won the final 3–0 against Queens Park Rangers at Wembley. This is still Oxford's only major trophy. His 23 goals that season helped Oxford avoid being relegated.
Aldridge played 141 games for Oxford and scored 90 goals. He scored four goals in one League Cup game against Gillingham. He also scored three hat-tricks. One of his goals helped Oxford beat Manchester United in Alex Ferguson's first game as their manager.
Time at Liverpool
In early 1987, Liverpool needed a new striker. Their star player, Ian Rush, was leaving. John Aldridge joined Kenny Dalglish's team on 27 January 1987 for £750,000. He had already scored 15 goals for Oxford that season.
Aldridge made his debut for Liverpool on 21 February 1987. His first goal for Liverpool came a week later, on 28 February. It was the only goal in a 1–0 win against Southampton.
In the 1987–88 season, Aldridge scored 26 goals. He scored in his first nine games for Liverpool. He played alongside new signings Peter Beardsley and John Barnes. Liverpool had an amazing season, losing only twice in the league. They won the 1988 league title by a large margin.
Aldridge scored both goals in Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final. In the 1988 FA Cup final against Wimbledon, Liverpool got a penalty. Aldridge took it, but the goalkeeper saved it. This was his first penalty miss for Liverpool. Liverpool lost the final 1–0.
The next season, 1988–89, was busy for Aldridge. Ian Rush came back to Liverpool. Aldridge and Rush often played together. In the Charity Shield match, Aldridge scored both goals in a 2–1 win. He scored a hat-trick in the first league game of the season. He finished the season as Liverpool's top scorer with 34 goals in all competitions.
In the 1989 FA Cup final against Everton, Aldridge scored after just four minutes. Liverpool won the game 3–2 in extra time. Aldridge scored 21 league goals that season. Liverpool almost won both the league and the FA Cup. However, they lost the league title in the very last game of the season against Arsenal.
Aldridge played 104 games for Liverpool and scored 63 goals.
Playing in Spain: Real Sociedad
In September 1989, Liverpool accepted an offer of £1 million from La Liga team Real Sociedad in Spain. Aldridge had played two league games for Liverpool that season.
His move to Real Sociedad was special. He became the first player not from the Basque region to sign for the club in many decades. Real Sociedad had changed their policy of only signing Basque players.
Aldridge scored 40 goals in 75 games for Sociedad over two seasons. Even though he was successful, some fans didn't like that he wasn't Basque. His family also found it hard to get used to life in Spain. In 1991, Aldridge asked to leave the club.
Back to England: Tranmere Rovers
On 11 July 1991, Aldridge returned to Merseyside. He joined Tranmere Rovers in a £250,000 deal. In his first season, he scored a club-record 40 goals. Tranmere was playing in the Second Division for the first time in over 50 years.
He played his first game for Rovers on 17 August 1991, scoring both goals in a 2–0 win. In seven years as a Tranmere player, he played 294 games and scored 174 goals. He retired at the end of the 1997–98 season, scoring two goals in his final professional game.
Aldridge's goals helped Tranmere reach their highest league positions ever. They finished in the top six of the second tier in 1993, 1994, and 1995. This meant they got into the playoffs, but they lost in the semi-finals each time. He also nearly won another major trophy when Tranmere reached the League Cup semi-finals in 1993–94.
In his career in England, Aldridge played 739 games and scored 411 goals.
Becoming a Manager
On 12 March 1996, John Aldridge became the player-manager of Tranmere. He stopped playing two years later to focus on managing. In his first season as manager, Rovers finished 13th in Division One.
Under Aldridge, Tranmere reached the 2000 Football League Cup final (which they lost). They also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2000 and 2001. During the 2000 League Cup final, Aldridge got very upset with an opposing player. He later said he felt the player had disrespected his teammate. Tranmere was relegated to the third tier in 2001. Aldridge resigned in March 2001, just before their relegation was confirmed.
John Aldridge's International Career
Aldridge was chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland in early 1987. He qualified because his great-grandmother was from Ireland. He made his debut on 26 March 1986 against Wales. This was the first game under new manager Jack Charlton.
In 1988, Aldridge played for Ireland in Euro 88 in West Germany. This was Ireland's first major tournament. They beat England 1–0 and drew with the Soviet Union. However, they were knocked out after losing to the Netherlands. It took Aldridge 20 games to score his first international goal. It finally came on 19 October 1988 against Tunisia.
Aldridge missed Ireland's World Cup qualifying game against Spain on 26 April 1989. He was too sad to play because of the tragic Hillsborough disaster. Ireland won that game 1–0. Aldridge scored his first goals in a competitive match when he scored twice against Malta. This helped Ireland qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Aldridge played a key role in Ireland reaching the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He didn't score at the World Cup, and Ireland lost to the host nation, Italy. Aldridge played in every game but was substituted in all five of his appearances.
Ireland didn't qualify for Euro 92, even though they went unbeaten in their group. Aldridge scored three goals in qualification against Turkey. However, Aldridge helped Ireland qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He scored six goals in qualifying, including a hat-trick against Latvia.
Aldridge's international career is also remembered for an incident at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Ireland was losing to Mexico. The manager tried to send Aldridge on as a substitute, but there was a delay. Both Aldridge and the manager got very upset and used strong words. When Aldridge finally got on, he scored a goal. Even though Ireland lost 2–1, Aldridge's goal was important. It helped Ireland qualify for the next round.
Aldridge continued to play for Ireland in the Euro 96 qualifiers. He scored twice against Latvia and also against Northern Ireland. In Ireland's final home game, he scored two more goals against Latvia. But Ireland didn't qualify for Euro 96. Aldridge retired from international football in 1996 to focus on managing Tranmere Rovers. His last game was a 3–0 win against Macedonia on 9 October 1996.
Overall, Aldridge scored 19 goals in 69 matches for Ireland over ten years. Eight of his goals were against Latvia.
Life After Football
Today, John Aldridge works as a football expert for different media groups. He often talks about Liverpool games on Radio City 96.7. He also still plays for the Liverpool veterans' team. In 1998, he wrote his autobiography called John Aldridge: My Story.
In 2006, he became well-known in Ireland for appearing on a TV show called Charity You're A Star. Even though he wasn't a natural singer, Aldridge won the competition. He raised money for Temple Street Children's Hospital.
Aldridge was very popular with fans wherever he played, especially in Liverpool. In a poll by the official Liverpool F.C. website in 2006, fans voted him the 26th greatest Liverpool player of all time.
In March 2008, Aldridge shared more about his career in an audio CD series. He talked about his football journey and signed many copies of the CD to support a charity.
Aldridge was also involved in a situation where his personal information might have been accessed without his permission by a newspaper. He said he didn't know why they would target him.
Honours and Achievements
As a Player
Newport County
- Welsh Cup: 1979–80
Oxford United
- Football League Second Division: 1984–85
- Football League Third Division: 1983–84
- League Cup: 1985–86
Liverpool
- Football League First Division: 1987–88
- FA Cup: 1988–89
- FA Charity Shield: 1988, 1989
Individual Awards
- PFA Team of the Year: 1991–92 (Second Division), 1992–93 (First Division), 1994–95 (First Division)
- English Second Division top scorer: 1984–85
- First Division top scorer: 1987–88; 1994–95, 1995–96
- BBC Goal of the Season: 1987–88, 1988–89
- FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 1992
As a Manager
Tranmere Rovers
- Football League Cup runner-up: 1999–2000
Images for kids
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Aldridge representing Liverpool in Singapore, 2023
See also
In Spanish: John Aldridge para niños
