Mal Donaghy facts for kids

Malachy Martin Donaghy (born on 13 September 1957) is a famous former Northern Ireland international footballer. He was born in Belfast and played as a defender. Mal Donaghy is best known for his time playing for Luton Town and Manchester United. He had a long and successful career, playing for many years at the top level of football.

Football Career

Early Days and First Clubs

Mal Donaghy started his football journey in West Belfast. He first played as a goalkeeper for a local team called St. Agnes'. Soon after, he switched to playing as an outfield player. He joined a team called Post Office Social Club.

After only about six months, Mal moved to another team, Cromac Albion. It was there that his talent as a player really started to shine. The manager of Larne, Brian Halliday, noticed him.

Rising Through the Ranks

Mal Donaghy's career moved very quickly. After playing just 20 matches for Larne, he made a big move. In June 1978, he was transferred to Luton Town for £20,000. This was a significant step up for him.

Success with Luton Town

Mal spent ten years playing for Luton Town. This period was one of the most successful times in the club's history. In 1982, he helped Luton win the Second Division title. This meant he got to play in the First Division for the first time.

He played a key role in helping Luton stay in the First Division. In the 1986–87 season, his team finished seventh, which was a club record at the time. The biggest moment came in 1987–88. Mal helped Luton win their first major trophy, the League Cup. They had a surprising 3–2 win against Arsenal in the final.

Joining Manchester United

In October 1988, Mal Donaghy left Luton Town. He moved to his childhood favourite team, Manchester United, for £650,000. Some people thought it was a risk for manager Alex Ferguson to pay so much for a 31-year-old player. However, Mal proved them wrong with his strong performances. He played well as a central defender and also as a full-back.

When he first joined United, Mal was the main left-back for the 1988–89 season. He only missed one game because he had already played in the League Cup for Luton. However, in the 1989–90 season, he had fewer chances to play. He was not even on the substitutes' bench for the 1990 FA Cup Final when United won against Crystal Palace. He was also an unused substitute when United won the European Cup Winners' Cup and when they lost the League Cup final.

In the 1991–92 season, United finished second in the First Division. They also won their first-ever League Cup. Mal's chances to play in the first team continued to be limited. He was not part of the squad for the 1992 Football League Cup final.

Time at Chelsea and Retirement

In August 1992, just before his 35th birthday, Mal Donaghy made his next move. Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield paid £100,000 for him. Mal helped Chelsea finish 11th in the first-ever Premier League season in 1992–93. The next season, 1993–94, he helped them reach the 1994 FA Cup final. However, he again missed being in the squad for the final. Chelsea lost 4–0 to his old club, Manchester United. At the end of that season, Mal Donaghy decided to retire from playing club football.

After his playing career, Mal Donaghy returned to Northern Ireland with his family. He had a short time as a manager at Newry Town. He also worked as a coach for Cliftonville and as a Youth Development Officer for Donegal Celtic. In 2000, he became the coach for the Northern Ireland under-19 team.

Playing for Northern Ireland

Mal Donaghy played for the Northern Ireland 91 times. His first game was in May 1980 at Windsor Park. It was a 1–0 win against Scotland in the home international tournament, which Northern Ireland won.

He became even more well-known during the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals. In the 1982 tournament, he played in four of Northern Ireland's five games. He was sent off (given a red card) after 60 minutes in the famous 1–0 win against Spain in Valencia. He was sent off for pushing a Spanish player. However, he returned for Northern Ireland's last match, a 4–1 loss to France in Madrid. His final game for Northern Ireland was against Mexico in Miami in June 1994. This was just three months before his 37th birthday.

Achievements and Trophies

Club Honours

Luton Town

• League Cup: 1987–88

Manchester United

• European Cup Winners Cup: 1990–91
• FA Charity Shield: 1990
• European Super Cup: 1991

International Honours

Northern Ireland

• British Home Championship: 1979–80, 1983–84

See also

In Spanish: Mal Donaghy para niños