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Denis Irwin

Updated: Wikipedia source

Denis Irwin

Joseph Denis Irwin (born 31 October 1965) is an Irish former professional footballer and sports television presenter. Irwin is the joint most successful Irish footballer in history, a record he shares with Ronnie Whelan and fellow Manchester United stalwart Roy Keane, having won 19 trophies in his career. As a player, he played as a full back from 1983 to 2004. Irwin is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in a team that won a host of domestic and European trophies from 1990 to 2002, including seven Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. He has been regarded by Alex Ferguson as, pound for pound, his greatest ever signing. Earlier in his career he played for Leeds United and then Oldham Athletic, and finished his career with a two-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club he supported as a child. Irwin was capped by the Republic of Ireland national side 56 times, scoring four goals and featuring in the side that reached the second round (last 16) at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Infobox

1989
Republic of Ireland U23
1990
Republic of Ireland B
Full name
Joseph Denis Irwin
Date of birth
(1965-10-31) 31 October 1965 (age 60)
Place of birth
Cork, Ireland
Height
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position
Full back
0000–1983
Leeds United
Years
Team
1983–1986
Leeds United
1986–1990
Oldham Athletic
1990–2002
Manchester United
2002–2004
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1986–1987
Republic of Ireland U21
1990–1999
Republic of Ireland

Tables

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[35] · Career statistics › Club
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
FA Cup
Apps
FA Cup
Goals
League Cup
Apps
League Cup
Goals
Continental
Apps
Continental
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
Leeds United
Leeds United
Club
Leeds United
Season
1983–84
League
Second Division
League
12
League
0
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Continental
Continental
Other
13
Other
0
1984–85
1984–85
Club
1984–85
Season
Second Division
League
41
League
1
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
Continental
Continental
45
Other
1
1985–86
1985–86
Club
1985–86
Season
Second Division
League
19
League
0
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
Continental
2
Continental
0
Other
24
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
72
League
1
League
3
League
0
FA Cup
5
FA Cup
0
League Cup
League Cup
2
Continental
0
Continental
82
Other
1
Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic
Club
Oldham Athletic
Season
1986–87
League
Second Division
League
41
League
1
FA Cup
2
FA Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
0
Continental
Continental
3
Other
0
Other
49
Total
1
1987–88
1987–88
Club
1987–88
Season
Second Division
League
43
League
0
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
5
League Cup
3
League Cup
Continental
0
Continental
0
Other
49
Other
3
1988–89
1988–89
Club
1988–89
Season
Second Division
League
41
League
2
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
Continental
1
Continental
0
Other
46
Other
2
1989–90
1989–90
Club
1989–90
Season
Second Division
League
42
League
1
League
9
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
8
League Cup
0
League Cup
Continental
1
Continental
0
Other
60
Other
1
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
167
League
4
League
13
League
0
FA Cup
19
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Continental
5
Continental
0
Other
204
Other
7
Manchester United
Manchester United
Club
Manchester United
Season
1990–91
League
First Division
League
34
League
0
FA Cup
3
FA Cup
0
League Cup
8
League Cup
0
Continental
6
Continental
0
Other
1
Other
0
Total
52
Total
0
1991–92
1991–92
Club
1991–92
Season
First Division
League
38
League
4
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
7
League Cup
0
League Cup
2
Continental
0
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
51
Total
4
1992–93
1992–93
Club
1992–93
Season
Premier League
League
40
League
5
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
3
League Cup
0
League Cup
2
Continental
0
Continental
Other
48
Other
5
1993–94
1993–94
Club
1993–94
Season
Premier League
League
42
League
2
League
7
FA Cup
2
FA Cup
9
League Cup
0
League Cup
3
Continental
0
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
62
Total
4
1994–95
1994–95
Club
1994–95
Season
Premier League
League
40
League
2
League
7
FA Cup
4
FA Cup
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
5
Continental
0
Continental
0
Other
0
Other
54
Total
6
1995–96
1995–96
Club
1995–96
Season
Premier League
League
31
League
1
League
6
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
1
Continental
0
Continental
Other
39
Other
1
1996–97
1996–97
Club
1996–97
Season
Premier League
League
31
League
1
League
3
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
8
Continental
0
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
43
Total
1
1997–98
1997–98
Club
1997–98
Season
Premier League
League
25
League
2
League
4
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
1
League Cup
0
League Cup
6
Continental
2
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
37
Total
4
1998–99
1998–99
Club
1998–99
Season
Premier League
League
29
League
2
League
6
FA Cup
1
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
12
Continental
0
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
48
Total
3
1999–2000
1999–2000
Club
1999–2000
Season
Premier League
League
25
League
3
League
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
13
League Cup
0
Continental
4
Continental
0
Other
42
Other
3
2000–01
2000–01
Club
2000–01
Season
Premier League
League
21
League
0
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
7
Continental
2
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
30
Total
2
2001–02
2001–02
Club
2001–02
Season
Premier League
League
12
League
0
League
0
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
10
Continental
0
Continental
1
Other
0
Other
23
Total
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
368
League
22
League
43
League
7
FA Cup
31
FA Cup
0
League Cup
75
League Cup
4
Continental
12
Continental
0
Other
529
Other
33
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Club
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Season
2002–03
League
First Division
League
43
League
2
FA Cup
4
FA Cup
0
League Cup
2
League Cup
0
Continental
Continental
3
Other
0
Other
52
Total
2
2003–04
2003–04
Club
2003–04
Season
Premier League
League
32
League
0
League
1
FA Cup
0
FA Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
Continental
Continental
33
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
75
League
2
League
5
League
0
FA Cup
2
FA Cup
0
League Cup
League Cup
3
Continental
0
Continental
85
Other
2
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
682
League
29
League
64
League
7
FA Cup
57
FA Cup
3
League Cup
75
League Cup
4
Continental
22
Continental
0
Other
900
Other
43
Club
Season
League
FA Cup
League Cup
Continental
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Leeds United
1983–84
Second Division
12
0
1
0
0
0
13
0
1984–85
Second Division
41
1
1
0
3
0
45
1
1985–86
Second Division
19
0
1
0
2
0
2
0
24
0
Total
72
1
3
0
5
0
2
0
82
1
Oldham Athletic
1986–87
Second Division
41
1
2
0
3
0
3
0
49
1
1987–88
Second Division
43
0
1
0
5
3
0
0
49
3
1988–89
Second Division
41
2
1
0
3
0
1
0
46
2
1989–90
Second Division
42
1
9
0
8
0
1
0
60
1
Total
167
4
13
0
19
3
0
0
5
0
204
7
Manchester United
1990–91
First Division
34
0
3
0
8
0
6
0
1
0
52
0
1991–92
First Division
38
4
3
0
7
0
2
0
1
0
51
4
1992–93
Premier League
40
5
3
0
3
0
2
0
48
5
1993–94
Premier League
42
2
7
2
9
0
3
0
1
0
62
4
1994–95
Premier League
40
2
7
4
2
0
5
0
0
0
54
6
1995–96
Premier League
31
1
6
0
1
0
1
0
39
1
1996–97
Premier League
31
1
3
0
0
0
8
0
1
0
43
1
1997–98
Premier League
25
2
4
0
1
0
6
2
1
0
37
4
1998–99
Premier League
29
2
6
1
0
0
12
0
1
0
48
3
1999–2000
Premier League
25
3
0
0
13
0
4
0
42
3
2000–01
Premier League
21
0
1
0
0
0
7
2
1
0
30
2
2001–02
Premier League
12
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
1
0
23
0
Total
368
22
43
7
31
0
75
4
12
0
529
33
Wolverhampton Wanderers
2002–03
First Division
43
2
4
0
2
0
3
0
52
2
2003–04
Premier League
32
0
1
0
0
0
33
0
Total
75
2
5
0
2
0
3
0
85
2
Career total
682
29
64
7
57
3
75
4
22
0
900
43
Appearances and goals by national team and year[36] · Career statistics › International
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
National team
Republic of Ireland
Year
1990
Apps
2
Goals
0
1991
1991
National team
1991
Year
6
Apps
0
1992
1992
National team
1992
Year
8
Apps
1
1993
1993
National team
1993
Year
8
Apps
0
1994
1994
National team
1994
Year
7
Apps
0
1995
1995
National team
1995
Year
8
Apps
0
1996
1996
National team
1996
Year
4
Apps
0
1997
1997
National team
1997
Year
4
Apps
1
1998
1998
National team
1998
Year
3
Apps
1
1999
1999
National team
1999
Year
6
Apps
1
Total
Total
National team
Total
Year
56
Apps
4
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Republic of Ireland
1990
2
0
1991
6
0
1992
8
1
1993
8
0
1994
7
0
1995
8
0
1996
4
0
1997
4
1
1998
3
1
1999
6
1
Total
56
4
List of international goals scored by Denis Irwin · Career statistics › International
1
1
No.
1
Date
29 April 1992
Venue
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Cap
10
Opponent
United States
Score
2–0
Result
4–1
Competition
Friendly
2
2
No.
2
Date
29 October 1997
Venue
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Cap
47
Opponent
Belgium
Score
1–0
Result
1–1
Competition
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3
3
No.
3
Date
5 September 1998
Venue
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Cap
49
Opponent
Croatia
Score
1–0
Result
2–0
Competition
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
4
4
No.
4
Date
10 February 1999
Venue
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Cap
51
Opponent
Paraguay
Score
1–0
Result
2–0
Competition
Friendly
No.
Date
Venue
Cap
Opponent
Score
Result
Competition
Ref.
1
29 April 1992
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
10
United States
2–0
4–1
Friendly
2
29 October 1997
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
47
Belgium
1–0
1–1
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3
5 September 1998
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
49
Croatia
1–0
2–0
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
4
10 February 1999
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
51
Paraguay
1–0
2–0
Friendly

References

  1. Appearance(s) in Full Members' Cup
  2. One appearance in Full Members' Cup, two in Second Division play-offs
  3. Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup
  4. Appearance in FA Charity Shield
  5. Appearance in European Super Cup
  6. Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  7. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. One appearance in FA Charity Shield, one in Intercontinental Cup, two in FIFA Club World Championship
  9. Appearances in First Division play-offs
  10. Barry Hugman's Footballers
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240608000000/http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/9919
  11. "Denis Irwin: Overview"
    https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/8870/denis-irwin
  12. "Denis Irwin: Overview"
    https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/1810/denis-irwin/overview
  13. "Denis Irwin"
    https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/denis-irwin
  14. soccer-ireland.com
    http://www.soccer-ireland.com/footbal-miscellany/decorated-footballers.htm
  15. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/may/08/sir-alex-ferguson-best-worst-signings
  16. wolves.co.uk
    https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/features/20200706-irwin-2003-play-off-final-winners-are-part-of-history/
  17. Balls.ie
    https://www.balls.ie/football/1978-denis-irwin-chess-fact-manchester-united-ireland-289476
  18. Irish Times, 9 July 2008
  19. "TRANSFER TALES: DENIS IRWIN"
    https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/transfer-tales-denis-irwin-signing-from-oldham-athletic
  20. "Manchester United Results 1991-1992, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup, European"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110515043036/http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1991-1992.html
  21. Manchester Evening News
    https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-need-new-denis-9177768
  22. Fifty Cup Finals: My Life in Football
    https://books.google.com/books?id=BthVDwAAQBAJ&q=manchester+united+2-1+southampton+%22denis+irwin%22+1995&pg=PT116
  23. Irish Times
    https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/irwin-s-affair-turns-sour-1.1259618
  24. "Charlton hold Man Utd"
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1978531.stm
  25. BBC Sport
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2195416.stm
  26. BBC Sport
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2342289.stm
  27. BBC Sport
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/3173965.stm
  28. soccer-ireland.com
    http://www.soccer-ireland.com/manchester-united/denis-irwin.htm
  29. "World Cup Connections: Denis Irwin"
    https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2018/june/12062018-world-cup-connections-denis-irwin/
  30. "Who is the Premier League's best left-back?"
    https://www.premierleague.com/news/1251205
  31. "Match of the Day Top 10 podcast: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer & Micah Richards rank Premier League full-backs"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58913282
  32. "The best defenders of the 90s"
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-best-defenders-of-the-90s
  33. FourFourTwo
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-best-full-backs-of-all-time
  34. "Denis Irwin should be in the Premier League's Hall of Fame shortlist"
    https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-legend-denis-irwin-a-glaring-omission-in-premier-league-hall-of-fame-shortlist
  35. "Manchester United: Top 15 Red Devils Defenders of All Time"
    https://bleacherreport.com/articles/944801-manchester-united-top-15-reds-defenders-of-all-time
  36. "10 Republic of Ireland Players With the Most Appearances in Premier League History"
    https://www.90min.com/posts/6266922-10-republic-of-ireland-players-with-the-most-appearances-in-premier-league-history
  37. FourFourTwo
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-premier-league-players-ever/3
  38. "FFT meets Denis Irwin: "Nothing can top the 1999 Manchester United team – but our '94 side was such a joy to play in""
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fft-meets-denis-irwin-nothing-can-top-1999-but-our-94-side-was-such-a-joy-to-play-in
  39. "Denis Irwin Man Utd Legends Profile"
    https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/denis-irwin
  40. "Chess master Denis Irwin reveals how he destroyed Eric Cantona at Manchester United"
    https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/chess-master-denis-irwin-reveals-how-he-destroyed-eric-cantona-at-manchester-united
  41. "MUTV – – Presenters Profiles Manchester United Official Web Site"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170903214207/http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B1A602F87-542E-49B4-9DE3-8B8D245F7FB2%7D&section=presenterProfile&bioid=92631
  42. Irish Independent
    http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/rte-hopes-ossie-and-squad-will-spur-fans-to-back-home-team-2203365.html
  43. The Irish Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121021053654/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0602/1224271676683.html
  44. English National Football Archive
    https://www.enfa.co.uk/
  45. worldfootball.net
    https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe48914/denis-irwin/international-matches/
  46. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/players/denis-irwin-303/
  47. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-usa-29-april-1992-243521/
  48. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-belgium-29-october-1997-264527/
  49. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-croatia-06-september-1998-265737/
  50. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-paraguay-10-february-1999-266341/
  51. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/nottingham-forest-v-oldham-athletic-29-april-1990-32121/
  52. "Denis Irwin: Overview"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20250502155535/https://www.premierleague.com/players/315/Denis-Irwin/overview
  53. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fa-cup-final-cantonas-double-take-rampant-united-realise-the-dream-after-chelsea-pay-the-1436057.html
  54. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-liverpool-11-may-1996-217210/
  55. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/limpars-three-steps-to-heaven-1620671.html
  56. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-nottingham-forest-12-april-1992-32443/
  57. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-sheffield-wednesday-21-april-1991-32279/
  58. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-coca-cola-cup-final-saunders-destroys-uniteds-dream-aston-villas-master-plan-puts-paid-to-1432264.html
  59. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/liverpool-v-manchester-united-18-august-1990-285946/
  60. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/arsenal-v-manchester-united-07-august-1993-285945/
  61. 11v11.com
    https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-newcastle-united-11-august-1996-285943/
  62. The Irish Times
    https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/charity-remains-at-home-1.93968
  63. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/353842.stm
  64. "1990/91: United put England back on the map"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100503063443/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1990/intro.html
  65. "Man. United 1–0 Crvena zvezda: Line-ups"
    https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/match/4721--man-united-vs-crvena-zvezda/lineups/
  66. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/543368.stm
  67. BBC Sport
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  68. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes
  69. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes
  70. The 1999–2000 Official PFA Footballers Factfile
  71. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/apr/28/newsstory.premierleague200203
  72. Give Me Football
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081021032411/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1997-2007
  73. "National Football Museum Hall of Fame"
    https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/denis-irwin/
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