I think players tend to get anxious if they've not really done things properly - like eating, resting or training. If you're fully prepared you've got nothing to worry about - it's just a game of football.
Roy Keane
While football (soccer) isn't Ireland's most popular sport, with native sports like Gaelic football (GAA), hurling, rugby, golf, boxing, and horse racing all vying for people's attention, since people love arguing about who the best footballers are online, we've kept this top 11 in alphabetical order (by first name). We'll leave it up to you to choose the best among them.
Damien Duff – Chelsea and Ireland Winger
Damien Duff is a winger from Ballyboden whose playing career included several Premier League sides, as well as time spent playing in Australia and Ireland.
He won the League Cup with Blackburn Rovers in 2001-02, but he was arguably most successful during his time with Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles and the League Cup.
With Ireland, he made a significant impact, earning an impressive 100 caps and scoring 8 goals, a testament to his skill and dedication to the national team.
He ended his playing career with Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, South Dublin.
He started a career in management at the club, managing the U15 and U17 sides before moving to Shelbourne U17s. He's been managing Shelbourne since 2021.
professional appearances.
Damien Duff wasn’t just another winger, he was part of the team that reshaped Chelsea’s place in English football. Playing under José Mourinho, he helped deliver back-to-back Premier League titles, changing the way the club was viewed both in England and across Europe. His tireless runs, ability to stretch defences, and knack for turning matches made him one of the most respected Irish players of his era.
Frank Stapleton – Arsenal and Manchester United Forward
Frank Stapleton was a versatile forward from Dublin, showcased his skills at numerous clubs.
Clubs played for include Arsenal, Manchester United, Ajax, Anderlecht, Derby County, Le Havre, Blackburn Rovers, Aldershot, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
While many of his stints at certain clubs resulted in only a handful of appearances (his loan spell at Anderlecht never led to an appearance), he's best remembered for playing with Arsenal and Manchester United, where he left an indelible mark on both clubs.
He won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 1978-79 and twice with Manchester United in 1982-83 and 1984-85, contributing to the clubs' rich histories.
Johnny Giles – Leeds United Midfield Maestro
Johnny Giles is a midfielder from Dublin who played for Manchester United, Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion, Philadelphia Fury, and Shamrock Rovers.
His impact on the game was undeniable. He was part of the Manchester United squad that won the FA Cup during the 1962-62 season, a testament to his skill and influence on the field.
With Leeds United, he won the First Division in 1968-69 and 1973-74, the FA Cup in 1971-72, and the League Cup in 1967-68. He managed Republic of Ireland, West Bromwich Albion, and Shamrock Rovers as a player-manager.
He also managed the Vancouver Whitecaps and returned to West Bromwich Albion as just a manager.
Kevin Moran – Dual Gaelic and Football Star
Kevin Moran is a defender from Dublin who played both association football and Gaelic football. He played for Manchester United and won two FA Cups with them in the 1982-83 and 1984-85 seasons. He also played for Sporting Gijón in Spain and Blackburn Rovers and made a single appearance for Bohemians. He made 71 appearances for the Republic of Ireland and scored 6 goals. In Gaelic Football, he won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1976 and 1977 with Dublin.
The fact that Kevin didn't just play football makes him a unique talent. A GAA star at Croke Park, he won back-to-back All-Ireland titles with Dublin before lifting the FA Cup at Wembley. Few athletes can boast to have represented county and national team at the top levels of two different sports.
Liam Brady – Serie A Pioneer for Irish Players
Born in Dublin, William Brady played attacking midfield for several clubs, including Arsenal, Juventus, Sampdoria, Internazionale (Inter Milan), Ascoli, and West Ham United.
He also was capped 72 times for the Republic of Ireland, scoring 9 goals. He missed Ireland's appearance at EURO 88 because of a suspension.
Although he'd retired from international football, following Ireland's qualification for the World Cup in 1990, he made himself available for the squad.
At the time, Jack Charlton, Ireland's manager, only selected players who'd been part of the qualifying process.
He won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 1978-79 and reached the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final the following season. He played for Juventus and was part of the squad that won Serie A in the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. After his playing career ended, he managed Celtic, Brighton & Hove Albion, and was assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland national side.
Liam Brady’s move to Italy in 1980 was groundbreaking. At a time when few Irish players ventured abroad, he thrived in Serie A, widely regarded as the toughest league in the world. His elegant passing and ability to control the tempo of a match earned him respect at Juventus, where he helped secure two Serie A titles. His success in Italy paved the way for future generations of Irish players to make moves to top European leagues.
Niall Quinn – A Striker Loved in Sunderland and Manchester
Niall Quinn is a striker from Dublin who spent his senior playing career with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Sunderland.
He won the League Cup with Arsenal in 1986-87 and helped Sunderland gain promotion to the Premier League in the 1998-99 season.
Though his only major trophy came with Arsenal, he appeared for Manchester City and Sunderland over 200 times each, becoming popular with fans from both clubs.
He made 92 appearances for Ireland, scoring 21 goals.
He played for Manchester City long before they became one of the richest clubs with some of the highest-paid players on the planet. See him here scoring goals for The Black Cats.
Paul McGrath – An Irish Defensive Rock
Paul McGrath is a centre-back who played for the Irish club St Patrick's Athletic and the English clubs Manchester United, Aston Villa, Derby Country, and Sheffield United. He made 83 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, scoring 8 goals. He played for Ireland when they qualified for UEFA Euro 1988, the country's first-ever international tournament. He also represented Ireland at the FIFA World Cup in 1990 and 1994. He won the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1984-85 and the League Cup twice with Aston Villa in 1993-94 and 1995-96.
Ray Houghton – Famous Euro 1988 Goal Scorer
Ray Houghton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but played for the Republic of Ireland through his father, who was born in Buncrana, Inishowen, County Donegal, Ulster. His senior club career began with West Ham United, though he only made one appearance. This led to a free transfer to Fulham, where he made over 100 appearances. He won the League Cup with Oxford United in 1985-86 and Aston Villa in 1993-94. However, most of his club success came with Liverpool. With Liverpool, he won the First Division twice, in 1987-88 and 1989-90, and the FA Cup in 1988-89 and 1991-91.
Houghton's defining moment was in Stuttgart during Euro 1988. He scored the goal that stunned England in the opening group match. He made football history aged 26 by nodding the ball over Peter Shilton, sending the Irish fans into raptures both in Germany and back home. For many Irish supporters, this fixture is a statement of national pride, and that particular goal is one of the most famous in Irish football.
Robbie Keane – Ireland’s Record Goalscorer
Robbie Keane is a striker from Tallaght. During his lengthy playing career, which spanned over two decades, he played for a plethora of clubs, including:
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Coventry City
- Inter Milan
- Leeds United
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Liverpool
- Celtic
- West Ham United
- LA Galaxy
- Aston Villa
- ATK
He's probably most famous for his time playing for Tottenham Hotspur.
He made over 200 appearances for the club across two spells, winning the League Cup during the first period with the London club.
With 126 goals in the Premier League, he's also the league's 18th-most successful goalscorer.
The only players still playing in the Premier League who could overtake him is Raheem Sterling.
For Ireland, he's the country's most-capped player and the highest goalscorer.
After his move to LA Galaxy in the MLS, he won the MLS Cup three times with the side (2011, 2012, and 2014).
He then went on to manage the Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv and now is the head coach of Ferencváros, a Hungarian club. It should be noted that Robbie Keane and Roy Keane are of no relation.
for Ireland, making him the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
Even into the MLS, Keane kept scoring.
Roy Keane – Manchester United Midfield General
Roy Keane is arguably the most famous Irish football player of all time.
The midfielder from Cork played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Celtic. He represented the Republic of Ireland 67 times, scoring 9 goals.
He was an integral part of Manchester United's hugely successful period in the 1990s and early 2000s.
While with the team, he won the Premier League seven times.
He won the FA Cup with Manchester United four times and the Champions League during the 1998-99 season.
He was captain of Manchester United from 1997 to 2001, though he spent most of the 1997-98 season injured. He was captain of Manchester United during their famous continental treble that included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles. He's probably also the most likely Irish player to be included in a list of the best players ever.
He was famously sent off in a Manchester derby (the match between Manchester United and Manchester City) for purposefully trying to injure Alfie Haaland. Keane admitted that the was premeditated. There had been an incident with Alfie Haaland (the father of current football superstar Erling Haaland) several years earlier, following the incident that left him injured for the 1997-98 season. Keane sought revenge for the previous incident and, during this match, seemingly got it. After Manchester United, Keane played for Celtic, where he won the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish League Cup in 2005-06.
With 146 international caps and 68 goals, Robbie Keane’s numbers speak for themselves. No Irish player has come close to matching his consistency in front of goal. Beyond the statistics, his leadership during qualifying campaigns for the Euro and World Cup tournaments inspired teammates and gave fans unforgettable nights at Lansdowne Road and later the Aviva Stadium. His record as Ireland’s all-time leading scorer remains one of the standout achievements in Irish football history.
Shay Given – Ireland’s Legendary Goalkeeper
Shay Given is a goalkeeper from Lifford. He played for Blackburn Rovers, Swindon Town, Sunderland, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, and Stoke. During a career spanning over twenty years, he made 489 club appearances and 134 appearances for his national team.
more than any other goalkeeper in national team history.
He spent many years at Newcastle United, reached the FA Cup final with them in 1997-98 and won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2006. Whilst at Manchester City, he was with the squad that won the FA Cup in 2010-11, but was firmly the second-choice goalkeeper, having been replaced by Joe Hart. Nevertheless, he still gets to keep the medal.
| Player | Position | Major Clubs | Caps (Goals) | Biggest Honour(s) | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damien Duff | Winger | Blackburn, Chelsea, Newcastle, Fulham | 100 (8) | 2× Premier League, League Cup (Chelsea) | Began coaching career with Shelbourne |
| Frank Stapleton | Forward | Arsenal, Manchester United, Ajax | 71 (20) | 3× FA Cup (Arsenal, Man United) | Played for 11 clubs across Europe |
| Johnny Giles | Midfielder | Man United, Leeds United, WBA | 59 (5) | 2× First Division, FA Cup (Leeds) | Later managed Ireland & Shamrock Rovers |
| Kevin Moran | Defender | Man United, Sporting Gijón, Blackburn | 71 (6) | 2× FA Cup (Man United) | Also won 2 All-Ireland GAA titles |
| Liam Brady | Midfielder | Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan | 72 (9) | 2× Serie A (Juventus), FA Cup (Arsenal) | Trailblazer for Irish players in Italy |
| Niall Quinn | Striker | Arsenal, Man City, Sunderland | 92 (21) | League Cup (Arsenal) | Popular with both Man City & Sunderland fans |
| Paul McGrath | Centre-back | Man United, Aston Villa | 83 (8) | FA Cup (Man United), 2× League Cup (Aston Villa) | Key figure at Euro 1988 & World Cups |
| Ray Houghton | Midfielder | Fulham, Liverpool, Aston Villa | 73 (6) | 2× First Division, 2× FA Cup (Liverpool) | Scored famous goal vs England at Euro 1988 |
| Robbie Keane | Striker | Tottenham, LA Galaxy, Leeds, Inter | 146 (68) | 3× MLS Cup (LA Galaxy), League Cup (Tottenham) | Ireland’s all-time top scorer & most caps |
| Roy Keane | Midfielder | Nottingham Forest, Man United, Celtic | 67 (9) | 7× Premier League, Champions League (1999) | Captain of Man United treble-winning side |
| Shay Given | Goalkeeper | Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa | 134 (0) | Intertoto Cup (Newcastle), FA Cup (Man City squad) | Ireland’s most-capped goalkeeper |
These 11 footballers are an outstanding example of how Ireland continually produces players for club and country football. From Johnny Giles and Liam Brady proving themselves in Italy and England to more modern examples like Robbie Keane leading out the national team at the Aviva Stadium, generations build on the one that came before it. Irish football has always found heroes, and there'll surely be more to come.
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