Niall Quinn
Irish striker who played for Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland, and scored 21 goals for the Republic of Ireland.
Niall John Quinn (honorary MBE; born 6 October 1966) is an Irish former professional footballer, manager, businessman and sports television pundit. As a player, he was a striker who played top flight football for Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland, with spells in the Premier League for both City and the Black Cats. Quinn also received 92 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, scoring 21 times, which makes him Ireland's second highest goalscorer of all time. He also appeared with the Irish team at the UEFA European Football Championship of 1988 and two FIFA World Cups in 1990 and 2002.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Niall John Quinn
- Born
- 6 October 1966
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
- Height
- 1.93 m / 6 ft 4 in
- Position
- Striker
- Total caps
- 475
- Total goals
- 141
Lore & Background
Born in Perrystown, Quinn started playing association football for his local club Manortown United as a nine-year-old. Initially a goalkeeper, he did not play outfield until he was twelve. He later moved to Lourdes Celtic in Crumlin and played as a centre-back or midfielder. It was not until he represented Drimnagh Castle Secondary School in association football that he finally became a centre-forward.
The son of All-Ireland Minor winning Tipperary hurler Billy, Quinn also participated in Gaelic games, playing Gaelic football and hurling for local Perrystown club Robert Emmets. His ability saw him represent his county, playing for the Dublin GAA minors in both codes, and in July 1983 Quinn captained the Dublin Colleges Under-18 Gaelic football team on a tour of Australia. His sporting career came to a crossroads when, aged 16, he played in the 1983 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final, was offered a contract to play professional Australian rules football as well as receiving an offer from Arsenal to pursue a career in association football.
He later returned to play Gaelic football for County Kildare club Eadestown after his retirement, winning a junior C county title in 2008.
Reader's Guide
Quinn signed professional forms with English club Arsenal in 1983. He scored on his first-team debut against Liverpool. He collected a Football League Cup winner's medal in 1987. After Arsenal signed Alan Smith, Quinn struggled for game time and submitted a written transfer request.
He moved to Manchester City for £800,000 in March 1990, scoring on his debut. He spent six years at City, scoring 78 goals in 245 appearances. His most notable game for City was 20 April 1991 when he scored early on and saved a penalty after goalkeeper Tony Coton was sent off, as City beat Derby County 2–1. He also scored twice in a Manchester derby on 7 November 1993 but City lost 3–2.
A cruciate ligament injury in 1993–94 hampered his time at City. He joined Sunderland in August 1996 for a club record £1.3 million. He formed a prolific partnership with Kevin Phillips, scoring a combined 194 goals in all competitions from 1997–98 to 2002–03. He again played in goal for Sunderland in March 1999, scoring and keeping a clean sheet.
He is the first player to score at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, against Manchester City in 1997. His final appearance for Sunderland came on 19 October 2002 against West Ham United. In a league career lasting 17 years, he played 475 times in the Premier League and Football League, scoring 141 goals.
Did You Know?
- Manchester City supporters created the song 'Niall Quinn's Disco Pants' during a pre-season tour of Italy in 1992.
- Quinn scored a hat trick on his Irish under-17 debut against Northern Ireland in January 1985.
- He missed the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to a cruciate ligament injury.
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