Denis Irwin
Irish full-back who won 19 trophies with Manchester United, including seven Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
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.
- Role
- Defender (Left-Back / Right-Back)
- Affiliation
- Manchester United
- First Season
- 1990–91
- Major Honours
- 7 Premier League, 2 FA Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 Cup Winners' Cup
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Irwin was born and raised in Cork, County Cork, and was educated at Togher Boys' National School and Coláiste Chríost Rí. As a schoolboy, he excelled at both Gaelic football and hurling, and played at Croke Park more than once, on one occasion marking future teammate Niall Quinn. He began his career with Leeds United in 1983, making 72 appearances in the Second Division, before moving on to Oldham Athletic on a free transfer in 1986. He helped Oldham reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the League Cup in 1990 before he was transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £650,000. In 12 years at Old Trafford, he made 296 Premier League appearances and won seven Premier League title medals, as well as two FA Cup winner's medals (1994 and 1996), a League Cup winner's medal, and UEFA Champions League and European Cup Winners' Cup honours. He scored a total of 22 league goals for Manchester United, including several penalties. The first of these came on 7 September 1991 in a 3–0 home win over Norwich City in the First Division. Notable goals came on 26 December 1991, when he scored twice in a 6–3 away league win over his old club Oldham Athletic, and his late winner against Southampton in May 1995 which kept the league title race open until the final match. Irwin was awarded a testimonial match for Manchester United – played on 16 August 2000 against Manchester City at Old Trafford. Irwin made his last appearance for Manchester United at Old Trafford against Charlton Athletic on the final day of the 2001–02 Premier League season (11 May 2002), which ended in a 0–0 draw. For his final appearance as a Manchester United player, Alex Ferguson awarded him the captain's armband. Irwin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer after the 2001–02 season, coincidentally joining the Black Country club at the same time as his former Manchester United teammate Paul Ince made the move to the West Midlands club, having previously been at Middlesbrough. Irwin scored twice in his first season at Wolves, against Burnley and Grimsby. After Wolves won promotion to the Premier League in 2003, Irwin was applauded by the Manchester United supporters when he walked onto the pitch at Old Trafford for an early season league match which United won 1–0. Wolves were relegated at the end of the 2003–04 season, and the 38-year-old Irwin then announced his retirement. Irwi
In Their Own Story
On 16 August 2000, Irwin received a testimonial match against local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford. Although intended as a friendly, the match turned physical; Irwin was forced off injured in the 37th minute following a bad challenge by City striker George Weah. His final appearance for United came on 11 May 2002, the last day of the 2001–02 season, in a 0–0 draw against Charlton Athletic. In a fitting tribute to his service, Alex Ferguson awarded him the captain's armband for this match. Irwin then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer, coinciding with former teammate Paul Ince arriving at the same club. He scored twice in his first season at Wolves before helping them reach the Premier League in 2003, earning applause from United supporters during an early-season away match.
Reader's Guide
Considered by pundits to be one of the best full-backs of his generation and in Premier League history, Irwin was comfortable with both feet, which allowed him to play either as a left-back or as a right-back. A good crosser of the ball, in 2021, Gary Lineker praised Irwin for his intelligence and passing ability. He was also known for his work-rate and consistency. Despite being a defender known for his strong tackling ability, he was also known for his eye for goal, courtesy of his abilities at free kicks and penalties; as such he was capable of assisting his team both defensively and offensively.
Did You Know?
- Irwin scored twice against his former club Oldham Athletic on 26 December 1991 (Boxing Day), not Christmas Day.
- Irwin was awarded the captain's armband by Alex Ferguson for his final Manchester United appearance on 11 May 2002.
- Irwin is the joint most successful Irish footballer in history, a record he shares with Ronnie Whelan and Roy Keane.
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