Denis Irwin

''For the double bassist, see Dennis Irwin

Denis Joseph Irwin (born 31 October 1965 in Cork, Ireland) is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that dominated the Premiership throughout the 1990s.

Early life

Denis Irwin grew up in Cork and was educated at 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 Niall Quinn.

Club career

Irwin began his career with Leeds United, 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 Football League Cup in 1990 before he was transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £625,000.

In 12 years at Old Trafford, he made 296 Premier League appearances and won seven Premier League title medals, as well as three FA Cup winners medals (1994, 1996 and 1999), a League Cup winner's medal and Champions League and Cup Winners' Cup honours. He was comfortable in either of the full back positions and an expert at free kicks and penalties, and even in his mid thirties he was United's first choice left-back in preference to the much younger Phil Neville.

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 (12 May 2002), which ended in a 0-0 draw. For his final game as a Manchester United player, Alex Ferguson awarded him the captain's armband.

Irwin joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2002, coincidentally 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.

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. Wolves were relegated at the end of the 2003-04 season, and the 38-year-old Irwin then announced his retirement.

Career after retirement

Since 2004, Denis Irwin has been back at Old Trafford working as a presenter at MUTV.

International career

Irwin was capped 56 times for the Republic of Ireland between 1990 and 1999, and scored 4 goals. He played for his country at the 1994 World Cup. His international career ended when manager Mick McCarthy dropped him from the starting eleven and controversially asked one of the most accomplished and respected professionals in the game's history to "Go out and prove himself".

Honours

Manchester United

• Premier League
• Winner (7): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1997, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
• Runner Up (2): 1994–95, 1997–98
• FA Cup
• Winner (3): 1994, 1996, 1999
• Runner Up (1): 1995
• League Cup
• Winner (1): 1992
• Runner Up (1): 1994
• UEFA Champions League
• Winner (1): 1999
• Cup Winners' Cup
• Winner (1): 1991
• European Super Cup
• Winner (1): 1991
• Runner-up (1): 1999
• Intercontinental Cup
• Winner (1): 1999

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Division One Play-off
• Winner (1): 2003

Career statistics

All-Time Club Performance

Country	Club	Season	Domestic League		Domestic Cups		International		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	Leeds United	1983–86	72	1	8	0	2	0	82	1
	Oldham Athletic	1986–90	167	4	32	3	5	0	204	7
	Manchester United	1990–02	368	22	74	7	87	4	529	33
	Wolves	2002–04	75	2	7	0	3	0	85	2
Career Totals			682	29	121	10	97	4	900	43

References

External links

• Biography at ManUtd.com