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EspañolREPUBLIC OF IRELAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
The 'Republic of Ireland national football team' is the football team of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). It is a member of both UEFA and FIFA, and although they had been involved in international competition since the 1930s, the team did not qualify for any international tournaments until Euro 88 in Germany. That achievement was followed by reaching the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup. The Irish also reached the second round in the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.
History
Irish Free State
Between 1882 and 1924 Ireland was represented by a single national football team organised by the Belfast - based Irish Football Association. Then in 1920 Ireland was partitioned into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. In 1922, Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State, which in turn became the Republic of Ireland. Amid these political upheavals the Football Association of Ireland, emerged in Dublin in 1921 and began organising both its own league and its own national football team.
In 1923 the FAI was recognised by FIFA as the governing body of the Irish Free State [1] and at the 1924 Olympics, the Irish Free State national football team made their international debut. On May 28 at the Stade Olympique, they beat Bulgaria 1-0, with Paddy Duncan scoring the teams first ever goal. On June 14 1924, the Irish Free State made their home debut against the United States, who had embarked on a brief European tour after competing in the same Olympics. Ed Brookes scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 home win at Dalymount Park. [2].
The Irish Free State did not play their next game until March 21 1926. This was an away game against Italy which they lost 3-0. This was the first international to feature professional players. On February 25 1934 the Irish Free State made their World Cup debut, drawing 4-4 with Belgium at Dalymount Park in a qualifier. Paddy Moore scored all four of the Free State’s goals and became the first player ever to score four goals in a World Cup game.
Ireland
:''See comprehensive article: Ireland national football team (FAI)''
Between 1924 and 1936 the FAI only selected players from the Free State and called their team the ''Irish Free State''. However after 1936 the FAI referred to their team as ''Ireland'' and began to select players born in Northern Ireland. During this era there were, in effect, two ''Ireland'' teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland - based IFA and the Irish Free State - based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. This situation eventually led FIFA to intervene, after complaints from the FAI. [3]. FIFA subsequently restricted players' eligibility based on the political border and in 1953 ruled neither team could be referred to as ''Ireland'', decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated as the ''Republic of Ireland'' while the IFA team was to become Northern Ireland[4]. The FAI continued to refer to their team as ''Ireland'' until the game against Luxembourg on March 7 1954.
Stadium
Since the 1980s, most home matches have been played at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, the national rugby stadium owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). This ground is closed for redevelopment until 2009. The first football international played there was a friendly against Italy in 1971; a 5-0 victory over San Marino in a Euro 2008 qualifying match on 15 November 2006 was the last game there before the reconstruction. The all-seater capacity of Lansdowne Road prior to the renovation was 36,000, although higher attendances, using the standing only areas, were permitted for friendly matches. The all seater new stadium will increase capacity for competitive games to 50,000.
Prior to the 1980s, the Republic of Ireland played most home games at Dalymount Park, home of Bohemian FC, but progressively more games were played at Lansdowne following a safety review which reduced Dalymount's capacity and the last international match played there was against Morocco in 1990. The Republic of Ireland has also played home matches in Tolka Park (twice) and the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin as well in Cork venues Mardyke and Flower Lodge.
Croke Park
With the announcement of the rebuilding of Lansdowne Road, a new venue was required to stage Ireland's home internationals. The only stadium in Ireland capable of holding international football was Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association. To accommodate this, the GAA temporarily relaxed its rule governing the playing of foreign games on its property. Initially, four Euro 2008 qualifiers will be played at Croke Park during 2007.
| Date | Teams | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 24 March 2007 | v | 1 - 0 |
| 28 March 2007 | v | 1 - 0 |
| 13 October 2007 | v | - |
| 17 October 2007 | v | - |
History in major tournaments
:''See comprehensive article: Republic of Ireland national football team - record in major tournaments''
World Cup record
★ 1930 ''Did not enter''
★ 1934-1986 ''Did not qualify''
★ 1990 - 'Quarter-finals'
★ 1994 - Round of 16
★ 1998 - ''Did not qualify''
★ 2002 - Round of 16
★ 2006 - ''Did not qualify''
European Championships record
★ 1960-1984 - ''Did not qualify''
Kit number style
★ 1988 - Round 1
★ 1992-2004 - ''Did not qualify''
Notable Former Players
''see also ''
Current squad
This squad is for the two upcoming Euro 2008 Qualifiers against Slovakia and Czech Republic on 8 September, 2007 and 12 September, 2007 respectively.
;Goalkeepers
| Name | DOB | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shay Given | Newcastle | 80 (0) | v Russia, 27 March 1996 | |
| Nick Colgan | Barnsley | 9 (0) | v Denmark, 27 March 2002 | |
| Colin Doyle | Birmingham City | 1 (0) | v Ecuador, 23 May 2007 |
;Defenders
| Name | DOB | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Finnan | Liverpool | 47 (1) | v Greece, 26 April 2000 | |
| John O'Shea | Manchester United | 39 (1) | v Croatia, 15 August 2001 | |
| Richard Dunne | Manchester City | 36 (5) | v Greece, 26 April 2000 | |
| Stephen Kelly | Birmingham City | 6 (0) | v Czech Republic, 11 October 2006 | |
| Paul McShane | Sunderland | 5 (0) | v Czech Republic, 11 October 2006 | |
| Kevin Foley | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 (0) |
;Midfielders
| Name | DOB | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Kilbane | Wigan Athletic | 81 (7) | v Iceland, 6 September 1997 | |
| Lee Carsley | Everton | 34 (0) | v Romania, 11 October 1997 | |
| Andy Reid | Charlton Athletic | 23 (4) | v Canada, 18 November 2003 | |
| Aiden McGeady | Celtic | 11 (0) | v Jamaica, 2 June 2006 | |
| Jonathan Douglas | Leeds United | 7 (0) | v Poland, 28 April 2004 | |
| Stephen Hunt | Reading | 6 (0) | v San Marino, 7 February 2007 | |
| Stephen Ireland | Manchester City | 5 (3) | v Sweden, 1 March 2006 | |
| Darren Potter | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 (0) | v Ecuador, 23 May 2007 | |
| Darron Gibson | Manchester United | 1 (0) | v Denmark, 22 August 2007 |
;Strikers
| Name | DOB | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robbie Keane ''(captain)'' | Tottenham Hotspur | 73 (31) | v Czech Republic, 25 March 1998 | |
| Kevin Doyle | Reading | 10 (3) | v Sweden, 1 March 2006 | |
| Shane Long | Reading | 5 (3) | v San Marino, 7 February 2007 | |
| Daryl Murphy | Sunderland | 4 (0) | v Ecuador, 23 May 2007 | |
| Andy Keogh | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 (0) | v Ecuador, 23 May 2007 |
Fixtures
'Forthcoming fixtures'
| Date | City | Opponent | Type of game |
| September 12, 2007 | Prague | Euro 2008 qualifier | |
| October 13, 2007 | Dublin | Euro 2008 qualifier | |
| October 17, 2007 | Dublin | Euro 2008 qualifier | |
| November 17, 2007 | Cardiff | Euro 2008 qualifier |
Key historical games
' 0–2 Ireland '
September 21, 1949. Goodison Park; Friendly;
England's first defeat at home to a non-Home Nation side
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 2 '
May 11, 1971:Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier;
Republic of Ireland's first competitive game at Lansdowne Road
' Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 '
October 14, 1987: Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier;
Enabled qualification to first ever major tournament (Euro 88) when on November 11, 1987, Bulgaria lost their last home qualifying game to Scotland 0-1.
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 '
June 12, 1988: Neckarstadion, Stuttgart; European Championship first round
Upset victory in Ireland's first ever match in a major tournament
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 '
June 11, 1990: Stadio Sant'Elia, Cagliari; World Cup first round
Ireland's first ever match in a World Cup Finals tournament
' Republic of Ireland 0 - 0 ; 5 - 4 penalties'
June 25, 1990:Stadio Luigi FerrarisGenoa; World Cup second round;
David O'Leary's famous penalty brought Ireland into last eight
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 '
June 18, 1994: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford; World Cup first round;
Unexpected victory over the side who later lost the final on penalties, it was also Ireland's first World Cup win
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 '
February 15, 1995: Lansdowne Road; Friendly;
Stadium rioting by English hooligans causes match to be abandoned.
' Republic of Ireland 5 - 0 '
November 15, 2006: Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier;
The last Ireland match at Lansdowne Road before redevelopment.
' Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 '
March 24, 2007: Croke Park; European Championship qualifier;
Ireland play in Croke Park in a competitive fixture for the first time.
Managers
★ ''Between 1921 and 1969 a committee of selectors chose the team. However on occasions a coach and / or team manager was appointed. Mick Meagan was the first manager to actually select the team.''
★ Val Harris: 193x ★ Bill Lacey:193x ★ Doug Livingstone: 1951-1953 ★ Alex Stevenson: 1953-1955 ★ Johnny Carey: 1955-1967 ★ Noel Cantwell: 1967 ★ Charlie Hurley: 1967-69 ★ Mick Meagan: 1969-1971 ★ Liam Tuohy: 1971-1973 | ★ Seán Thomas: 1973 ★ Johnny Giles: 1973-1980 ★ Alan Kelly Snr: 1980 ★ Eoin Hand: 1980-1985 ★ Jack Charlton: 1986-1995 ★ Mick McCarthy: 1996-2002 ★ Don Givens: 2002 ★ Brian Kerr: 2003-2005 ★ Steve Staunton: 2006- present |
★ ''see also ''
Republic of Ireland players with 50 or more caps
As of 2 June, 2007, the players with the most caps for the Republic of Ireland are:
| # | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Staunton | 1989 - 2002 | 102 | 7 |
| 2 | Niall Quinn | 1986 - 2002 | 91 | 21 |
| 3 | Tony Cascarino | 1986 - 2000 | 88 | 19 |
| 4 | Paul McGrath | 1985 - 1997 | 83 | 8 |
| 5 | Kevin Kilbane | 1997 - present | 81 | 7 |
| 6= | Packie Bonner | 1981 - 1996 | 80 | 0 |
| 6= | Shay Given | 1996 - present | 80 | 0 |
| 8= | Ray Houghton | 1986 - 1998 | 73 | 6 |
| 8= | Robbie Keane | 1998 - present | 73 | 31 |
| 10= | Kenny Cunningham | 1996 - 2005 | 72 | 0 |
| 10= | Liam Brady | 1975 - 1990 | 72 | 9 |
| 12= | Kevin Moran | 1980 - 1994 | 71 | 6 |
| 12= | Frank Stapleton | 1977 - 1990 | 71 | 20 |
| 14 | Andy Townsend | 1989 - 1997 | 70 | 7 |
| 15 | John Aldridge | 1986 - 1997 | 69 | 19 |
| 16 | David O'Leary | 1977 - 1993 | 68 | 1 |
| 17 | Roy Keane | 1991 - 2005 | 67 | 9 |
| 18 | Damien Duff | 1998 - present | 66 | 7 |
| 19 | Ian Harte | 1996 - present | 64 | 11 |
| 20 | Gary Breen | 1996 - 2006 | 63 | 6 |
| 21 | Johnny Giles | 1960 - 1979 | 59 | 5 |
| 22 | Mick McCarthy | 1984 - 1992 | 57 | 2 |
| 23= | Don Givens | 1969 - 1982 | 56 | 19 |
| 23= | Denis Irwin | 1991 - 2000 | 56 | 4 |
| 25= | Chris Hughton | 1980 - 1992 | 53 | 1 |
| 25= | Ronnie Whelan | 1981 - 1995 | 53 | 3 |
| 27= | Gary Kelly | 1994 - 2002 | 52 | 2 |
| 27= | Mick Martin | 1972 - 1983 | 52 | 4 |
| 27= | Jason McAteer | 1994 - 2004 | 52 | 3 |
| 30 | Paddy Mulligan | 1969 - 1980 | 50 | 1 |
Record Goal scorers
| Rank | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ''Robbie Keane'' | 31 |
| 2 | Niall Quinn | 21 |
| 3 | Frank Stapleton | 20 |
| 4 | Don Givens | 19 |
| Tony Cascarino | 19 | |
| John Aldridge | 19 | |
| 7 | Noel Cantwell | 14 |
| 8 | Gerry Daly | 13 |
| 9 | Jimmy Dunne | 12 |
| 10 | ''Ian Harte'' | 11 |
See here for top goal scorers per country.
Trivia
★ Gary Kelly is the uncle of Ian Harte. Both players featured in the same squad for The Republic of Ireland's 2002 World Cup campaign.
★ The Republic of Ireland and Wales have played each other at five different Dublin venues ; Croke Park, Lansdowne Road, Tolka Park, Dalymount Park and the Royal Dublin Society showgrounds.
★ In the past 40 years, The Republic of Ireland have only four away wins against countries who previously qualified for a major tournament; Scotland in 1987, Turkey in 1991,Northern Ireland in 1994 and Denmark in 2007
★ The Republic of Ireland's longest competitive winning streak achieved in 1989 during the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign is five games. The defeated opponents on that occasion were Spain, Northern Ireland, Hungary and Malta twice. Today's team is presently on a competitive winning streak of four games.
★ In the 1990 FIFA World Cup The Republic of Ireland Team had an audience with Pope John Paul II , and were the only team to do so.
See also
★ Republic of Ireland B national football team
★ Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
★ Republic of Ireland national football team - results (see Category at bottom)
References
1. Football Asssociation of Ireland: 75 years, , Peter, Byrne, Sportsworld, , ISBN 1-900110-06-7
2. Contemporary records, such as the FAI annual report, regarded the 1924 games as full internationals, despite featuring amateur teams. After the 1960s these games were reclassified as amateur internationals. However in June 1999 FIFA declared that early Olympic internationals could be considered as full internationals
3. Ryan, op. cit. pg 59.
4. Byrne, op. cit., pg 68
External links
★ Rep. of Ireland national team 1926-2000(with line-up)
★ From RSSSF:
★
★ Ireland - International Results
★
★ Ireland - Record International Players covers Appearances and Goalscoring
★
★ IRISH NATIONAL TEAM COACHES (since 1969) (Only covers matches up to June 1999)
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