Alan McLoughlin

Football player infobox


playername = Alan McLoughlin
fullname = Alan Francis McLoughlin
height = height|ft=5|in=8
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|04|20|df=y
cityofbirth = Manchester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1985–1986
1986–1990
1987–1988
1990–1992
1991
1992–1999
1999–2001
2001–2002
2002–2003
clubs = Manchester United
Swindon Town
→ Torquay United (loan)
Southampton
→ Aston Villa (loan)
Portsmouth
Wigan Athletic
Rochdale
Forest Green Rovers
caps(goals) = 000 0(0)
106 (19)
024 0(4)
024 0(1)
000 0(0)
309 (54)
022 0(1)
018 0(1)
012 0(0)
nationalyears = 1990–1999
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 042 0(2)
pcupdate = 11/11/2006
ntupdate = 11/11/2006

Alan Francis McLoughlin (b. 20 April 1967, Manchester, England) is a former Irish coach, and former professional footballer, playing as a midfielder.

Career

McLoughlin began his career as a trainee at Manchester United, before joining Swindon Town in August 1986. However, his footballing style didn't fit with then manager Lou Macari's 'long ball' style, and just seven months and nine appearances later, he moved to Torquay United on loan. His Swindon career looked to be over when he returned to Torquay at the start of the following season for another loan spell, but following suspensions to other players McLoughlin was given another chance in the first team and soon established himself as a regular for Swindon.

It was under Macari's successor as manager, Ossie Ardiles, that McLoughlin really blossomed. He was an ever present in Ardiles' first season, scoring sixteen goals. He capped off a fine season by scoring the winning goal in the Play-Off final at Wembley Stadium against Sunderland. McLoughlin's performances won him international recognition, and he was named in the Ireland squad for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He made two appearances in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the matches with England and Egypt.

However, before the next season began, Swindon were demoted by the Football League for making irregular payments to players. With the club in financial trouble, players had to be sold, and McLoughlin left for Southampton in December 1990, for a club record £1 million. However he failed to find the same level of form that he had at Swindon, and he was loaned first to Aston Villa and then to Portsmouth. The latter were impressed enough by McLoughlin to make a bid for him, and so in February 1992 he moved to Fratton Park for £400,000 after making only 29 appearances for the Saints.

It was at Portsmouth that he eventually became club captain. While at the club, McLoughlin represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 World Cup. McLoughlin scored a goal against the Northern Ireland football team at Windsor Park in a 1993 World Cup qualifer. This happened when the ROI was down 1-0 due to a goal scored by Jimmy Quinn of Northern Ireland. McLouglin's goal qualified theRepublic of Ireland team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States.

In December 1999 he was sold to Wigan Athletic for £260,000. However injuries prevented him from making a major impact and he moved on a free transfer to Rochdale F.C. in December 2001, having made only 12 starts (plus 10 as a sub) for Wigan, scoring one goal. McLoughlin played his part in Rochdale reaching the play-offs in 2001-02 and scored a twice-taken penalty for them on his last League appearance.

With his career winding down McLoughlin joined Forest Green as a player-coach for the 2002-03 season. At the end of the season McLoughlin retired from playing to concentrate on coaching with the club. He was capped 42 times for the Republic of Ireland.

He is currently a co-commentator on Portsmouth-based radio station [http://www.quayradio.com The Quay]

External links

* [http://soccerscene.ie/sssenior/player.php?id=288 Republic of Ireland profile]