Paul McGrath (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Paul McGrath


height = height|ft=6|in=2
weight =
nickname = God; the Black Pearl of Inchicore
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1959|12|4
cityofbirth = Ealing
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs = Pearse Rovers
Dalkey United
years = 1979–1982
1982–1989
1989–1996
1996–1997
1997
1997–1998
clubs = St Patrick's Athletic
Manchester United
Aston Villa
Derby County
→Sheffield United (loan)
Sheffield United
caps(goals) = 00? 0(?)
163 (12)
252 0(9)
024 0(0)
007 0(0)
005 0(0)
nationalyears = 1985–1997
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 083 0(8)
manageryears =
managerclubs =

Paul McGrath (born 4 December 1959 in Ealing, London, England) is a former football defender, a long-time member of the Republic of Ireland national team. He was one of the first Irish celebrities of mixed-race background.

Childhood

McGrath is the son of an Irish mother and a Nigerian father. According to Donald McRae, McGrath's father disappeared soon after his conception. His mother, Betty McGrath, had given Paul up for adoption when he was four weeks old. Terrified that her father would find out she had become pregnant in an interracial relationship, McGrath's mother travelled in secret to London to have her child, who was considered illegitimate.

Although McGrath's mother would eventually track him down again, Paul Nwobilo, as he was then known, was brought up in a number of orphanages in Dublin . [http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1929825,00.html 'I remember the blood pouring and the nanny screaming'] ]

Career

Club

McGrath began as a schoolboy with Pearse Rovers and played junior football for Dalkey United. While at the latter, he attracted the attention of the Manchester United scout Billy Behan. McGrath worked briefly as an apprentice sheet metal worker and a security guard in Dublin before becoming a full time professional with Football League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic in 1981. He made his debut in a League Cup clash with Shamrock Rovers in August at Richmond Park. He ultimately excelled at "St Pat's", earning the nickname "The Black Pearl of Inchicore" and receiving the PFAI Player of the Year Award in his first and only season.

McGrath moved to Manchester United, then managed by Ron Atkinson, in 1982. His only honour there was the 1985 FA Cup, where United defeated Everton 1–0. McGrath was named "Man of the Match" in the game, the game is remembered for the sending off of Kevin Moran - the first person to be sent off in an FA Cup Final - and where Norman Whiteside scored the winner.

In his early years at Manchester United, he was frequently used as a midfielder, changing to defender still at Old Trafford. McGrath relied mainly on pace, strength and his ability to read the game. Ben Dyson quoted: 'Defending is known as the devil of football, McGrath makes it seem like a work of art'. Often regarded as one of the best defenders in the game, several knee injuries stopped McGrath from becoming a regular under new United manager Alex Ferguson. McGrath and Ferguson also faced a turbulent relationship, as McGrath's alcohol addiction and physical problems led to United offering him a retirement package of £100,000 with a testimonial. McGrath refused, and instead Ferguson began to inform clubs of his availability. Although McGrath's former manager Atkinson made an offer from Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa F.C.'s offer was accepted and McGrath signed in 1989.

While at Villa, McGrath played some of the best football of his life despite recurrent problems in his knees. Villa came close to winning the title in McGrath's first season, finishing second to Liverpool F.C.. The next season saw Villa fighting relegation for much of the season, a shadow of the side the previous season under Graham Taylor, who had left to take control of England. Atkinson then took over and Villa again ended as runner-up, to McGrath's former employer Manchester United. McGrath won the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the season, and would also win his first Villa trophy in 1994, defeating Manchester United in the League Cup final.

McGrath left Aston Villa in 1996, considered one of the greatest players in the side's history and is nicknamed "God" by their fans, who also remember his services by singing a terrace chant on matchdays to the tune of "Kumbayah". He retired from the game in 1998, after very brief spells with Derby County and Sheffield United.

For many years he suffered from alcoholism, and missed occasional matches as a result. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6084262.stm McGrath back from the brink] ] In an interview with FourFourTwo, McGrath admitted to playing football while still under the influence of alcohol. His recurrent knee problems resulted in him undergoing a total of eight operations during his career. McGrath's autobiography, "Back from the Brink", co-written with journalist Vincent Hogan, was the most successful Irish sports book ever. Upon retiring, McGrath settled in Monageer, County Wexford.

International

McGrath won his first Republic of Ireland cap against Italy in 1985, last playing 12 years later, against Wales. During that time, he was often regarded as the single most influential player Ireland had in the national team's glory days. He was capped 83 times, scoring 8 goals.

McGrath was a major part of the breakthrough of Ireland's national team of the late 1980s and early 1990s. During the early part of Jack Charlton's era, McGrath played in the centre of midfield due to the wealth of talent Ireland had in defence. The national side's victory over England in Euro 1988 was regarded by some as the greatest upset of the tournament.

In 1990, Ireland qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in Italy and battled hard to make it to the second round, with McGrath ever present in the lineups (4 matches, 360 minutes played). He captained the team four times in 1992 after the retirement of Mick McCarthy, [cite book|title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years|first=Peter|last=Byrne|date=1996|location=Dublin|publisher=Sportsworld|id = ISBN 1-900110-06-7|pages=229] and ignored a painful shoulder virus to play in the 1994 World Cup.

Ireland came up against favorites Italy in the first match and got a dream start thanks to Ray Houghton’s early goal (1-0 win). In a perfect example of his commitment to the game, as Ireland were leading and Italy were besieging the opposing goal, McGrath was marking Roberto Baggio who had the ball at his feet. McGrath slid across Baggio's front and tackled the ball straight off his toes, knocking it back to the feet of an Italian player, who immediately chipped the ball into the air, to try and set Baggio up for a half-volley. As the ball was dropping, McGrath got off the ground, leapt up and headed the ball away, beating Baggio in the air. McGrath landed on all fours, facing out from the goal. The ball landed on the half-volley right in front of an opponent who shot for goal, with McGrath taking the shot straight in the face and immediately beginning to chase the ball. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2348432/McGrath-loved-by-all-but-himself.html McGrath loved by all but himself] ] McGrath single-handedly kept the star-studded Italian forward line at bay for the rest of the match, in what was arguably his best international performance, and would eventually receive votes in the "Team Of The World Cup" poll.

Trivia

*In 1997, on the popular Irish television program The Late Late Show, McGrath was named by former Republic player and now controversial journalist Eamon Dunphy as one of Ireland's three best ever footballers. The other two named were Johnny Giles and Roy Keane.

ee also

*List of people on stamps of Ireland

References

External links

*soccerbase|5119|Paul McGrath
* [http://www.astonvillayears.com/years/1990-1994starplayers.htm Aston Villa archives profile]
* [http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1929825,00.html The Guardian interview]