Martin Murray is a retired Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 Association football player and manager.

Biography

Murray was a midfielder who won the FAI Cup

FAI Cup

The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

 as a 16 year old when his Home Farm F.C.

Home Farm F.C.

Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...

 side shocked the Irish footballing fraternity by beating Shelbourne in the 1975 Final. Everton F.C.

Everton F.C.

Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...

 saw his potential and soon took him to Goodison Park

Goodison Park

Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...

. His dream move turned sour as injuries and illness took their toll on Murray and in 5 years at the club, he never made a first team appearance.

He returned to Home Farm and then on to Drogheda United

Drogheda United

Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....

 where he inspired Drogheda to runners-up in the 1982/83 Premier Division. His performances were noted by his fellow professionals and he was voted PFAI Player of the Year for that season.http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ierpoy.html He made the short move to Louth rivals Dundalk

Dundalk F.C.

Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...

 where he enjoyed more success, winning the League and Cup "Double" under Turlough O'Connor

Turlough O'Connor (footballer)

Turlough O'Connor was an Irish soccer player during the 1960s and 1970s. He is a member of the Bohemians' Hall of Fame.His two brothers Padraig O'Connor and Michael O'Connor also played for Athlone Town.-Playing career:...

 in 1988. He also had spells at St Patricks Athletic, Ashtown Villa and Bohemian

Bohemian F.C.

Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...

 (where he made 3 appearances in European competition, all coming in the 1995 Intertoto Cup) but his most successful spell post-Dundalk was at Crusaders

Crusaders F.C.

Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...

.

Murray spent 6 seasons at Crusaders where he won two League titles and became a firm favourite with the fans. His popularity at Seaview meant it was no surprise that Murray took his first steps in management at the club. However, financial restraints frustrated Murray and after a year in charge he resigned. He then took over as manager at Dundalk and won promotion to the Premier Division in his first season in charge in 2000/01. His second year in charge saw mixed fortunes as he led Dundalk back into Europe by winning the FAI Cup

FAI Cup

The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

 but Dundalk also suffered relegation back to the First Division.

After being hammered in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Cup

UEFA Cup

The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

 by FC Varteks of Croatia, Dundalk struggled to re-adapt to the lower division and it was no surprise when Murray resigned as manager in September 2002 after a defeat to Athlone Town.

Team

League of Ireland

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

: 1

• • Dundalk - 1987/88

FAI Cup

FAI Cup

The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

: 2

• • Home Farm - 1975
  • Dundalk - 1988

League of Ireland Cup: 1

• • Drogheda United - 1983/84

Irish League

IFA Premiership

The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...

: 2

• • Crusaders - 1994/95, 1996/97

Gold Cup

Gold Cup (Northern Ireland)

The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....

: 1

• • Crusaders - 1995/96

Individual

PFAI Player of the Year

PFAI Players' Player of the Year

The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland Players' Player of the Year award is given to the footballer in the top-flight of Irish football, the League of Ireland, whom is seen to have been the best player of the previous season.The...

: 1

• • Drogheda United - 1982/83

8 Irish Under-21 International Caps
League of Ireland Representative Team

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

Manager

FAI Cup

FAI Cup

The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

: 1

• • Dundalk - 2002

League of Ireland First Division: 1

• • Dundalk - 2000/01

[Leinster Senior Div 1a]
West Park Albion - 2002/03