Packie Bonner
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph "Packie" Bonner (born 24 May 1960 in Burtonport
, County Donegal
, Ireland
) is an Irish
former football
goalkeeper for Celtic
and the Republic of Ireland
, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday. He is remembered for his famous penalty
save from Daniel Timofte
of Romania
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
in Italy during the knockout stage.
while he kept goal for Leicester City
in the FA Youth Cup
, signing for Celtic on 14 May 1978. He would be Jock Stein's
last signing for Celtic. He went on to play 642 times for Celtic, with 483 league appearances. In total with Celtic, he won four League Championship badges, three Scottish Cup
winners' medals and a League Cup
winners' medal. His last appearance for Celtic was winning the 1995 Scottish Cup final under Tommy Burns. After the Scottish Cup Final victory over Airdrie
, Bonner took on the role of player-coach and finally left the club in 1998 to work as a coach alongside former team mate Tommy Burns.
With 642 appearances, Bonner is the most prolific goalkeeper in Celtic history, and their fifth-most prolific player of all time.
on May 24, 1981. The game was played in Zawisza Stadium, Bydgoszcz. He conceded a goal in the opening 90 seconds of the match, scored by Andrzej Iwan
. A David O'Leary
own goal
in the 37th minute and a third Polish goal in the second half from Roman Ogaza
would make it a forgettable experience. For the remainder of the Eoin Hand
managerial era, Bolton Wanderers Jim McDonagh remained Ireland's first choice Goalkeeper. However, by the time of the appointment of Jack Charlton
in March 1986, Bonner was already claiming the number one position for the Republic.
Bonner played in all of Irelands games at Euro 88, including the famous 1-0 victory over England. Ireland scored early and dominated in the first half, missing several chances to put the game beyond England. However, in the second half, Bonner produced a number of outstanding saves to keep Ireland in the lead, most notably from Gary Linekar, and was named Man of the Match. In the second game, Ireland drew 1-1 with the Soviet Union
. Ireland narrowly missed out on a semi-final appearance, conceding a goal in the dying minutes of their final round 1 match against eventual champions, the Netherlands.
to slot in the Equalizer and send Ireland to round 2. Bonner's second memorable moment at Italia 90 occurred in Round 2. Ireland had drawn with Romania
and the knockout game went to a Penalty Shootout. With the shootout tied at 4-4 with one penalty each to go, Bonner made a simple save from a poorly taken penalty by Daniel Timofte
, setting up David O'Leary
to score the Winning Irish goal. In the quarter-final against Italy, Ireland lost 1-0 as Bonner saved a powerful shot from Roberto Donadoni
, but was knocked off balance enough to allow Salvatore Schillaci
to snatch the winning goal and send Ireland home. Bonner arrived home in Dublin to a hero's welcome the following day.
Bonner's penalty save has been remembered by FIFA as one of the great moments of that world cup. In an article entitled "Bonner's Moment in Time", Bonner states "It really wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that that one save changed my life forever, certainly in terms of recognition."
. Ireland seemed well on the way to qualification after 7 wins and 3 draws in the opening 10 games. With each side having only two games remaining, Ireland led the group on 18 points, ahead of Denmark on 16, with Spain in third place on 15 points. Ireland needed only a draw at Lansdowne Road against Spain in the second last game to guarantee qualification, while a win would virtually guarantee top position in the group. However, Ireland conceded three goals in a 15 minute spell in the first half, and despite a late consolation goal, Ireland now needed to beat Northern Ireland in the last game to guarantee a place in the finals. A draw would mean Ireland needed the Spain-Denmark game, happening simultaneously, to finish in a win for one of the two sides. Ireland drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland, but qualified ahead of Denmark by virtue of having scored more goals (they were level on goal difference), as Denmark lost 1-0 to Spain. Bonner's saves throughout the tournament were key to Ireland's goal-difference remaining on par with Denmark and ensuring eventual qualification.
In the Finals, Ireland beat Italy 1-0 in their opening match. The euphoria was compounded by the fact that Ireland had also beaten Germany and the Netherlands in warm-up games. However, from that point on, the tournament was a disappointment for Ireland and especially Bonner. A 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mexico and a 0-0 draw with Norway were just enough for Ireland to move into round two on the strength of their win over Italy. A 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands ended Ireland's tournament, and was a low point for Bonner. With Ireland already 1-0 down late in the first half, a long-distance effort from Wim Jonk
should have been an easy save. However, Bonner fumbled the shot and it dribbled into the net. Ireland never recovered and was eliminated from the tournament.
, who by the end of 2010 had achieved 109 caps. Bonner remains a cultural icon in Ireland for his role in some of the most memorable moments in Irish sporting history, including the win over England at Euro 88, the draws with England and the Netherlands at Italia 90, and of course, the penalty save that sent Ireland to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first, and to date, only time.
team manager
, Bonner was named as technical director of the Football Association of Ireland
(FAI). He previously held the role of the senior squad's goalkeeping coach in the organisation. In addition, he has worked as a football presenter with TV3.
His brother Denis played for Galway United F.C. and Finn Harps
. His son, Andrew Bonner, is also a footballer, although a striker not a keeper, and has played for the Republic of Ireland national youth team, and at club level he has so far only played in the lower leagues of Scotland.
: 1979
, 1981
, 1982
, 1986
, 1988
,
Scottish Cup: 1980
, 1988
, 1989
, 1995
Scottish League Cup
: 1983
Burtonport
Ailt an Chorráin or Ailt a' Chorráin is a Gaeltacht fishing village about 7 km northwest of Dungloe in County Donegal, Ireland....
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
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,...
) is an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday. He is remembered for his famous penalty
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
save from Daniel Timofte
Daniel Timofte
Daniel Timofte is a retired Romanian football midfielder and is currently a coach. He is today a legend in Samsun and remains a fan favourite.-Club career:...
of Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
in Italy during the knockout stage.
Club career
He was spotted by CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
while he kept goal for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
, signing for Celtic on 14 May 1978. He would be Jock Stein's
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
last signing for Celtic. He went on to play 642 times for Celtic, with 483 league appearances. In total with Celtic, he won four League Championship badges, three Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
winners' medals and a League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
winners' medal. His last appearance for Celtic was winning the 1995 Scottish Cup final under Tommy Burns. After the Scottish Cup Final victory over Airdrie
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
, Bonner took on the role of player-coach and finally left the club in 1998 to work as a coach alongside former team mate Tommy Burns.
With 642 appearances, Bonner is the most prolific goalkeeper in Celtic history, and their fifth-most prolific player of all time.
Republic of Ireland Career
Bonner made his international debut on his 21st birthday in a friendly against PolandPoland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on May 24, 1981. The game was played in Zawisza Stadium, Bydgoszcz. He conceded a goal in the opening 90 seconds of the match, scored by Andrzej Iwan
Andrzej Iwan
Andrzej Iwan is a retired Polish footballer who played as a striker.-Club:He played for a Wisła Kraków, Górnik Zabrze, VfL Bochum and Aris Thessaloniki.-International:...
. A David O'Leary
David O'Leary
David Anthony O'Leary is an Irish football manager and former player. His managerial career began at Leeds United and later he managed Aston Villa. He most recently worked as the manager of Al-Ahli Dubai...
own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
in the 37th minute and a third Polish goal in the second half from Roman Ogaza
Roman Ogaza
Roman Grzegorz Ogaza was a Polish football player.-Life and work:Roman Ogaza was born 17 November in Katowice. He was a striker...
would make it a forgettable experience. For the remainder of the Eoin Hand
Eoin Hand
Eoin Kevin Joseph Colin Hand is a former footballer and football manager. As a player, his normal position was centre-half. He works as a television and radio football commentator for RTÉ in Ireland.-Playing career:...
managerial era, Bolton Wanderers Jim McDonagh remained Ireland's first choice Goalkeeper. However, by the time of the appointment of Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
in March 1986, Bonner was already claiming the number one position for the Republic.
Euro 88
Bonner played in seven of Ireland's 8 games in the qualifying round of Euro 88. Despite some great results, including a 1-0 win away to Scotland, a 2-0 win at home to Bulgaria and a 2-2 draw away to world cup bronze medalists Belgium, Ireland looked to be losing out on goal difference to Bulgaria. Bulgaria needed only a draw against Scotland in their last match to progress. However, a last minute winning goal for Scotland gifted Ireland, and Bonner, with a first appearance at the European Championships.Bonner played in all of Irelands games at Euro 88, including the famous 1-0 victory over England. Ireland scored early and dominated in the first half, missing several chances to put the game beyond England. However, in the second half, Bonner produced a number of outstanding saves to keep Ireland in the lead, most notably from Gary Linekar, and was named Man of the Match. In the second game, Ireland drew 1-1 with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Ireland narrowly missed out on a semi-final appearance, conceding a goal in the dying minutes of their final round 1 match against eventual champions, the Netherlands.
Italia 90
Bonner conceded only 2 goals in 8 games in the Republic of Ireland's qualification for Italia 90. It was the first time the Republic of Ireland had qualified for the World Cup, and Bonner would make his mark on the world stage with two memorable moments that live long in Irish sporting folklore. The first was in Ireland's very first World Cup Finals game, against England. With Ireland 1-0 down late in the game, Bonner delivered a determined clearance all the way to the English penalty area, setting up Kevin Sheedy's equalizer. While Bonner's role in the goal itself was minimal, the look of sheer determination on his face has been remembered as one of the defining moments of Ireland's inaugural appearance in the tournament. After a disappointing 0-0 draw with Egypt in the second game, Ireland needed at least a draw with the Netherlands to ensure passage to the next round. With Ireland 1-0 down midway through the second half, Bonner once again delivered a clearance all the way to the Dutch penalty area, which caused enough confusion to allow Niall QuinnNiall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
to slot in the Equalizer and send Ireland to round 2. Bonner's second memorable moment at Italia 90 occurred in Round 2. Ireland had drawn with Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
and the knockout game went to a Penalty Shootout. With the shootout tied at 4-4 with one penalty each to go, Bonner made a simple save from a poorly taken penalty by Daniel Timofte
Daniel Timofte
Daniel Timofte is a retired Romanian football midfielder and is currently a coach. He is today a legend in Samsun and remains a fan favourite.-Club career:...
, setting up David O'Leary
David O'Leary
David Anthony O'Leary is an Irish football manager and former player. His managerial career began at Leeds United and later he managed Aston Villa. He most recently worked as the manager of Al-Ahli Dubai...
to score the Winning Irish goal. In the quarter-final against Italy, Ireland lost 1-0 as Bonner saved a powerful shot from Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge of Serie A club Cagliari.An attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique, he was a pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League...
, but was knocked off balance enough to allow Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci
Salvatore Schillaci , commonly referred to by his nickname Totò is a former Italian football player. During his career, he played for Messina , Juventus , Internazionale and Júbilo Iwata...
to snatch the winning goal and send Ireland home. Bonner arrived home in Dublin to a hero's welcome the following day.
Bonner's penalty save has been remembered by FIFA as one of the great moments of that world cup. In an article entitled "Bonner's Moment in Time", Bonner states "It really wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that that one save changed my life forever, certainly in terms of recognition."
Euro 92
Bonner remained Ireland's number one choice goalkeeper for Euro 92, where Ireland was drawn against Poland, Turkey and England in the qualifying round. Ireland lost out to England in controversial circumstances. With Ireland one point behind England and tied with Poland with two games left, it was debated in the media if a draw with Poland would be better than a win. Assuming England beat Turkey on the same day, a draw left Ireland and Poland with 6 points each with England on 8 points and all three teams having one remaining game. With England playing Poland in the last game, it meant that Poland could still qualify for the tournament by beating England and hoping Ireland failed to beat Turkey in their last game. If Poland did beat England, Ireland could then qualify on goal difference by beating Turkey. However, if instead Ireland beat Poland in the second-last game, Poland was out of the tournament. Ireland would have 7 points to England's 8, meaning that Ireland would need to beat Turkey and hope that Poland, without the prospect of qualification, could still manage a draw with England. With Ireland leading Poland 3-1 with minutes to go, Ireland conceded two late goals and the game finished 3-3. Some speculated that the loss of the lead was deliberate, in order to give the Poles a reason to want to beat England and improve Ireland's qualification chances in the last match. In the end, Ireland lost out to England by a single point as England drew their final match 1-1 with Poland.USA 94
Bonner represented Ireland in all 12 of their qualifying matches for USA 941994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. Ireland seemed well on the way to qualification after 7 wins and 3 draws in the opening 10 games. With each side having only two games remaining, Ireland led the group on 18 points, ahead of Denmark on 16, with Spain in third place on 15 points. Ireland needed only a draw at Lansdowne Road against Spain in the second last game to guarantee qualification, while a win would virtually guarantee top position in the group. However, Ireland conceded three goals in a 15 minute spell in the first half, and despite a late consolation goal, Ireland now needed to beat Northern Ireland in the last game to guarantee a place in the finals. A draw would mean Ireland needed the Spain-Denmark game, happening simultaneously, to finish in a win for one of the two sides. Ireland drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland, but qualified ahead of Denmark by virtue of having scored more goals (they were level on goal difference), as Denmark lost 1-0 to Spain. Bonner's saves throughout the tournament were key to Ireland's goal-difference remaining on par with Denmark and ensuring eventual qualification.
In the Finals, Ireland beat Italy 1-0 in their opening match. The euphoria was compounded by the fact that Ireland had also beaten Germany and the Netherlands in warm-up games. However, from that point on, the tournament was a disappointment for Ireland and especially Bonner. A 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mexico and a 0-0 draw with Norway were just enough for Ireland to move into round two on the strength of their win over Italy. A 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands ended Ireland's tournament, and was a low point for Bonner. With Ireland already 1-0 down late in the first half, a long-distance effort from Wim Jonk
Wim Jonk
Wilhelmus "Wim" Maria Jonk is a retired Dutch footballer. At the height of his career, he also played for the Netherlands national team....
should have been an easy save. However, Bonner fumbled the shot and it dribbled into the net. Ireland never recovered and was eliminated from the tournament.
Euro 96
Bonner struggled to maintain his place in the Ireland squad during Euro 96, and eventually lost his place to Alan Kelly, Jr.. Ireland showed tepid form and was eliminated 2-0 by the Netherlands in a playoff.Legacy
Bonner became the Republic of Ireland's most capped goalkeeper with 80 appearances for his country. He held this record until it was surpassed in 2007 by fellow-Donegal native Shay GivenShay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
, who by the end of 2010 had achieved 109 caps. Bonner remains a cultural icon in Ireland for his role in some of the most memorable moments in Irish sporting history, including the win over England at Euro 88, the draws with England and the Netherlands at Italia 90, and of course, the penalty save that sent Ireland to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first, and to date, only time.
Coaching Role
On 2 February 2003, following the promotion of Brian Kerr to the position of Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
team manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, Bonner was named as technical director of the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
(FAI). He previously held the role of the senior squad's goalkeeping coach in the organisation. In addition, he has worked as a football presenter with TV3.
His brother Denis played for Galway United F.C. and Finn Harps
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
. His son, Andrew Bonner, is also a footballer, although a striker not a keeper, and has played for the Republic of Ireland national youth team, and at club level he has so far only played in the lower leagues of Scotland.
Honours
Scottish LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
: 1979
Scottish Football League 1978-79
Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1978–79.-Scottish Premier Division:-Scottish League Division One:-Scottish League Division Two:...
, 1981
Scottish Football League 1980-81
Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1980–81.-Scottish Premier Division:-Scottish League Division One:-Scottish League Division Two:...
, 1982
Scottish Football League 1981-82
Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1981–82.-Scottish Premier Division:-Scottish League Division One:-Scottish League Division Two:...
, 1986
Scottish Football League 1985-86
Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1985–86.-Summary:Celtic won the League and became champions in one of the closest finishes in League history. On the final day of the season Hearts were leading Celtic by two points - a draw against Dundee would have been sufficient to see...
, 1988
Scottish Football League 1987-88
Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1987–88.-Scottish Premier Division:-Scottish League Division One:-Scottish League Division Two:...
,
Scottish Cup: 1980
Scottish Cup 1979-80
The 1979–80 Scottish Cup was the 95th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final...
, 1988
Scottish Cup 1987-88
The 1987–88 Scottish Cup was the 103rd staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Dundee United in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replay:-Second Replay:...
, 1989
Scottish Cup 1988-89
The 1988–89 Scottish Cup was the 104th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Rangers in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:-Replays:...
, 1995
Scottish Cup 1994-95
The 1994–95 Scottish Cup was the 110th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic after defeating Airdrieonians in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second round:-Replays:-Third round:...
Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
: 1983