Ronnie Whelan
Encyclopedia
Ronald Andrew "Ronnie" Whelan (icon; born 25 September 1961 in Dublin) is a former Irish
football midfielder
, and sometimes defender, who was an integral part of the dominant Liverpool
side of the 1980s. He was at the club from 1979 until 1994, and finished his career at Southend United
, where he was also player-manager.
In 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a poll of 110,000 Liverpool fans conducted by the official Liverpool Football Club web-site, Whelan was in 30th position.
Whelan now has a media career, and is a regular contributor to RTÉ Sport
in Ireland.
; his father, Ronnie Whelan Senior
, was an Irish
international and a key member of the successful St Patrick's Athletic side of the late 1950s and early 1960s. His brother Paul Whelan
played for Bohemian FC and Shamrock Rovers.
debut for Home Farm
on his 16th birthday at Tolka Park
.
He was signed for Liverpool by Bob Paisley
for a bargain £35,000 on 19 September 1979, a few days before his 18th birthday and made his debut 18 months later, on the 3 April 1981, scoring his first goal in the 27th minute of the 3–0 league win over Stoke City
at Anfield
. This would be Whelan's one and only appearance of the season for the first team, as Whelan spent much of his first few months at the club in the reserves.
The following season Whelan won his place on the left side of the Liverpool midfield, ending the Anfield
career of Ray Kennedy
and also taking over his No.5 shirt. It was an excellent season for Whelan, as he settled into first team football and helped Liverpool to another League championship
. They also retained the League Cup
with victory over Tottenham Hotspur
at Wembley with Whelan scoring twice in the 3–1 win.
In 1983
, Liverpool retained these two trophies and Whelan again scored in the League Cup final, scoring with a long-range shot into the Manchester United net in extra-time to seal a 2–1 win. Whelan then played a major role in Liverpool's treble of League title
, League Cup and European Cup
of 1984
, although he was injured for part of this season.
Liverpool's trophyless season, culminating in the disaster at Heysel
, in 1985
was followed by a much more successful season for Whelan and Liverpool, under the new management of Kenny Dalglish
.
Liverpool clinched another League title and added the FA Cup
, with Whelan setting up two of the goals in a 3–1 victory over Merseyside
rivals Everton
, the first time the two had met in an FA Cup final, also it was only the third League and FA Cup
"double"
of the 20th century. Whelan put in some fine performances in the league as well, most notably a hat-trick in the 5-0 home win over Coventry City
on 12 April 1986.
Liverpool ended the following season trophyless, losing the League Cup
final to Arsenal
and coming second to Everton in the league. The following year, Whelan switched to a central role following the arrival of England
winger John Barnes at Anfield. This season saw Liverpool play an exciting brand of football and they won both the league title and FA Cup, although Whelan missed out on the cup final as Nigel Spackman
, who had won his place in the team when Whelan was injured earlier in the season was chosen ahead of him. Whelan's name and profile was even left out of the official match programme at Wembley for the FA Cup final against Wimbledon
, which Liverpool lost 1–0.
An injury to club captain Alan Hansen
meant that Whelan spent much of the 1988–89 season as captain of Liverpool, a role he relished as the club progressed to another challenge for a "double". Then the Hillsborough disaster
happened, and Whelan played a key role in leading the team on and off the pitch in a difficult time.
When Hansen recovered, Whelan maintained the captaincy for continuity purposes and it was he who lifted the FA Cup after a 3–2 win over derby
rivals Everton. However, he missed the chance to do the same with the League title, with Arsenal
taking the championship thanks to a last-minute goal
from Michael Thomas. This meant that for the second year running Liverpool narrowly missed out on a unique second double.
Liverpool won the League again in 1990
but Whelan's role in the side was diminishing, through a spate of injuries. He stayed at Liverpool until 1994
but an example of his bad luck came in 1992
when he scored the crucial equaliser against Portsmouth
in the FA Cup semi-final, forcing a replay which Liverpool won on penalties, but missed the final against Sunderland
, in which Liverpool triumphed 2–0, because of injury. By this stage, Liverpool were no longer quite the domintant force they had been in their heyday of the 1980s. They had finished second to Arsenal in the league in 1991, and despite the FA Cup win and UEFA Cup quarter-final appearance in 1992 they finished sixth in the league – failing to make a real impact in the title race for the first time since Bill Shankly
had still been manager.
One of Whelan's more forgettable moments came in 1990 when, in a match at Old Trafford, an unmarked Whelan chipped a backpass from 30 yards over goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
and into the net. To date, it is considered to be one of the most bizarre and comical own goals in top flight history. However, Liverpool still won the match 2–1.
Manager Graeme Souness
gave Whelan more first team opportunities in the new FA Premier League
for the 1992–93 season
, and he made 17 appearances (scoring once) as Liverpool finished sixth once again, but this came at the end of a season which had mostly been spent in the bottom half of the table and they stood 15th as late as early March. By this stage, however, Whelan's days in the Liverpool first team were looking numbered, as the midfield was now featuring recent signings like Mark Walters
and Michael Thomas, as well as breakthrough stars Steve McManaman
and Jamie Redknapp
.
In 1993–94
, Whelan made more appearances than he had done in any of the previous three seasons – 23 in the Premier League, scoring once. It was a disappointing season for the club, unfortunately, as they finished eighth in the Premier League and suffered a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol City which had prompted Graeme Souness to resign as manager and be replaced by Roy Evans
.
In all, Whelan played 443 1st team games for Liverpool, scoring 73 goals.
He won six League title medals, three FA Cup, a European Cup and three Milk Cup medals in his time with the club.
Whelan was a regular for the Republic of Ireland
making his debut on the 29 April 1981, he came off the bench in the 63rd minute of the 3–1 victory over Czechoslovakia
at Landsdowne Road.
Whelan was part of the Irish side which qualified for the 1988 European Championships
in West Germany
. He was in the team which memorably beat England
1–0, and he then scored a spectacular long-range goal in a draw with the USSR
. Defeat in the final group game against eventual champions the Netherlands
in the final group game eliminated Ireland from the competition.
and became their player-manager a year later, before being sacked at the end of the 1996-97 season
following their relegation from Division One.
He later worked with clubs in Greece
such as Panionios and in Cyprus
such as Apollon Limassol
but most notably with Olympiakos Nicosia
. His greatest success as a manager, was with Panionios in 1999
, when his team reached for first time the quarter finals of a European competition, the Cup Winners Cup, when they were eliminated by SS Lazio with 0–4 and 0–3.
Whelan features regularly on RTÉ Sport
's association football programming, including its Premier League and UEFA Champions League
coverage. He is notable for his pronunciation of Germany
and Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger
's name. He contributed to RTÉ Sport
's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
Winner
Runner Up
for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. He took part in the group stage draw on 27 August 2010.
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....
football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, and sometimes defender, who was an integral part of the dominant Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
side of the 1980s. He was at the club from 1979 until 1994, and finished his career at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, where he was also player-manager.
In 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a poll of 110,000 Liverpool fans conducted by the official Liverpool Football Club web-site, Whelan was in 30th position.
Whelan now has a media career, and is a regular contributor to RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
in Ireland.
Early life
Whelan was born into a family of footballers from Dublin, IrelandRepublic 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,...
; his father, Ronnie Whelan Senior
Ronnie Whelan Snr.
Ronnie Whelan, Sr. was an Irish international footballer chiefly associated with St. Patricks Athletic FC...
, was an 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,...
international and a key member of the successful St Patrick's Athletic side of the late 1950s and early 1960s. His brother Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan (footballer)
Paul Whelan is an Irish former footballer who played during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He was born in Dublin and is currently working as a Football In Community Development Officer for the Football Association of Ireland .-Career:...
played for Bohemian FC and Shamrock Rovers.
Club career
Ronnie Junior was a skilful and industrious midfield player, who made his League of IrelandLeague 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...
debut for Home Farm
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...
on his 16th birthday at Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
.
He was signed for Liverpool by Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
for a bargain £35,000 on 19 September 1979, a few days before his 18th birthday and made his debut 18 months later, on the 3 April 1981, scoring his first goal in the 27th minute of the 3–0 league win over Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. This would be Whelan's one and only appearance of the season for the first team, as Whelan spent much of his first few months at the club in the reserves.
The following season Whelan won his place on the left side of the Liverpool midfield, ending the Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
career of Ray Kennedy
Ray Kennedy
Raymond Kennedy is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s...
and also taking over his No.5 shirt. It was an excellent season for Whelan, as he settled into first team football and helped Liverpool to another League championship
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. They also retained the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
with victory over Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
at Wembley with Whelan scoring twice in the 3–1 win.
In 1983
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
, Liverpool retained these two trophies and Whelan again scored in the League Cup final, scoring with a long-range shot into the Manchester United net in extra-time to seal a 2–1 win. Whelan then played a major role in Liverpool's treble of League title
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
, League Cup and European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
of 1984
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
, although he was injured for part of this season.
Liverpool's trophyless season, culminating in the disaster at Heysel
Heysel Stadium disaster
The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Liverpool of England and Juventus of Italy...
, in 1985
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
was followed by a much more successful season for Whelan and Liverpool, under the new management of Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
.
Liverpool clinched another League title and added the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, with Whelan setting up two of the goals in a 3–1 victory over Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
rivals Everton
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...
, the first time the two had met in an FA Cup final, also it was only the third League and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
"double"
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
of the 20th century. Whelan put in some fine performances in the league as well, most notably a hat-trick in the 5-0 home win over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 12 April 1986.
Liverpool ended the following season trophyless, losing the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and coming second to Everton in the league. The following year, Whelan switched to a central role following the arrival of England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
winger John Barnes at Anfield. This season saw Liverpool play an exciting brand of football and they won both the league title and FA Cup, although Whelan missed out on the cup final as Nigel Spackman
Nigel Spackman
Nigel James Spackman is an English football manager and former player. He was formerly a midfield player who was an integral part of the much-admired Liverpool team of 1988...
, who had won his place in the team when Whelan was injured earlier in the season was chosen ahead of him. Whelan's name and profile was even left out of the official match programme at Wembley for the FA Cup final against Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, which Liverpool lost 1–0.
An injury to club captain Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
meant that Whelan spent much of the 1988–89 season as captain of Liverpool, a role he relished as the club progressed to another challenge for a "double". Then the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
happened, and Whelan played a key role in leading the team on and off the pitch in a difficult time.
When Hansen recovered, Whelan maintained the captaincy for continuity purposes and it was he who lifted the FA Cup after a 3–2 win over derby
Merseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
rivals Everton. However, he missed the chance to do the same with the League title, with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
taking the championship thanks to a last-minute goal
Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal (26 May 1989)
The final match of the 1988–89 English Football League season was contested on 26 May 1989, between Liverpool and Arsenal, at Liverpool's Anfield ground. By sheer coincidence, it was the match between the top two teams in the First Division and the teams were close enough on points for the match to...
from Michael Thomas. This meant that for the second year running Liverpool narrowly missed out on a unique second double.
Liverpool won the League again in 1990
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
but Whelan's role in the side was diminishing, through a spate of injuries. He stayed at Liverpool until 1994
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
but an example of his bad luck came in 1992
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
when he scored the crucial equaliser against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in the FA Cup semi-final, forcing a replay which Liverpool won on penalties, but missed the final against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, in which Liverpool triumphed 2–0, because of injury. By this stage, Liverpool were no longer quite the domintant force they had been in their heyday of the 1980s. They had finished second to Arsenal in the league in 1991, and despite the FA Cup win and UEFA Cup quarter-final appearance in 1992 they finished sixth in the league – failing to make a real impact in the title race for the first time since Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
had still been manager.
One of Whelan's more forgettable moments came in 1990 when, in a match at Old Trafford, an unmarked Whelan chipped a backpass from 30 yards over goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar...
and into the net. To date, it is considered to be one of the most bizarre and comical own goals in top flight history. However, Liverpool still won the match 2–1.
Manager Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
gave Whelan more first team opportunities in the new FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
for the 1992–93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, and he made 17 appearances (scoring once) as Liverpool finished sixth once again, but this came at the end of a season which had mostly been spent in the bottom half of the table and they stood 15th as late as early March. By this stage, however, Whelan's days in the Liverpool first team were looking numbered, as the midfield was now featuring recent signings like Mark Walters
Mark Walters
Mark Everton Walters is a retired professional footballer from Birmingham, England.-Aston Villa:Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's Football League First Division title triumph...
and Michael Thomas, as well as breakthrough stars Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
and Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Frank Redknapp is a retired English footballer who was active from 1989 until 2005. He is now a football pundit with Sky Sports, and an editorial columnist with the Daily Mail....
.
In 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
, Whelan made more appearances than he had done in any of the previous three seasons – 23 in the Premier League, scoring once. It was a disappointing season for the club, unfortunately, as they finished eighth in the Premier League and suffered a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol City which had prompted Graeme Souness to resign as manager and be replaced by Roy Evans
Roy Evans
Roy Evans CBE was a Liverpool football player who eventually rose through the coaching ranks to become team manager.-Career:...
.
In all, Whelan played 443 1st team games for Liverpool, scoring 73 goals.
He won six League title medals, three FA Cup, a European Cup and three Milk Cup medals in his time with the club.
International career
Whelan first represented his country at schoolboy level .Whelan was a regular for 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....
making his debut on the 29 April 1981, he came off the bench in the 63rd minute of the 3–1 victory over Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
at Landsdowne Road.
Whelan was part of the Irish side which qualified for the 1988 European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. He was in the team which memorably beat England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
1–0, and he then scored a spectacular long-range goal in a draw with the USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. Defeat in the final group game against eventual champions the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in the final group game eliminated Ireland from the competition.
Managerial career
On his departure from Anfield in 1994 after 15 years, Whelan signed for Southend UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and became their player-manager a year later, before being sacked at the end of the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
following their relegation from Division One.
He later worked with clubs in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
such as Panionios and in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
such as Apollon Limassol
Apollon Limassol
Apollon Limassol is a Greek Cypriot sports club, based in Limassol. It has football, basketball and volleyball teams. Founded in 1954, Apollon F.C...
but most notably with Olympiakos Nicosia
Olympiakos Nicosia
Olympiakos Nicosia is a football club in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia. The club was founded in 1931. It is a founding member of the Cyprus Football Association. The club colors are black and green. Olympiakos's home ground is the New GSP Stadium of 23,400 seat capacity...
. His greatest success as a manager, was with Panionios in 1999
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1998-99
The season 1998-99 of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Lazio in the final against Mallorca for their first title in the competition.-Qualifying round:-First leg:--------------------------------------------...
, when his team reached for first time the quarter finals of a European competition, the Cup Winners Cup, when they were eliminated by SS Lazio with 0–4 and 0–3.
Media career
Whelan now works on the after-dinner circuit and does a spot of punditry.Whelan features regularly on RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
's association football programming, including its Premier League and UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
coverage. He is notable for his pronunciation of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bayern Munich and the German national team. A right-footed player, he is capable of playing out wide or in a more central role....
's name. He contributed to RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
Liverpool
Winner
- League ChampionshipFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(Level 1) (6): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–1990 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
(2): 1985–86, 1988–89 - League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
(3): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 - Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
(5): 1982, 1986 (Shared), 1988, 1989, 1990 (Shared), - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(1): 1983–84 - Super CupSuper Cup (English football)The Super Cup was a one-off football club competition held in England in the 1985–86 season...
(1): 1985–86
Runner Up
- League ChampionshipFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(Level 1) (4): 1984–85, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91 - League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
(1): 1986–87 - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(1): 1984–85 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Championship statisticsStatistics for the Intercontinental Cup which ran from 1960 to 2004.-Finals:-By country:-By team:-By continent:-Man of the Match:Since 1980-See also:*Intercontinental Cup*Copa Libertadores*UEFA Champions League...
(1): 1984–85 - Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
(2): 1984, 1992 - European Super CupEuropean Super CupThe UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
(1): 1984–85
Europa League 2010–11
Whelan is the ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. He took part in the group stage draw on 27 August 2010.
External links
- Thisisanfield.com Exclusive interview
- Official Liverpool FC profile
- LFCHistory.net profile
- Liverpool seasonal record (Part 1) 1979/80-1983/84 at Sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (Part 2) 1984/85-1988/89 at Sporting-heroes.net
- Liverpool seasonal record (Part 3) 1989/90-1994/95 at Sporting-heroes.net
- Ireland international record 1981–95 at Sporting-heroes.net
- Irish football greats at Fai.ie