Jack Charlton changed the lives of everybody in Ireland with the World Cup but there was uproar when he first took over
'Big Jack', who won the
Advertisement
5
Terry Phelan won 42 caps for Ireland
Credit: David Maher/SPORTSFILE
5
He was part of Jack Charlton's team that played at the 1994 World Cup in the USA
Credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
5
Ireland players, from left, Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend, Terry Phelan and Steve Staunton
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
While a controversial appointment at the time due to his
English heritage
, as well as a 1-0 loss to
Under his stewardship, Ireland got to their first ever major tournament at Euro 1988 and famously beat
England
in their opening game.
They exited the tournament in the group stages before going one better at their first World Cup at Italia 90, getting to the quarter-finals.
Terry Phelan made his senior debut the following year and was involved in every game when Ireland got to the 1994 World Cup in the
Advertisement
Read More on World Cup
And he told SunSport via
"We had amazing players… [Liam] Brady, [Ronnie] Whelan, [Kevin] Stapleton, [Paul] McGrath, [Andy] Townsend, [Mark] Lawrenson, [Steve] Staunton… the list goes on.
"The first year was tough for Jack with Ireland, but once he weathered the storm, you look at the second year and Euro 88.
"Ireland became a team that people noticed and it went on from there. Jack brought the country together throughout his time as Ireland manager and this was huge!
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Live Blog
"His no-nonsense approach was spot on, every player know where they stood.
"We played hard, we had fun and Jack let us go out, but as a group, we knew when we crossed that white line, it was time to fight and be together.
Bobby Charlton hailed as 'greatest' by former Ireland manager Jack Charlton as footage re-emerges of late brothers
"We won big game games and went to major tournaments."
England's late equaliser against
Advertisement
Alan McLoughlin's late
strike
at Windsor Park against
The World Cup itself started with another iconic moment, as Ray Houghton's goal at Giants Stadium sealed a 1-0 win over
revenge
for their defeat to the Azzurri four years earlier.
Despite losing to
next
game, a draw with
it was at this stage that the journey once again ended, as goals from
Advertisement
Phelan - who won 42 caps for Ireland - said: "It was super-hot but we knew we had a squad to compete and we knew how to play on the big stage.
'GREAT TEAM'
"This was a great team we had. Most of us were playing in England, we were a
family
, we stuck together, and we had loads of fun outside of the pitch.
"We messed about, we ate Snickers and Mars bars! But we were a unit. We had so much quality in the team!
"I mentioned earlier, but McGrath, [Packie] Bonner, [Denis] Irwin, [Roy] Keane. We had leaders all over the pitch
Advertisement
"[John] Sheridan was immense, Townsend was a
work
horse, Staunton had so much grit and determination
"Was had the class of Houghton to score the goal against
Italy
.
"The bond we had as players was excellent.
"As we went on, It was a bridge too far, but we went on one great ride."
Advertisement
5
Ireland players, from left, Roy Keane, Kenny Cunningham, Terry Phelan and Richard Dunne
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Since hanging up the green
jersey
in 2000, the former defender has enjoyed a varied career on and off the field.
The former
Manchester
City,
star
ended his on-field run with Southern United in
His coaching career has taken him to
Advertisement
The 58-year-old is relishing this chapter of his career but would welcome a return to Ireland down the line.
He said: "My
relationship
with Ireland is great!
"I loved every time I put on the jersey! To see so many passionate fans following us was testament to Jack and what he had done for the country.
"Every player who played for Ireland was the same. We were passionate about the country and playing our
football
.
Advertisement
"I am very happy in India, coaching a lot and giving back. Feeling fit and keeping healthy.
"Coming home? Never say never! My dream is still alive to bring players over from India to Ireland and have a link up with any of the teams.
"I have so much passion for the game, I want to continue to coach, educate and empower young footballers to succeed.
"So, maybe there could be a chance to come back to Ireland especially, or England to coach as it's a massive passion of mine."
Advertisement
5
Roy Keane, David Connolly, Terry Phelan and Ray Houghton
Credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Ger Lyons left ‘gobsmacked' as Howd'yadoit claims Naas €110k prize under Colin Keane
Completing a 38/1 treble on the day, Keane got up close home on the 13/2 chance to hold off Unbreakable Duke by a nose to claim the €110,000 first prize. Unbreakable Duke was subsequently demoted to third, with Summer Is Tomorrow promoted to second, following a stewards' inquiry into interference. English raider Jel Pepper (6/4 favourite) was fourth for Paul and Oliver Cole, while Prix Robert Papin winner Green Sense was withdrawn by Joseph O'Brien due to unsuitable ground. Lyons, who teamed up with Keane to land this race with Sacred Bridge in 2021, admitted: 'I'm gobsmacked, as I didn't think he'd be good enough. 'What an honest horse, he's been doing it well. We wanted to win a maiden en route to winning a nursery, but he (handicapper) hit him with a mark that I thought was ridiculous for what I felt was a poor maiden. 'We came here because it was a good pot, and I said any bit of the prize-money is grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd win.' He added: 'I'm delighted as Sean's (Jones, owner) horses are now bought for and named by his sons Eddie and James to keep them interested and they are here today. They are the next generation, so it's great. Seán has been with me from day one.' Bonus Time kicked of the Keane hat-trick by making all to land the opening Ironxcell For Energy Race over an extended five furlongs. The 2/5 hotpot was sent straight to the head of the field with Zuheila racing keenly in behind. Keane did not have to ask his mount too many questions as the Paddy Twomey-trained filly ran out a half-length winner from Kodilicious. The second leg of the jockey's treble came aboard Michael O'Callaghan-trained Noli Timere which justified 11/4 favouritism by three lengths in the fillies' maiden over a mile. Down in Cork, Phillip Enright was the jockey form as he completed a double, which was initiated by the victory of Love At Sea (5/2) in the opening Mallow Mares Maiden Hurdle. Second at Ballinrobe on her most recent start, the Eddie Power-trained seven-year-old attempted to make all but was headed at the third last by 11/8 favourite Kabylia, which was travelling strongly in the hands of Conor Stone-Walsh. Not fluent over the last, the market leader failed to kick on and was headed by the rallying Love At Sea with Enright at his strongest in the last half-furlong to get Power's charge up by a half-length. The Kerry rider went on to complete his brace an hour later aboard The Border Boy (17/2) in the second division of the two-mile, one-furlong handicap hurdle. The Border Boy jumped into a narrow lead at the third last and Seán Aherne's charge increased his advantage heading to the last, before galloping clear and prevailing by two and three-quarters of a length from runner-up Bannow Blaze. The featured Follow Us On Twitter Hurdle turned into a match after the defection of The Big Doyen. Alan O'Sullivan attempted to make all on Mozzies Sister but the pair were joined by the Andy Slattery-trained Smooth Tom approaching the last and despite a far from fluent jump, the 4/5 favourite went on under Cian Quirke to score by a length-and-a-half.
Irish Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Taylor's words to dad 'killed him' after dating woman younger than her
Pete Taylor claimed it 'killed' him when Katie Taylor cut ties after his marriage collapsed and he started a romance with a woman who was the same age as his daughter. The boxing trainer, who grew up in Leeds, had coached Katie all her life and led her to gold at the London Olympics in 2012. But when the legendary boxer discovered his father had split with his mother, Bridget, she made a painful decision. Speaking about losing contact with his eldest daughter, he said: 'Katie is really into her faith, I just remember her coming down to the boxing club – 'Da, I don't want you in the corner. I just don't want you in the corner.'' Katie's father added: 'Social media… I'm married now, married to Karen, and Karen is the same age as Katie, and everybody was saying, 'Pete Taylor's ran off with Katie's best friend.'' Pete clarified that his now wife Karen Brown, 35, knew of Katie, 39, because of her boxing achievements but did not know her personally. He also claimed on the Anything Goes With James English podcast that he considered this rumour an 'insult' to him, because it sounded like he could have 'groomed' her if he had known her since she was a child, which was not the case. Pete Taylor has since reconciled with his eldest daughter Katie (Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr) Podcast host James then said it was 'ruthless' of Katie to cease talking to him, but Pete offered context. He said: 'Do you know what, I don't think it was ruthless, she has such morals, and such faith, and she thinks if you are married you should be together for life. She has some morals you know, it killed me now, but I had to respect it you know.' Katie later appeared in a documentary and said she felt like she was boxing with one arm after the split because all she had ever known was her father being in her corner. She later failed to retain her gold medal at the Olympics in Rio before turning professional, where she went on to become a multi-division world champion who starred in a thrilling trilogy with Amanda Serrano. And speaking about going years without talking to his daughter, Pete said: 'That was tough because we were like that you know. 'It was tough for both of us but that's life isn't it? But obviously because we were always together, it was a big thing in the newspapers. You would think I was the only person who ever split up a marriage in Ireland.' They are back on good terms after a turbulent few years (Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr) And after the success of the Olympics in 2012, where Pete and Katie returned to a sensational homecoming, he claimed he was painted as the 'pure villain in Ireland' after Katie's shock quarter-final defeat in the Olympics in Rio four years later. Reemphasising his earlier point, he repeated: 'At the time, it was tough now in all fairness.' Despite a difficult few years, Katie and Pete reconciled, and he was even welcomed back ahead of her third fight with Serrano last month. And speaking before the world championship clash, she said: 'To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad.' Her manager, Brian Peters, added: 'It takes some doing just to get that relationship back, that takes work but it's beautiful to see it. Katie uses a great word – restoration.'
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Lions End of Tour Wrap: Keenen Tour winning try, Beirne's off the charts performances and Ringrose selflessness
The rain that fell relentlessly for five days in Sydney finally abated on Monday. As blue skies return to city's skyline, the mass exodus of British & Irish Lions supporters continued and hotels emptied as quickly as the lower tier of Accor Stadium on Saturday night during the lightning delay that interrupted the final Test with Australia. It was a flat, and soggy, ending to the 2025 tour for Andy Farrell's squad as the Wallabies finally got the victory they felt their play had deserved for at least three halves of Test rugby across as many weeks. Yet the Lions have departed Australian shores with heads held high after securing a 2-1 series victory and while the naysayers, mostly from afar, will argue it has been an underwhelming tour, the scale of their achievement in delivering that success for the first time in a dozen years and only the third time in the professional era should be celebrated, particularly by Irish rugby supporters. Led by Ireland's head coach and the bulk of his national team coaches and performance staff, this has been the most green-tinged of Lions tours, with a record number of Ireland players who delivered some excellent individual performances as the backbone of a winning side. Lions board chair and tour manager Ieuan Evans, a series-winning player himself in that historic 1997 victory over South Africa, underlined just how difficult one of these tours is to get right. Read More Lightning doesn't strike thrice for the Lions as Australia lay down a marker 'These tours are not designed to be easy to win and compete in,' the former Wales wing said on Sunday before the 90-strong touring party of players, coaches and staff members were scattered to the four winds. 'Winning Lions teams are supposed to be really challenging, really exceptionally challenging. You have to have the right culture in order to succeed as well as the talent and the hard work. 'You expect that talent and hard work to come to the fore because the players of this sort of quality do not get to where they are without it,' Evans added. But you need the culture to allow that to come to the fore and Andy Farrell is exceptional at that.' Evans' view of Farrell's ability to create that winning environment for a group of athletes from four different nations over such a short period of time has been endorsed, tellingly, by many of the non-Irish players selected by the head coach. England back-rower Ben Earl has raved about his experience every time has faced the media here, saying earlier on the tour he had learned more in five weeks with the Lions than he had in the previous four years. That may say as much about the English national set-up as it does about his Lions tour but his take on Farrell had not diminished by the end of the series, in which the Saracens forward came off the bench during the first and third Tests. INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE: England back-rower Ben Earl has raved about his experience every time has faced the media here, saying earlier on the tour he had learned more in five weeks with the Lions than he had in the previous four years. 'He has made me fully believe in how good I am,' Earl said of the Lions boss on Saturday night. 'Every time he talks to the group, I'm like, I'll do anything for that man - I'm ready to play. 'Even when I'm not playing. Like, obviously, how many times am I not playing, maybe four or five times. Like, every time he spoke to the group, I'm like, God, when the time comes, I'm ready to play for this bloke. "I still feel like if there was any circumstance where I would end up wearing that jersey, I know he'd back me 100% and he'd make me feel like I fully deserve that. And I think that's just testament to him, testament to the environment created, along with the other coaches." Was this a great Lions team and tour? It may not be in the pantheon of the giants of 1974 and 1997 and others of much older stock but it was a winning outfit that overcame a Wallabies side which grew into the series after a poor start and belied the gloomy predictions of Joe Schmidt's side being whitewashed by cricket scores. That it was a competitive series, in which the Lions only outscored their hosts in two of the four halves, validates the battling and competitive qualities which Farrell's players possess and value of their series victory. That deserves credit. Read More Bundee Aki reveals wife gave birth in car hours before first Lions test TOUR HIGHLIGHT: Nothing will be the ingredients that went into making the Second Test so memorable. A crowd of 90,307 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, a stirring return to form from the Wallabies to take a 23-5 lead inside 30 minutes, and an epic fightback from the Lions sealed courtesy of Hugo Keenan try in the last minute that was controversial in its making. It sealed a first series win for the Lions since 2013, was the first 2-0 lead created by the Lions since 1997 and was a wonderful, wonderful occasion. PLAYER OF THE SERIES: To think Tadhg Beirne's selection at blindside flanker was considered a risk, the Munster and Ireland star's performance levels were off the charts and he fully deserved the honour. WALLABY TO WATCH: Max Jorgensen, the Waratahs wing is just 20 years old but he impressed in the number 11 jersey throughout the series, scoring in the first and third Tests, his try on Saturday as he pounced a loose ball on halfway showcasing his power and pace. WALALBY TO WATCH: 20-year-old Maz Jorgensen was impressive on the win for the Wallabies. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher TOUR HERO: Garry Ringrose's selfless decision to remove himself from the side for the second Test due to concussion symptoms two days out from the MCG match, thereby allowing Huw Jones time to prepare as his midfield replacement. TOUR COMEBACK: Hugo Keenan's tour got off to a nightmarish start, denied his Lions debut, initially by a minor injury and then a virus that by his own admission. 'I was sick for about 12 days. I couldn't stop, yeah… getting off the jacks was an issue. Yeah, I lost about five or six kilos. It was a rough few weeks,' the full-back said memorably having made just two appearances ahead of starting all three Tests and becoming the player who secured the series win in Melbourne. ON-FIELD MOMENT: The Lions secured that series having led the second Test only by a matter of seconds, thanks to Keenan's excellent finish as the men in red, prompted by Finn Russell, kept their cool, stuck to the plan and managed the game better than the Wallabies. It needed a much-debated ruck clear-out by Jac Morgan on opposing replacement back-rower Carlo Tizzano to get the job done, which only added to the drama before referee Andrea Piardi concluded there was no foul play and wild celebrations ensued. OFF-FIELD LIONS MOMENT: Andy Farrell and captain Maro Itoje's media conference after the second Test being drowned out the by a dressing-room sing-song conducted by a squad of roaring Lions. TOUR LOWPOINT: The Sydney rain which did its best to ruin the spectacle for 80,000-plus supporters at Accor Stadium on Saturday night, including a near 40-minute lightning delay. It coincided with the poorest Lions performance of the tour and the Wallabies' best, a 22-12 defeat of the tourists that hopefully restores faith in the green and gold among supporters in a challenging sports market dominated by Aussie Rules and Rugby League. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: That Josh van der Flier, so dependable for Farrell as a near-permanent selection in the Ireland back-row at openside flanker, was overlooked for the series and did not play a minute of rugby as a Test Lion despite putting in some impressive performances on tour. A crying shame for the 2022 World Rugby men's player of the year. BEST QUOTE: 'Our Wives Think We're At Coldplay' – Lions supporters' banner at the First Nations & Pasifika game in Melbourne. BEST QUOTE: British & Irish Lions supporters before the second test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile BEST INVOCATION OF SCIENCE TO MAKE A POINT: Joe Schmidt reverting to schoolteacher mode to explain Jac Morgan's clearout on Australia's Carlo Tizzano: "We are all aware of Newton's third law (of motion) - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When that force hits him and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the ruck. "I don't think he wanted to recoil like that but that's the nature of force. That there is an equal and opposite reaction.' BEST NICKNAME: A tie between Jamie Osborne's 'Showbiz' and Ollie Chessum's 'Bin Chicken', the colloquial name given in these parts to the Australian White Ibis, a long-nosed bird seen wandering around city centres pecking at food thrown on the floor or left on outdoor tables. LIONS IN AUSTRALIA BY THE NUMBERS Played: 9, Won: 8, Lost: 1 Test series v Wallabies: Won 2-1 Players used: 49 Most appearances: Ronan Kelleher, Alex Mitchell – 8 each Tadhg Beirne, Ben Earl, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Huw Jones, Jac Morgan, Will Stuart – 7 each Bundee Aki, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Maro Itoje, Andrew Porter, Finn Russell, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan – 6 each. Most minutes: Tadhg Beirne – 507 Huw Jones – 455 Tommy Freeman – 428 Maro Itoje – 419 Finn Russell – 419 Jack Conan – 414 Most tries: Duhan van der Merwe – 5 Huw Jones – 4 Dan Sheehan – 3 Garry Ringrose - 3 Most points:
