The new recruits, in part, helped Panionios to the Cup Winners Cup quarter-finals where the Greek side lost to eventual winners Lazio. After 15 years that was it. Growing up, the Dubliner had a good footballing pedigree with his father, also called Ronnie, earning two senior caps for the national side, while his brother, Paul, had stints in the League of Ireland with Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers. For one of the club’s most decorated players it may seem low. Do you worry? That showed the players and management that I could actually play a bit, but I still didn’t get back into the first team for a few months after that for some reason, having said that, they did go on to win the European Cup that year, so I felt I couldn’t complain too much. I was a bit surprised that after just a two-week trial they wanted to offer me a three-year contract. Louise Redknapp has revealed that she 'turned down' the role of Ross Geller's wife Emily Waltham in Friends to appear on Top Of The Pops in the 90s. You also have to get used to training every day. At 33, Whelan knew his best playing days on the football pitch were now behind him, but with a young family to provide for, securing another contract was a necessity. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. The latest Irish and international breaking news, reports and coverage, A platform helping fund the type of in-depth journalism that the public wants to see. Other players put me in their team because they know what I did when I played. It was the same old things. However, the captain’s midfield influence seemed to be badly missed during Liverpool’s recent slump and, if the Premier League season does resume from its current hiatus , at least the 29-year-old will have had ample time to … Whelan died in July 1993 at the age of 56 from stomach cancer. “It hurt me that I didn’t go to Manchester United in the end. He is the father of Ronnie Whelan Jr.. Another son, Paul and a grandson, Gavin, were also League of Ireland players. Ireland lost this game 3–1. I honestly believe I was probably the best midfielder in England over those years, but I never got the recognition for it because there were other people scoring goals or players like John Barnes coming in and doing amazing things. However, the second season at Roots Hall finished with The Shrimpers adrift from the rest of the pack and rock bottom of the table, which inevitably saw Whelan depart the club. Ronnie Whelan is a Liverpool legend who scored some vital goals in a red shirt and captained the team. Match report from News of the world on 12.04.1986. Looking back I would like to think that this kid from Finglas achieved something.”. “You had to work for what you got. [1][2] Whelan was awarded a benefit game in May 1963 and [3] in May 1965 he guested for Shamrock Rovers in another benefit game . He said: ‘Do you think you’re good enough to play?’, Then he replied: ‘Well, why didn’t you go knocking on the door three months ago?’. [2] On 24 May 1964 Whelan came on as a substitute after just five minutes for an injured Joe Haverty in a friendly against England at Dalymount Park. I thought I had some decent players to work with, I was thinking it was worth giving it a go. And supposedly – this is what I am hearing – is that he actually got on to a contact at Liverpool. I really wanted to get away. “He said something like he had never seen a 16- or 17-year-old able to look after themselves so well on the pitch and that they should sign me. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? At Whelan’s Finglas home, however, completing the Leaving Cert was always given priority over football, with young Ronnie eager to leave Ireland to try to join one of the biggest club sides in British football. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. Captain for the majority of the 1988-89 season after regular skipper Alan Hansen suffered an injury that resulted in the Scottish defender missing a significant part of the campaign, the Irishman led the Reds out in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. Source: EMPICS Sport. The promising Irishman was voted the best young player of the year in his first full season (1981-82) and scored two goals in the League cup final against Tottenham. Although Whelan didn’t see himself as a manager long-term, an opportunity too good to turn down presented itself. But a year later, Liverpool lost their European crown to Juventus in Heysel in a game that was overshadowed by the deaths of 39 people – mostly Juve supporters. On 2 October 1963 at Dalymount Park, Whelan scored the winner for the League of Ireland XI in a 2–1 win against an English League XI. Sites: It was like good cop, bad cop everyday just to get the best out of you. “I was due a big bonus if we got into Europe and I don’t think the new chairman they got wanted to pay me that, so he sacked me with three games to go. Then manager of Southend United, Ronnie Whelan. There he would go on to make his competitive senior debut at the tender age of 16. The pitfall now is not getting your £40,000 every week. The … I felt guilty because it was the team I was playing in that they came to see. When you’ve reached the heights he did on the pitch, anything else will always be a distant second best. Mick McCarthy asked me to go down to Millwall to play in a game; I think their reserves were playing against West Ham. Now 56, Whelan combines media work as well as speaking at corporate events, but the idea of returning to the game beyond commentating on it has lost its allure. I never enjoyed the management side. It was a fight but I was ready for it. There wasn’t much on that front, so I said I would sign the year contract. “That’s why when I see players now trying to secure better deals I say good luck to them. Players like John Aldridge and Steve McMahon would have suffered even more because these were local lads. That’s where I wanted to be but it doesn’t always happen that way, does it?”, Bob Paisley hands over control to Joe Fagan in 1983. Daft.ie, ‘They don’t give a f**k about you. I felt I had to go, but my parents really wanted me to finish school. “My wife and I went over for the match and they won the match. “You look at players doing the best players the played with on Sky, players like Graeme Souness put me in his team. It was different. “We won the game and he sticks his head around the door and says: ‘That’s 1-0 to you.’ As if he’s disappointed we just won!”. I actually have a feeling we might still get top 4, but if we don't I won't be holding it against the little Goblin. “You’re thinking what the fuck? I think it was due to not being a Scouse kid; I was this Irish kid that had come in. I was underestimated by the supporters, I was never underestimated by any teammate I had, or any manager I had – well, maybe until Jack Charlton came along with Ireland and he started dropping me. He was one of the best players of his generation. But that wasn’t the end of his management career. “I am standing asking: ‘Where is the big tall centre-back? They saw this young Irish lad coming over taking one of their positions away. “You see some of these kids with cars worth £100,000 at the age of 21. Forcing his way into English football’s most dominant force was a daunting challenge, but one he was ready to take on. Whelan also worked for Aer Lingus. One of his more important strikes came against Spurs as the Reds all but sealed the title. On 25 September 1963 Whelan played in a European Nations Cup qualifier against Austria. You're signed out. Olympiakos Nicosia of Cyprus was the next port of call. “We’re not counsellors. “He then went off to speak to the board; they said it was just going to be a year-long deal. I thought ‘fuck this.’, “I then went to Apollon Limassol for a bit after that. “If you couldn’t handle the dressing room you were going to struggle, no matter how good of a player you were. Over at Anfield, Ronnie Whelan was breaking into the side, while Mark Lawrenson, who played for international football for Ireland on his first visit to … This is former Liverpool midfielder Ronnie Whelan. “I got a phone call from this agent and he said there was a team called Panionios playing Panathionaks in the Greek Cup final, and that they wanted to change their manager win, lose or draw. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. It hurt me that they never went back in for me when I was 17 or 18. “There was attention on me at the time. It wasn’t a hardship. “It was a case of having three kids and me thinking I still need to earn some money. Adverts.ie | In total, Whelan scored 73 times for the Reds in his 493 appearances for the club. “I grew up quickly and learnt how to protect myself as a skinny 16-year-old against these hairy-arsed oul’ fellas. The team Whelan came into was stacked with Anfield heroes. Ronnie Whelan primary source of net wealth is being a Association Football Player. After 15 years that was it. Dave Bacuzzi played for Arsenal and Manchester City, managed Cork Hibernians, and helped develop the career of Liverpool and Ireland star Ronnie Whelan “I was so lucky to be part of so much success as a player. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 59 years old? Earlier in the season, the newly-capped Irish international also scored twice in the League Cup final win over Tottenham, as Liverpool retained the trophy and Whelan was named Young Player of the Year. Spirited. Yeah exactly. ... My wife and the other wife hit it of first and me and the husband got friendly after a short bit of the old Manc-Scouse rodeo. “I got in my car and drove home. Legend has it, Whelan was initially "discovered" by the wife of Paddy Moore, who then recommended him to her husband who was coaching Stella Maris at the time. But a different sort of education for Whelan, in the League of Ireland with Home Farm, would play a more crucial part of his career. Kenny Dalglish left me out a couple of times in his second year – I don’t know why – he never said why, but I was only out for a couple of games and I was back in. Whelan, with his wife Elaine and a host of friends, including Danny O’Carroll who plays ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ star ‘Buster Brady’ and Laurence Kinlan who plays ‘Elmo Creed’ in ‘Love Hate’, are walking part of what has now become the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ route, raising money and awareness for the Myaware charity. “I would go out wanting to keep it up 10 times, when I achieved that I’d go back into my house. “I was on trial at United for years. Legend has it, Whelan was initially "discovered" by the wife of Paddy Moore, who then recommended him to her husband who was coaching Stella Maris at the time. “It was the senior members of the squad that integrated you in. It was a hell of a shock to the system.”. Find the perfect ronnie whelan stock photo. That was bad, really bad. As well as scoring big goals, Whelan played a major part in helping Liverpool maintain their winning habits on the biggest stage as the club won their fourth European Cup after they beat Roma in the Eternal City in the 1984 final. Help us to tell the stories behind the scoreboard. I joined them and played a year under Peter Taylor in what’s now the Championship and it was great. “At the time, I didn’t feel the need to go knocking on the manager’s door for not giving me another chance after that game,” Whelan explains. I wanted to do it.”. Tap to unmute. “These guys were multiple league and European Cup winners, they demanded success. The most important thing to them is that you can help them out on the pitch. “You look back at Hillsborough and we never won the league again after 1990, which was a year later. “I was never left out of the team much at Liverpool. 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