List of the best soccer players from Ireland. List includes the top soccer (or “football”) players from Ireland, along with photos when available. This list of best Irish soccer players is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest players are at the top of the list. If you're searching for a particular famous Irish soccer player you can use the "search" box to find what you're looking for.
The list you're viewing is made up of different players like John O'Shea and Michael Robinson.
This list answers the questions, "Who are the best Irish footballers?" and "Who is the greatest Irish soccer player of all time?"
You can click on the names of these popular soccer players of Ireland in order to get more information about each one. If you're a sports lover then you can use this list of popular Irish soccer players to discover some new athletes that you might really enjoy watching.1
429107Roy Keane
MidfielderBirthplace: Cork, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971) is an Irish football manager and former professional... more2
26673Paul McGrath
DefenderBirthplace: Ealing, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: Ireland, England
Paul McGrath (born 4 December 1959) is an Irish former professional footballer, who played as... more3
319100Robbie Keane
ForwardBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Robert David Keane (born 8 July 1980) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as... more4
17031Denis Irwin
DefenderBirthplace: Cork, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Joseph Denis Irwin (born 31 October 1965) is an Irish former professional footballer who... more5
20558Liam Brady
MidfielderBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
William Brady (born 13 February 1956) is an Irish former footballer, and assistant manager, of... more6
15340Johnny Giles
MidfielderBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Michael John Giles (born 6 November 1940) is an Irish former association football player and... more7
18156Shay Given
GoalkeeperBirthplace: Lifford, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Séamus John James Given (born 20 April 1976) is an Irish former professional footballer who... more8
879George Best
MidfielderBirthplace: Belfast, United Kingdom
Nationality: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who... more9
10328Jimmy Dunne
ForwardBirthplace: Ringsend, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
For other people with the same name, see Jimmy Dunne (disambiguation).James Dunne (3 September... more10
9223Johnny Carey
DefenderBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
John Joseph Carey (23 February 1919 – 22 August 1995), known as Johnny Carey or Jackie Carey,... more11
13053Damien Duff
Defender, ForwardBirthplace: Ballyboden, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Damien Anthony Duff (born 2 March 1979) is an Irish professional football coach and former... more12
12150Séamus Coleman
Defender, MidfielderBirthplace: Killybegs, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Séamus Coleman (born 11 October 1988) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a... more13
7918Tony Cascarino
ForwardBirthplace: St Paul's Cray, United Kingdom
Nationality: Republic of Ireland, England
Anthony Guy Cascarino (born 1 September 1962) is a former footballer who played as a forward... more14
10338Ronnie Whelan
MidfielderBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Ronald Andrew Whelan (; born 25 September 1961) is an Irish former soccer player who played as... more15
8626Kevin Doyle
Forward, MidfielderBirthplace: Adamstown, County Wexford, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Kevin Edward Doyle (born 18 September 1983) is an Irish former professional footballer who... more16
649Billy Whelan
Forward, Inside forwardBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
William Augustine Whelan (1 April 1935 – 6 February 1958), also known as Billy Whelan or Liam... more17
7821Kevin Moran
DefenderBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Kevin Bernard Moran (born 29 April 1956) is a former Irish footballer who excelled at the top... more18
8429Packie Bonner
GoalkeeperBirthplace: Burtonport, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Patrick Joseph "Packie" "Pat" Bonner (born 24 May 1960) is an Irish retired football... more19
8126David O'Leary
DefenderBirthplace: Stoke Newington, London, England
Nationality: Ireland, England
David Anthony O'Leary (born 2 May 1958) is an Irish football manager and former player. His... more20
9134Ray Houghton
MidfielderBirthplace: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Nationality: Ireland, Scotland, United Kingdom
Raymond James Houghton (born 9 January 1962) is a retired football player, and current analyst... more21
9946John O'Shea
Defender, MidfielderBirthplace: Waterford, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
John Francis O'Shea (born 30 April 1981) is an Irish former professional footballer and... more22
6720Steve Staunton
DefenderBirthplace: Drogheda, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Stephen Staunton (born 19 January 1969) is an Irish association football manager and former... more23
7328John Aldridge
ForwardBirthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Nationality: Republic of Ireland, England
John William "Aldo" Aldridge (born 18 September 1958 in Liverpool, England) is a former... more24
7329Frank Stapleton
ForwardBirthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton (born 10 July 1956 in Dublin) is an Irish former football... more25
6322Glenn Whelan
MidfielderBirthplace: Clondalkin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Glenn David Whelan (born 13 January 1984) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a... more