Irish Reds: Liverpool's 5 Most Loved Players from St. Patrick's Shamrock Isle
Although they are Red to the core, Liverpool have a history of some great Irish players. On this, the greenest of days of the year for Ireland, it is important to remember that those just across the way from Liverpool have had a memorable impact on the club's fabled lifetime.
In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I thought a look back at some of Liverpool's greatest and most loved Irishmen would be in order. The pictured Steve Finnan made the short list but not the final cut as we count down five of the best Irishmen to ever put on the Liverpool Red.
It is also a day to think heavily upon because Liverpool faces elimination from the Europa League today. The tournament's final is hosted in Dublin, Ireland this year and the Reds hope for the luck of the Irish on the day to help keep them headed to the Shamrock Isle later this season.
Honorable Mention: Ray Houghton
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Houghton joined Liverpool in 1987 from Oxford to take the reigns on the right side of Liverpool's midfield. He joined new additions John Aldridge, John Barnes, and Peter Beardsley to form one of the most exciting forward lines in the club's history.
His first goal came just 11 days after his debut and helped to keep up Liverpool's remarkable start to the campaign which saw the side rack up 29 unbeaten league matches from the start of the season, which ended with a League title.
Houghton would go on to score 28 goals in 153 League appearances for the Reds and during his time at the club from 1987 to 1992, they picked up two League Titles, two FA Cups, and three Charity Shields.
John Aldridge
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John Aldridge joined Liverpool the same season just prior to Oxford teammate Ray Houghton. Aldridge would go on to not only star in two World Cups for Ireland but fired in 63 goals for the Reds in 104 League appearances.
Aldridge lifted one League title, and one Charity Shield with the Reds. Despite spending more time at several other clubs, Liverpool was and remains the club closest to his heart. Aldridge is a regular on Liverpool Football Club's Television Channel as a fan and former player.
Elisha Scott
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Elisha Scott is perhaps one of the most revered names ever to be spoken on Merseyside. The Northern Ireland keeper is regarded as possibly the greatest net tender in Liverpool's history.
On February 21, 1934, he played his 467th and final game for Liverpool after being offered a player/manager role at Belfast Celtic.
During the final home game of the season, the legend gave a speech in the directors' box which is said to have brought tears from even the most hardened of Kopites present. A 20-year career, that spanned such an unprecedented amount of time, showed impressive loyalty for footballers even in his day.
He lifted two League titles with the Reds in 1922 and 1923. He finally retired from the game at the age of 42 in 1936 and continued to manage the Belfast club until it folded in 1949.
Mark Lawrenson
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Lawrenson made 241 League appearances for the Reds between 1981 and 1988 after costing the club a record £900,000 pounds for his services from Brighton & Hove Albion.
In Lawrenson's first season, Liverpool won the League championship and the League Cup, which they would retain for another two seasons, becoming only the third club in history to win three titles in a row. They also added the club's fourth European Cup in 1984, the last time Liverpool would win this honour until the 2005 "Miracle" in Istanbul.
His Liverpool career ended after 332 appearances and 18 goals in all competitions, and he will be remembered as one of the most accomplished midfielders to wear Liverpool Red.
You can catch Lawrenson these days as a pundit on Match of the Day.
Steve Heighway
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Heighway will forever be immortalized as one of the greatest wide players in Liverpool history. Having played nearly his entire professional career as a Red and never playing a game for another English team gives him great respect amongst the Kopites.
His 11 years from 1970-1981 saw some of the greatest days in Liverpool's history as the club began its rise to domination in the '70s. Those years saw the trophy cabinet at Anfield expand immensely only to be eclipsed by the following decade.
Heighway made 475 appearances for the Reds scoring 76 goals in all competitions. He lifted five League titles, one FA Cup, three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, one League Cup, one European Super Cup, and four Charity Shields.
He would return to Liverpool as the director of the Youth Academy and won three FA Youth Cups in 1996, 2006, and 2007, after which he retired from football entirely.
Ronnie Whelan
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No Irishman has ever meant more to Liverpool fans than Ronnie Whelan. With an eye for the pass and a daftly touch for goal, the midfielder was a sensation.
Considered a character by Liverpool and Irish teammates alike, his presence was a massive loss if not in the side. He captained the team in heart and spirit much like their current talisman and captain Steven Gerrard, and both of them had and have the drive to push the Reds to victory.
His prolific career saw him make 493 appearances while scoring 73 goals in all competitions, and gather one of the most impressive lists of trophy's in Reds history. Whelan lifted six League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, five Charity Shields, and the one and only Screen Sports Super Cup.
Whelan is currently the UEFA Europa League ambassador for the 2010-2011 competition. This again seems ironic as the Reds face elimination at the hands of Braga on St. Patrick's Day in a competition whose final will be in Dublin, and all the while Liverpool's greatest Irishman is its mouthpiece. Seems almost more than coincidence.
