Eamonn Dunphy: World Football's Greatest Pundit or Biggest Idiot?

In recent times it has become quite common for retired—and not so retired—football players to become involved in the media.

Perhaps none are more controversial than Eamonn Dunphy.

To my knowledge, Eamonn Dunphy is largely known throughout Ireland and Britain. However, for those that do not know of the man, I will give a quick synopsis of his career.

Dunphy the player

Dunphy was born in Dublin in 1945.

As a teenager, Dunphy followed the path of so many aspiring Irish footballers and made the trip to England in order to pursue a professional career.

There he joined Manchester United as an apprentice, but was judged not good enough to make it and he never played for the Red Devils.

In 1965, he got his chance playing for York City and impressed enough to earn a place at Milwall. It was here he made his name as a midfielder. During his nine years there, Dunphy played 23 times for the Republic of Ireland and remains Milwall's most capped international.

Between 1973 and 1977, Dunphy played for Charlton Athletic and Reading before returning home to Ireland in 1977 to play for Shamrock Rovers. At this time, Rovers were managed by Johnny Giles, whose aim was to make the Dublin side Ireland's first full-time side.

However, the project failed and Dunphy quit football disillusioned to pursue a media career.

Dunphy the journalist

Since the early 1980s, Dunphy has been involved in every form of media in Ireland. His comments are not restricted to football, he is quite willing to give his two cents on any topical subject.

He has contributed numerous articles to The Sunday Tribune, The Sunday Independent, The Irish Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Press, and is currently a leading sports columnist with The Irish Daily Star.

However, his most famous pieces of writing are his autobiography "Only a Game? Diary of a Professional Footballer" and is perhaps best known for ghost-writing the Roy Keane autobiography. 

Dunphy is a popular radio host, first on Newstalk and then on RTE Radio One where he hosts a topical debate show.

Dunphy the pundit

Despite Dunphy's large coverage in newspapers and on radio, he reserves his most controversial talk for his role as pundit on football matches.

This includes RTE's (Raidio Telifis na hEireann—Ireland's national broadcaster) coverage of the English Premiership, UEFA Champions League, Republic of Ireland international matches, European Championships, and World Cups.

For many years, the RTE football panel was made up of Bill O'Heirlihy, Johnny Giles, Eamonn Dunphy, and Liam Brady (Brady has now left to take up his role as assistant to Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni) with regular appearances made by, among others, Ray Houghton, Graeme Souness, John Toshack, Kenny Cunningham, and Packie Bonnor.

The panel-members are known for speaking their minds and are seen as a refreshing break from the "nice guys" of ITV and Sky Sports. More often than not the debate turns into a heated argument, usually started by Eamonn Dunphy. One row was so bad, that Giles and Dunphy did not talk for many years.

Dunphy and controversy

Dunphy has long criticised the Ireland national squad.

Following a 0-0 draw with Eygpt in the 1990 World Cup, Dunphy threw his biro across the studio in disgust ranting that the team and Jack Charlton were "a disgrace". He went on to label Charlton a "bully" who "played ugly football". It was at this time that a chant around Irish pubs became very popular, going along the lines of "If you hate f***ing Dunphy clap your hands".

Dunphy further alienated himself from the Irish public during 2002 following the McCarthy - Keane affair in Saipan. He lambasted McCarthy and called Keane "a gentleman. He's a class act. He's a rebel. And he stands up to bullies."

He then "withdrew" his support of the Irish team stating, "I will be supporting Germany and Saudi Arabia in the contests ahead." This followed Dunphy turning up in studio for Ireland's opening game against Cameroon sporting a tie in the colours of the African side.

Not surprisingly, Dunphy has recently had a falling out with Keane, who he has labelled a "bullsh**ter" and a "politician".

In the last year perhaps the biggest bust-up in studio has been between Dunphy and Liam Brady.

Following Arsenal's exit to Liverpool in the Champions League, Dunphy proceeded to compare Arsene Wenger to John Cleese, complete with video footage, much to the anger of Brady (See video here).

Dunphy is an adamant fan of Alex Ferguson but seems unable to make up his mind on the Frenchman. For several weeks after the argument with Brady, Dunphy portrayed Wenger and Arsenal as a wronged team and not getting the success they deserve. He continues to be indecisive about Arsenal and Wenger, one week hating them, the next liking them. Typical Dunphy!!

The controversial pundit is also a renowned anti-Ronaldo campaigner calling him a "poof ball", "whinger", "brat", and "the most wicked thing in the game". He did change his mind momentarily but seems to have reverted to his original stance again.

Other Dunphy Quotes

"Mourinho, he's poisonous"

On Fabio Cannavarro - "If Rio Ferdinand is worth £100,000 a week, then
this guy is worth EUR100 million...a day"

On Niall Quinn - "The man's an idiot, a Mother Theresa"

On Harry Kewell again - "He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all
to see"

On Djibril Cisse - "here we have Cisse, right wing, attempts to put in a
cross, BANG...hits the full back, again BANG hits the full back,
BANG...off the full back again, and once more, BANG...smacks the full
back again.... Millions of euro and he can't clear the first man, I
mean...whats he trying to do to the full back here, Kill him??"

On the Fergie V Strachen feud:
Eamon: "Scots they're either nice or they're horrid and these two are horrid."
Bill: "The Scots wont like that Eamon, that's bordering on racism."
Eamon: "Its not racism its ethnic criticism Bill."

On the stubborn climate which exists in the board room at Real Madrid:
"Bill, Bill...those directors over there are on another planet. They're on mushrooms or something...THEY'RE ON ACID BIILL!!!"

About Arsene Wenger not buying big players:
"If you want to go to the party Bill, then you've got to buy a new coat. A mink Bill"

Eamon Dunphy: "Look at Graeme, he won four Champions Leagues."
Graeme Souness: " Three."
Dunphy: " He won four league titles."
Souness: "Five."
Dunphy: "It's not bloody Mastermind."

"The Irish team have better players than Inter Milan"

These are merely a drop in the ocean.

While Dunphy may be annoying at times, talk utter rubbish and flip-flop like there is no tomorrow, at least you are guaranteed to be entertained. Isn't that why we pay our television license?