With Liverpool lifting the Premier League trophy this weekend, we take a look at some of the boys in green who have donned the famous red jersey and graced the Anfield turf.
1. Steve Heighway
Born in Dublin, raised in England, and immortalised in a terrace song which is still sung to this day, Heighway was signed by the legendary Liverpool Manager, Bill Shankly in 1970. A pacy left winger, with two good feet, he thrilled Liverpool fans with his performances during the ‘70s, in a golden era for the club. Five First Division titles, two European Cups, two UEFA Cups and one League Cup are in his trophy haul. Heighway became academy director at Liverpool during a period when the club introduced players such as Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher. He retired in 2007 but later rejoined the Liverpool Academy in a consultancy role, a job which he held until retiring again in 2022. Making his Ireland debut in September 1970, Heighway amassed 34 international caps.
2. Mark Lawrenson
A tall and elegant central defender, Lawrenson joined Liverpool for a then club record fee of £900,000 after spells at Preston and Brighton and Hove Albion. At Anfield he went on to forge a formidable partnership with Alan Hansen at the heart of the Liverpool defence, winning five League Titles, a European Cup, an FA Cup and three League Cups. Making his debut for Ireland in a friendly match against Poland in April 1970, Lawrenson would collect 39 caps and score five goals for Ireland, including two goals in the 8-0 trashing of Malta in 1984 and a crucial strike in a 1-1 draw against Scotland at Hamden Park in the successful qualifying campaign for Euro ’88. Sadly, an Achilles tendon injury prematurely ended his career, but after a brief spell in charge of Oxford United, Lawrenson went on to forge a successful career in the media, working as a co-commentator on both television and radio and regularly appearing on BBC’s Football Focus and Match of the Day.
3. Ronnie Whelan
A consistent and versatile midfielder with an uncanny knack of arriving in the box at the right moment, the Dublin native began his career at Home Farm, before joining Liverpool as an 18-year-old for a bargain £35,000 in September 1979, staying until 1994. Described by Bob Paisley as the man for the big occasion, he played a vital role in Liverpool’s all conquering side of the 1980’s, winning six League Titles, a European Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups during a trophy laden spell. Starting as a left midfielder, by the end of the 1980’s, he had reinvented himself as a central midfielder. In the green jersey, Whelan won 53 caps and scored three goals (including an unforgettable stunner against the USSR in Euro ‘88), he also was part of the 1990 and 1994 World Cup squads. After he hung up his boots, he briefly managed at Southend United and in Greece and Cyprus. Whelan features regularly on RTE’s soccer programming providing co-commentary on both international and Champions League games.
4. John Aldridge
When Liverpool had to replace the legendary Ian Rush in 1987, they turned their attention to a prolific scouser who had just won the League Cup with Oxford United. Aldridge was an instant hit with the Anfield faithful, scoring 26 goals in the 1987-88 thrilling title winning side, which also featured John Barnes and Peter Beardsley. He also played (and scored) in the 1989 FA Cup Final win against Everton. Aldridge departed Liverpool in 1989 with a record of 63 goals in 104 appearances and moved to Spain to star for Real Sociedad (scoring 40 goals in 75 appearances), before rounding out his career at Tranmere Rovers, where he eventually became player-manager, taking the club to the 2000 League Cup Final. Qualifying for Ireland through his grandmother from Athlone, it may have taken Aldridge 20 matches to register his first strike (in a friendly against Tunisia in October 1988) but he was a key component of Jack Charlton’s “put ‘em under pressure” tactics. He netted his first competitive goals in a 2-0 away win over Malta which sealed Ireland’s qualification for the 1990 World Cup (he went on to play in all five of Ireland’s games at the tournament). His career with Ireland is also remembered for an off-pitch incident in the 1994 World Cup. Trailing the game 2-0 against Mexico, dithering and incompetent officials were on the receiving end of tirades from both Aldridge and Charlton, as Big Jack tried to send him on as a substitute. When Aldridge was finally allowed onto the pitch he netted a great header. His final game for the boys in green came against Macedonia in October 1996. He now works as a pundit and newspaper columnist.
5. Ray Houghton
When Ireland came calling for Oxford United’s John Aldridge in 1986, they fortuitously found out that his Glaswegian teammate Ray Houghton was also eligible. Playing for the likes of Fulham, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Houghton’s greatest club achievements came in the red jersey of Liverpool. Signed at the beginning of the 1987-88 season, Houghton quickly slotted into the right side of midfield in the entertaining Liverpool side of the late ‘80’s, winning two League Titles and two FA Cups. Puzzlingly he was sold by Manager Graeme Souness in the 1991-92 season when he had so much more to offer the Reds. For Ireland, Houghton is quite rightly considered a legend, not only for his swashbuckling displays in his 73 appearances, but also for his headed winner against England in the opening game of Euro ’88 and for his looping shot into the net that beat the Italians in the Giants Stadium in New York at World Cup ’94. In 2008, Houghton was part of the three-man team (alongside Don Givens and Don Howe) to head-hunt the new Ireland international manager. The team nominated the legendary Giovanni Trapattoni for the role. Since he retired Houghton has worked as an Ambassador for the Football Association of Ireland, and like many other former Liverpool FC players he has gone on to a career in punditry, with outlets such as RTÉ, talkSPORT, and LFC TV.
So, do you have any other suggestions? There are plenty of other candidates! Let us know in the comments!