Well then, this was a day when the Irish team were genuine, bona-fide, real-life superstars.
Jack Charlton’s tenure in charge of the Republic of Ireland was a golden era for Irish football and this team that lined out in Hampden Park in February 1987 – the last time the sides met in a competitive fixture (well, barring the Nations Cup of course) – was just phenomenal.
Can you find one weak link anywhere throughout this 11?
Packie Bonner
At this stage, Packie Bonner and Celtic were playing out a trophyless season before embarking on a title-winning campaign in Scotland, the last league triumph the Donegal stopper would enjoy. At the age of 27 though, Bonner was fast becoming a renowned goalkeeper and he took for Hampden Park at the start of his elongated prime.
Paul McGrath
McGrath was an ever-present in the Manchester United side that slipped its way to 11th place in the 86/87 season, ultimately spelling the end for Ron Atkinson as his last full campaign in charge, before being replaced by Fergie. Finding himself shifted from midfield to defence in the Ireland set-up, big Paul would’ve been just as influential in goals if only Packie wasn’t so immovable.
Mick McCarthy
Not having a good club season with Manchester City, Mick and the Citizens were eventually relegated from the top flight at the end of the ’86/’87 squad but our prized centre back was facing no drop. Instead, he would travel north and show Packie and the rest of the Celtic team how to win a title in Scotland.
Kevin Moran
The Manchester United defender was basking in the 10th anniversary of a second All-Ireland football title with Dublin. Was enjoying his usual hogging of the defence in Manchester before Steve Bruce arrived that summer to take some game time off him.
Tony Galvin
The left-winger was playing out his last season for Tottenham Hotspur having won two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup with the north London club.
Ronnie Whelan
Fresh from winning the Super Cup the previous season throughout what was his best campaign with Liverpool, scoring 14 times, Whelan was all-action in the 1986/87 season, racking up another 39 league appearances. The Dubliner would go on to win the title again in the following season.
Mark Lawrenson
On the same night Gary Lineker banged in four goals in Madrid as England took a 4-2 victory back from Spain, Lawrenson was the real hero of the hour, hitting the only goal in a game that really reinvigorated Ireland’s dash for qualification to the Euros, a competition he missed out on because of injury. Another servant of Liverpool, 1987 was Lawro’s last year with Ireland before he left Anfield the following summer, too.
Ray Houghton
The Glaswegian was ripping it up for Oxford United and enjoying his genesis in the Republic of Ireland squad. Scored in the ’86 League Cup final to help United to a rare success but he was about to make a career-defining move in a few months time, joining Ronnie at Anfield and going on to win the league in his first season with the Merseyside club.
Liam Brady
One of the side’s most distinguished players, in a team full of household names in fairness, Liam Brady was plying his trade with Ascoli at the time of this game where he served the Italians for just one campaign. After the east Italy town saw their team promoted to Serie A, Brady left Inter for them but would quickly depart for a return to London and West Ham in the summer of 1987.
Frank Stapleton
The skipper of the team, big Frank racked up some important goals throughout the qualification process, scoring against Belgium, Bulgaria and Luxembourg. The third United man in the starting XI at the time, he was playing out his last season at Old Trafford at this stage where he would soon head for the Netherlands to hook up with Ajax. After United, Stapleton went on to play for nine different clubs in eight years.
John Aldridge
Another one who was about to sign for Liverpool, the Scouse hitman made his debut for Ireland during Jack Charlton’s first game in charge in ’86. Aldo would have to wait until October of ’88 to hit his first goal for the country though. Playing for Oxford at the time, the approach for Aldridge was what eventually brought Houghton to Ireland as well.
Hard to argue that this wasn’t the greatest ever Irish starting 11 but if you want to name one and send it in, be our guest and we’ll have a look.
We’ll leave the last word with Mr Mark Lawrenson himself, who agrees that this side is the best.
