Footballer’s YouTube highlight reels aren’t just for Brazilians and wonderkids.
There’s even a few dedicated to the talents of Irish players, although it’s criminal that there’s yet to be one made for Jonathan Walters.
We’ve ranked the top 10 Irish player’s highlight reels:
10. Aiden McGeady
Unfortunately for the on-loan Sheffield Wednesday winger, the highlight reel of his last 12 months would feature him looking glum on Everton’s substitute bench.
The highlights of his time at Spartak Moscow shows the talented McGeady in a better light. However, like the player himself, the video mostly features a series of stepovers, and little end product.
9. Shane Long
We’re huge Shane Long fans, but this highlight video does little to back up its bold claim that the striker is one of football’s “most underrated players”.
It shows Long for exactly what he is: a good Premier League striker, who is capable of being very good, works hard for his team and can occasionally score a great goal.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7VagtfvSs8
8. Robbie Brady
This video did exactly what it promised and introduced Norwich City fans to their new signing.
Brady’s prowess from a dead ball situation is showcased, and the Dubliner is shown humbling the mighty Harrowgate Town in a pre-season friendly, as well as scoring some cracking goals for Ireland.
As Brady’s career is still in it’s relative infancy, the video is short on highlights. But it shows there’s a lot more to come from the 24-year-old.
7. James McClean
Fans of narrative, this is the video for you. Although it’s a bold claim to call the Ireland international “the future of football”, this video acts as a prequel for McClean’s subsequent career.
We see the Derry winger rise from humble roots, impressing for his hometown team, before “taking the Premier League by storm” and scoring in Sunderland’s FA Cup win over Middlesborough.
The darker sequel, featuring McClean’s controversial incidents, descend with Wigan Athletic and rise to Premier League regular with West Brom, has yet to be made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4N6o79fY94
6. Kevin Doyle
We’ve included this for the title alone – “Kevin Doyle – Welcome to Arsenal 2011.”
We can only assume the video’s creator is a member of Doyle’s immediate family.
5. Robbie Keane
For an American audience those who might be a bit less initiated with the beautiful game, the Ireland captain’s highlight reel of his time with LA Galaxy makes him look like the second coming of Pele.
However, when one takes into account the standard of ‘defenders’ he’s bamboozling, you’ve no choice to drop the video points.
Of course, Robbie can only beat what’s in front of him, and he does score some great goals, but, again, the MLS has proved easy work for a player of his skill and experience.
The video does have excellent production values, but arguably does more to highlight the deficiencies in American defending, than act as a true reflection of how good Robbie is.
Stick around to the end though to watch Keane pull off a trick shot involving a shopping trolley.
4. Wes Hoolahan
This 14 minute epic is an ode to the talents of Wes Hoolahan.
Foregoing the awful, seemingly obligatory techno music that is the norm for footballer’s highlight reels, this video features a classical, sombre score, set against Hoolahan’s displays for Norwich in their promotion winning campaign last season.
It seeks to tug at your heartstrings, and make you question all that is right in the world when a man of this much skill and talent hasn’t plied his trade at a higher level for a longer period of his career.
A Terence Malik-style arthouse film to the Michael Bay-esque loud, tacky fare one normally associates with YouTube highlight reels. A real labour of love for a talented player.
Although we’re suspicious as to whether it was made by Eamon Dunphy.
3. Seamus Coleman
Is Seamus Coleman the best-right back in the Premier League? We dare you to argue otherwise after watching this reel.
The Everton defender is shown scoring goals, setting up his teammates, bursting out of defence and generally displaying that he’s the complete full-back.
As far as showcasing a player’s all round game, this is as good as it gets.
2. Paul McShane
A cruel, if rather funny, take on Paul McShane’s early career displays.
The Ginger Maldini isn’t shown in the best light. However, as he’s since built a solid career at club and international level, becoming a fan favourite at Hull City and captaining Reading, he ultimately had the last laugh. So we’re sure he’d see the funny side of this “highlight reel” titled “Paul McShane – The God of this era.”
The reason we’ve ranked it so high is because it’s so memorable. With over 150,00 views, it’s also by a distance the most popular of the Irish player’s highlight reels.
1. John O’Shea
Nutmegs, a last minute winner for Manchester United into the Kop end, a delicate chip against Arsenal and winning five Premier League titles; John O’Shea’s highlight reel is a thing of beauty.
The Waterford man even jumps in goal and keeps a clean sheet against the greatest goalscorer in Irish football history.
The video is so good, and confident that it has conveyed the brilliance of it’s subject, it doesn’t even feel the need to include O’Shea’s nutmeg on Luis Figo.
