Skip to main content

A Few Incredible Irish Goalkeepers at the European Top Flight Competition

Image
By

 


The Irish goalkeepers seem to be too rare to have a spotlight in the European top flight competition, UEFA Champions League, or European Cup in the past.

The record on Irish goalkeepers in the Champions League or European Cup have never been easy to find, especially the incredible ones. Such does not appear to be the main stage for them. However, it might change this season with the emergence of Caoimhin Kelleher. The current Liverpool goalie is initially Alisson Becker’s understudy. Yet, his thigh injury has forced him on the sideline. His potential return is on December 14th. During his absence, the Ireland international displayed his true quality, including saving penalties. Kylian Mbappe’s one was the most recent one he denied, which helped The Reds end their dismal run against Los Blancos in the Champions League by snatching a 2-0 win at home.

Kelleher has featured in five UCL games so far: three fixtures this season plus another two final matches at the group stage in the 2020/21 campaign. He has lifted the UCL trophy but not as the first choice. No wonder that this season could be his chance to shine, provided Arne Slot would still name him in the lineup for Champions League games, even after the return of Alisson.

What’s even worse, his contract will end in summer 2026, plus The Reds have decided to sign Georgian goalie Giogi Mamardashvili, who is currently still on loan with his former side, Valencia. Next season, he should be heading to Anfield while Alisson is still the expected number 1. Such would push Kelleher to the exit, should he want to play regularly.

Ahead of the clash against Girona this midweek, which could be the Irish 26-year-old’s final appearance in the UCL this year, let us find out the other Irish goalies have notable form in the Champions League.


Pat Bonner (Glasgow Celtic)

One name who is definitely on the list is none other than Pat Bonner. He was part of the Ireland squad during Jack Charlton’s tenure in the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. It was the period when they made their EURO and World Cup debut.

Bonner played for Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic throughout his career. Thus, he undoubtedly had experience performing in the European Cup. The Donegal-born goalie made his European Cup debut in the 1981/82 season as he helped The Bhoys thump Juventus 1-0 in the first round. Unfortunately, they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.

During his stint from 1978 to 1997, he only made 14 appearances in UEFA’s top-tier competition, and Celtic’s best progress was only reaching the second round. Bonner did help them to do so in the 1982/83, 1986/87, and 1988/89 campaigns. In the 1982/83 season, he even contributed to Celtic’s 2-1 win over Ajax on the road. The shot-stopper with 80 international caps was able to deny Johan Cruyff’s dangerous free kick in the second half. However, despite knocking out the Dutch giant in the first round, Celtic failed to ease past Real Sociedad in the second round. They were eliminated by a 3-2 loss on aggregate.

Games in UCL (clean sheet)

Season

Notable games

2 (1)

1981/82

Celtic vs Juventus 1-0 (1st round)

4 (0)

1982/83

Ajax vs Celtic 1-2 (1st round)

4 (2)

1986/87

-

3 (1)

1988/89

Bremen vs Celtic 0-0 (2nd round)

Shay Given (Newcastle United)

Another Irish goalie in UCL is certainly none other than one of the best Irish shot stoppers in the Premier League, Shay Given. He was the key figure in Newcastle United when they competed in European top-flight competition in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He was given featured in 14 UCL games and helped The Magpies to reach the second group stage in the 2002/03 campaign. Overall, the former Manchester City and Everton shot stopper only made appearances in two seasons in UEFA’s continental top tier without making a single clean sheet.

Nevertheless, he produced more clinical saves than Bonner to avoid more conceding. Given was quite heroic in his Champions League debut while beating Barcelona 3-2 at St. James Park in the 1997/98 season with his remarkable saves to protect their three-goal lead before eventually Luis Enrique and Luis Figo reduced their deficit. He replicated his form while taking on Dynamo Kiev after conceding twice in the first half. The Toon Army managed to snatch one point in the end, but that was not enough to help them progress to the next stage.


Games in UCL (clean sheet)

Season

Notable games

4 (0)

1997/98

Newcastle vs Barcelona 3-2

Dynamo Kiev vs Newcastle 2-2

(group stage)

10 (0)

2002/03

Newcastle vs Bayer Leverkusen 3-1

Inter Milan vs Newcastle 2-2

(second group stage)

 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why South American Clubs are no longer a threat in the FIFA Club World Cup

By
  The South American clubs are no longer the favourite to end UEFA’s domination in the FIFA Club World Cup. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is set to begin at the end of this week. This expanded edition is expected to bring more competitive games and rekindle heated rivalries at the latter stage between UEFA and CONMEBOL sides. However, the latter reason seems rather out of reach considering the decline of the South American teams. Their dipped performance in the tournament, which was once known in a one-off showdown between the UCL and Copa Libertadores champions, has been quite distressing. The last time CONMEBOL lifted the trophy was in 2012 when Corinthians snatched a scrappy 1-0 victory over Chelsea under Tite. Since then, Copa Libertadores champions have not always reached the final in the competition. In fact, in the past five editions, only three of them advanced to the summit. No wonder that many have doubts they could win again, including in this year’s edition when C...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Best South American Managers in FIFA Club World Cup predecessor, Intercontinental Cup

By
  South American managers who won the FIFA Club World Cup or its predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, are still fewer compared to European gaffers. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is in progress to the second game. The South American sides, which have been deemed underdogs, finally managed to show their quality to the world after Botafogo’s stunning victory over the Champions League winner, PSG. It is literally the first win from the CONMEBOL sides against the UEFA sides since 2012, when Tite’s Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0 in Yokohama, Japan. However, despite the Brazilian side’s unexpected victory last night, it still cannot be claimed to be fully achieved by the South American. Botafogo is currently under the tutelage of the foreign manager. The Portuguese Renato Pavia has been in charge of the club since February this year. On the contrary, Flamengo’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea can be considered as one. The 1981 Intercontinental Cup champion is led by a true South American ma...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dark Age in Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup Predecessor

By
  The FIFA Club World Cup predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, was once notorious for its dark years involving real violence on the pitch. The FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) might have just been held for the first time in the new millennium back in 2000. Yet, this tournament has a long history with shocking facts on and off the pitch. Its predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, had an unbelievable tale in the late 1960s and 1970s, once raising concern about its future before being revitalised in the 1980s.  The Intercontinental Cup, not the one with ‘FIFA’ at the front, was once not recognised by the world football governing body despite being endorsed by the two strongest regional football confederations in the world, UEFA and CONMEBOL . It was only considered ‘a friendly match’ by FIFA. Yet, its prestige was still well recognised globally, as it featured the duel of the best clubs from Europe and South America. They are undoubtedly still the ones at the top level of internat...
Post a Comment
Read more