The best footballers from Ireland regularly move to top clubs in England. The Irish leagues are competitive, but they lack quality in depth. If the best Irish players want to test themselves, they must move abroad.
Many of those players have appeared in the Premier League, and here are the best of them.
Top 15 Irishmen in the Premier League History
Roy Keane
A legend at Manchester United, Roy Keane was one of the most competitive players in the Premier League era. While he’ll mostly be remembered for his time at Old Trafford, Keane first played in the EPL for Nottingham Forest, who he joined in 1990.
He excelled at Forest, before Manchester United signed the player in 1993. Roy Keane went on to win every major trophy in England. As a captain and heartbeat of the side, he helped United win seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 1999.
There are some excellent players on this list, but Roy Keane may be the best of all.
Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane showed immense talent at a young age and developed into one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers. He debuted for Wolves in the old first division at age 17 and first played in the Premier League for Coventry City in 2009.
Keane’s longest spells in the top flight came with Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, but he also played for Liverpool, West Ham United and Aston Villa. Across his career, the forward scored an impressive 393 goals for club and country. Robbie Keane still holds the records for most caps and most goals for the Republic of Ireland.
Denis Irwin
Full back Dennis Irwin was a teammate of Roy Keane at Manchester United for nine years. He’d arrived at Old Trafford from Oldham Athletic in 1990, and was therefore at the club when the Premier League began.
A solid and reliable defender who provided accurate crosses from the right flank, Irwin also enjoyed great success in England. He won seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups and was also part of the Champions League winning team of 1999.
Paul McGrath
Centre half Paul McGrath left Manchester United before their most successful period, but he still made a mark on the Premier League. The Irish international began his English career with United and played at Old Trafford between 1982 and 1989.
He was a physical defender, but was also comfortable on the ball. In short, he was a complete package at the back, but a disagreement with new United manager Alex Ferguson saw McGrath move to Aston Villa. He was with Villa when the Premier League began, and he later spent a season in the top flight with Derby County. Paul McGrath didn’t win the Premier League but he won the EFL Cup twice with Aston Villa, and he was also an FA Cup winner with Manchester United in 1985.
Niall Quinn
Tall, physical striker Niall Quinn was there at the start of the Premier League. Arsenal handed him his senior debut and he spent seven years at the North London club between 1983 and 1990. When the EPL began in 1992, Quinn was with Manchester City, where he was established as a productive striker for the club.
Niall Quinn finished his career with Sunderland, and his overall scoring record was respectable. Across his three English clubs, the Ireland international made 551 appearances in all competitions, scoring 163 goals.
Damien Duff
A skillful winger who scored his share of important goals, Damien Duff played for four English Premier League teams. He began with Blackburn Rovers in 1996, and was part of the side that won the EFL Cup in 2002.
Duff’s performances caught the eye of Chelsea, who bought him in 2003. More success followed at Stamford Bridge with two Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006. Damien Duff wasn’t always a first choice at Chelsea, and later left to enjoy more first-team opportunities at Newcastle United and Fulham.
John O’Shea
John O’Shea is another Irish player who enjoyed success while at Manchester United. His professional career began at Old Trafford in 1999, and the defender was on United’s books for 12 years.
He became a first-choice defender in the 2002/03 season, and was calm and comfortable with the ball at his feet. While with Manchester United, John O’Shea won five Premier League titles, among a host of silverware and was also part of the team that won the Champions League in 2008. He later played for Sunderland in the EPL.
Seamus Coleman
Defender Seamus Coleman has enjoyed an incredible career, and is still playing for Everton in 2024. He joined the club in 2009, and is a fantastic servant for this Premier League team.
He’s made over 400 appearances for his side, and it’s rare to see such loyalty in the modern game. Seamus Coleman has also been an important part of the national setup, after making his senior Ireland debut in 2011.
Richard Dunne
Centre half Richard Dunne was one of the most respected defenders of the Premier League era. He began his professional career at Everton, but will mostly be remembered for nine years with Manchester City.
He was fearless in defence, but Dunne rarely missed a game through injury. He played in England for 19 years and, after leaving Manchester City, he finished his career with Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers.
Shay Given
Shay Given was the best Irish goalkeeper of the Premier League era, and was a great servant for Newcastle United. Given played for eight English clubs, but will mostly be remembered for his time with the Magpies between 1997 and 2009.
He was a calm presence in goal and rarely made an error. His quality also meant he earned 134 caps for the senior Republic of Ireland side. Shay Given also played in the EPL for Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Stoke City and he won the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2011.
Stephen Carr
Right back Stephen Carr was a reliable defender with great pace on the flanks. He could also offer an attacking threat and scored some spectacular goals. Carr began with Spurs in 1993, and spent eleven years with the club before moving to Newcastle United.
He later joined Birmingham City and won two EFL Cups in his career – with Spurs in 1999 and Birmingham in 2011.
Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton was another Irish international at the start of the Premier League era. He was playing for Aston Villa when the EPL began in 1992, having joined the club from Liverpool a year earlier.
Staunton was a great servant for Villa, playing in over 200 league games before rejoining Liverpool in 1998. He later played for Crystal Palace and Coventry City.
Jeff Kenna
When the Premier League began in 1992, Jeff Kenna played his football for Southampton. He later enjoyed a long spell at Blackburn Rovers when the team was among the most successful in England.
Kenna was a right back and became a solid part of the Blackburn defence. He played at the club for seven years, before playing for Birmingham City in the EPL. Jeff Kenna was a long-serving player and one of the most reliable in the early years of the Premier League.
Gary Kelly
Right-sided defender Gary Kelly, was a one-club man throughout his professional career. He made his senior debut for Leeds United in 1992, and was part of the team that won the First Division title in the final season before the Premier League.
Kelly stayed at Elland Road and made over 500 appearances for the club. He also earned 52 caps for the senior Irish side.
Shane Long
Striker Shane Long wasn’t the most prolific centre forward but scored important goals for his clubs. He played for five English teams, beginning with Reading from 2005 to 2011.
Long also played in the Premier League for West Brom, Hull City and Southampton, and was part of the Southampton side that reached the EFL Cup final in 2017.
Final Thoughts
There are many more Irish players to have featured in the Premier League era, but these are the best.
Premier League scouts only have to make a short trip across the Irish Sea to spot more talent, so who will be next to make this list?
