Competitive full international....

**seand** · 26/08/2015, 3:29 PM

Sligo's Sander Puri is in the Estonia squad for their upcoming euro qualifiers. Of course there's no guarantee he'll play, but I'm wondering who the last League of Ireland player was to play a competitive (World Cup or Euro qualifier) international in Europe while still a LoI player? Do we have to go back to the 70s or early 80s for a Republic of Ireland international?

And while we're here, how many League of Ireland players played full internationals for countries other than RoI while still in the league? There were a couple of Derry lads for NI, Coyle, McGinn. Wes Charles certainly played for St Vincent while at Bray, Nooitmeer for Haiti while at Galway. Any others?

**El-Pietro** · 26/08/2015, 3:43 PM

Roberts Mezeckis was capped for Latvia in 2009 - he played a handful of games that season for us before retiring due to injury. I think he was capped just before the season started but I'm not sure and can't find anything on it. He looked brilliant to be fair to him, was a real pity it didn't work out for him. The other Latvian we had that season, Guntars Silgailis was not quite as good.

**patrickccfc** · 26/08/2015, 4:24 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

The other Latvian we had that season, Guntars Silgailis was not quite as good.

He scored 3 goals in his first 2 games if I remember correctly, then became a source of amusement after that because of his sometimes comical attempts at scoring. We sometimes chant his name along with other ex-player's song's during a game

**Martinho II** · 26/08/2015, 4:26 PM

I am sure Eric Lavine was capped whilst playin in the loi. Maybe the galway utd fans can help me on this one?

**gufcfan** · 26/08/2015, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

I am sure Eric Lavine was capped whilst playin in the loi. Maybe the galway utd fans can help me on this one?

He was definitely capped while at United.

**TheBoss** · 26/08/2015, 6:17 PM

All I can think of is Mindaugas Kalonas, played for Lithuania against Romania in 2008 while a Bohemians player, it was a World Cup qualifier and he scored also. Limerick's recent new signing Freddy Hall played for Bermuda in their World Cup qualifier just weeks before he joined them.

**Acornvilla** · 26/08/2015, 7:21 PM

Avery John must hardly got a cap at some stage between his stints with Longford and Bohs?

**TonyD** · 26/08/2015, 7:48 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

Avery John must hardly got a cap at some stage between his stints with Longford and Bohs?

Was thinking of him. Went to the World Cup didn't he ? 2006 ? Was probably gone from the league by then ?

**gufcfan** · 26/08/2015, 7:59 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

Avery John must hardly got a cap at some stage between his stints with Longford and Bohs?

He played in the Gold Cup while he was in the LOI.

**Nesta99** · 26/08/2015, 8:55 PM

Originally Posted by seand

but I'm wondering who the last League of Ireland player was to play a competitive (World Cup or Euro qualifier) international in Europe while still a LoI player? Do we have to go back to the 70s or early 80s for a Republic of Ireland international?

And while we're here, how many League of Ireland players played full internationals for countries other than RoI while still in the league? There were a couple of Derry lads for NI, Coyle, McGinn. Wes Charles certainly played for St Vincent while at Bray, Nooitmeer for Haiti while at Galway. Any others?

That makes it much tougher. Bar those mention from outside Europe already, was there a New Zealand international in the league quite recently. A look back through Sligo squads is the starting point for this as they seem to scout more exotic places for players than most of us. Or am I just remembering some of Connors managerial spoof between Sligo, Bohs, and Dundalk player recruitment?

**Dodge** · 26/08/2015, 10:47 PM

Pat Byrne was the last LOI player to play competitively for Ireland in qualifiers for 1986 WC

**Charlie Darwin** · 26/08/2015, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Pat Byrne was the last LOI player to play competitively for Ireland in qualifiers for 1986 WC

Was trying to remember if it was Pat Byrne or somebody else.

Boco played competitively for Benin in WC qualifiers while at Sligo I'm sure.

**seand** · 27/08/2015, 8:33 AM

Did Babaz play for Uganda while at Pats?

**nigel-harps1954** · 27/08/2015, 11:18 AM

Did Joey N'do win any caps after his move to Ireland?

Pascal Millien must have won a cap or two while here also?

Alan Mannus or Ryan Thompson at Shamrock Rovers?

**seand** · 27/08/2015, 12:39 PM

Ndo's last cap came in 2002 before joining Pats in 03. Mannus was in the NI squad once when at Rovers but didn't play- he was the first Republic of Ireland based player to be called up for the North's senior team for decades. I don't think Thompson was capped at Rovers.

Millien is a good call.

Alvin Rouse another possibility?

**Dodge** · 27/08/2015, 1:31 PM

Originally Posted by seand

Did Babaz play for Uganda while at Pats?

yes. at the start of his Pats career but he fell out with the Ugandan FA in 2003 and didn't play after that

**seand** · 27/08/2015, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

yes. at the start of his Pats career but he fell out with the Ugandan FA in 2003 and didn't play after that

Maybe they just didn't have him registered

**Park_Lane** · 27/08/2015, 2:41 PM

Eammon Zayed for Libya. Did Ryan Guy play for Guam while at Pats?

**gufcfan** · 27/08/2015, 2:42 PM

Reggie Nooitmeer was a former Dutch u21 international and was capped for Haiti while with Galway. Last seen playing for a basement 3rd tier Protestant division team in Holland. (3rd tier is split between Saturday and Sunday, rather than regionally.)