Who is Ireland's most famous current footballer?

[an_ceannaire]

Globally? At the moment? I spose it has to be John O'Shea....isnt it?

[The Legend]

Still Robbie Keane. If you meant notorious, maybe O'Shea

[NeilMcD]

Robbie Keane, whenever I am travelling he is always the current player other fans say when talking about the irish team.

[stojkovic]

A German Borussia Dortmund fan I met in Prague when we played there told me the only Irish player he knew of was Robbie Keane. He was raving about Stephen Hunt after the game though.

[kingdomkerry]

In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"

[corkboy360]

Darren O Dea

[rambler14]

David Connolly!

[stiffler]

I would say the keane surname has been the most famous for the last 15 years.

[Crosby87]

Clinton Morrison is legendary in most college towns around the world for being able to do that thing where you smoke a ciggerette and shotgun a beer at the same time. So I will have to say.......Clinton Morrison.

[Dunny]

Keith Fahey.:cool:

[irishultra]

duff was huge in japan following world cup. irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.

[eirebhoy]

duff was huge in japan following world cup. irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.
Even other parts of Asia. I remember him coming off the bench for his Chelsea debut in a Malaysia pre-season tournament. There was some noise from the crowd. He set up a goal for Hasselbaink straight away too.

Anyway Keane is definitely our most famous player in Europe.

[Blue Man]

Paul Butler!!

Oh wait you said Irish didnt you......

[irishfan86]

Yeah it's Keane right now, but as mentioned Duff is quite popular in Asia. There was a guy from Korea over here about 5 years ago when I was in high school and he loved to talk about Keane and Duff.

[theworm2345]

David Connolly!
:D wasn't me

[Hibs4Ever]

In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"



Same here in Czech Rep. Stephen Hunt 2nd most famous Irish player here (and 1st most hated player too ;) )

[endabob1]

It's Robbie by a mile, most non-europeans would struggle to even name another Irish player.
Of course that is partly because they wouldn't make the connection between the O'Shea that plays for Man U & the one that plays for Ireland ;)

[osarusan]

When I was living in Japan, Robbie Keane was the name most often mentioned. How famous he was before WC2002 I don't know though. During and for a while after that tournament, Roy Keane was definitely the most commonly mentioned player.


In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"
Same in Japan.

[Dodge]

irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.
The reason is they don't play in the Champions league and haven't been in a major tournament in 7 years

[Drumcondra 69er]

When I was living in Japan, Robbie Keane was the name most often mentioned. How famous he was before WC2002 I don't know though. During and for a while after that tournament, Roy Keane was definitely the most commonly mentioned player.

Same in Japan.

Ian Harte was big with the Japanese when I was over there and all through his CL exposure with Leeds in 00/01 (and probably his goals in qualifying), met a few Japanese girls at the gathering outside the train station in Nigata with an 'Ian Harte' sign, thought it was bizarre given his form at the time!

[Torn-Ado]

Ronnie O Brien surely. Voted greatest person ever by you the people.

[gustavo]

Has to be Keane , hopefully there will be more competition for him in the next few years

[Colbert Report]

Definitely Robbie Keane here in Canada. Nobody here, bar the odd "real" Man Utd supporter, knows who John O'Shea is.

After Keane, Duff. He's the only other player we have currently active who has played for a big four club.

[Mayo Red]

I'd have to agree with most of the other posts here, it's got to be Robbie Keane, probably ever since the 2002 World Cup!

[DeLorean]

Would McGeady be well known? There is a huge Celtic support world wide and he has been their best player over the past couple of years. He has also had Champions League exposure.

[Dodge]

Would McGeady be well known? There is a huge Celtic support world wide and he has been their best player over the past couple of years. He has also had Champions League exposure.

More well known than most I'd say. Mainly for that Champions League reason. Although Celtic have a huge worldwide support, Scottish football wouldn't have anywhere near the TV presence of the likes of the French or German leageu never mind the BIg 3

[DeLorean]

More well known than most I'd say. Mainly for that Champions League reason. Although Celtic have a huge worldwide support, Scottish football wouldn't have anywhere near the TV presence of the likes of the French or German leageu never mind the BIg 3

I suppose Given would be well known as well. He's played in the Champions League with Newcastle and the WC with Ireland. Gk's are possibly easier to remember anyway.

[Junior]

Would McGeady be well known? There is a huge Celtic support world wide and he has been their best player over the past couple of years. He has also had Champions League exposure.

Chatting to non Celtic supporters down here in England, most of them wouldnt have a clue who McGeady is, and these are active footy fans of EPL teams (well Man U and Man C)

[The Legend]

What about of all time? Probably Dave Barry after his goal for Cork against Bayern Munich! :D

[DeLorean]

Chatting to non Celtic supporters down here in England, most of them wouldnt have a clue who McGeady is, and these are active footy fans of EPL teams (well Man U and Man C)

Well they must not have much of a general interest so in fairness. I wasn't even talking about England really I was thinking more along the lines of America, Asia, etc. I would have just presumed football fans in England would have heard of the Scottish player of the year. Even the local United fans would have seen him first hand in the Champions League. I have a couple of buddies in England and they have definitely heard of him and not through me!

[Morbo]

I'd say Robbie followed by Duff, I rarely meet people outside of Britain who can name more than those two

[Supreme feet]

Robbie Keane saved my life one time. I was in an underground heavy-metal club in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, a couple of years ago. A huge, angry-looking man obviously didn't like the look of me, and started pushing and roaring at me in a threatening manner, in Bulgarian. Petrified, I pointed to myself and said 'Nay Bulgarski, Irlandia, Irlandia.' At that moment, his face changed, and he roared happily 'Irlandia! Robbie Keane! Robbie Keane! Yessssss!' He bought me a drink then.

I wonder if the same man will be so charitable if Robbie sticks one past them in two weeks' time. :)

[irishfan86]

After Keane, Duff. He's the only other player we have currently active who has played for a big four club.

Being a bit pedantic...but...Steve Finnan? :o

[Junior]

Well they must not have much of a general interest so in fairness. I wasn't even talking about England really I was thinking more along the lines of America, Asia, etc. I would have just presumed football fans in England would have heard of the Scottish player of the year. Even the local United fans would have seen him first hand in the Champions League. I have a couple of buddies in England and they have definitely heard of him and not through me!

Yeah, I know the post was about fans from further afield but I gave my anedote as a comparison much closer to home.

Some of the lads I am referring to are season tciket holders at Utd/City some just take an interest in football in general (mainly english football). McGeady is a great player IMO but has he set the Champions League on fire? no, would these lads have more than a passing interest in the SPL? no, not really, has McGeady put in sterling performances for Ireland in a tournament let alone qualifying? no, not really. Thats why most of them, not of an Irish persuasion, would never have heard of him or wouldnt remember his name (letalone pronounce it!) if they did know who you were on about.

If you polled 100 supporters of EPL clubs who they thought the SPL player of the year was? How many do you think would get it right? 5% maybe???? the other 95% would probably say Henrik Larsson or Ally McCoist.....:D

[eirebhoy]

Being a bit pedantic...but...Steve Finnan? :o
I would have thought O'Shea would be known. I think most Irish football fans would know the squad players at Barca, Real, Milan, Inter, Roma, etc.

[tricky_colour]

Andy Reids big in Sunderland.

[janeymac]

I was on holiday in China about 2 years ago. Spurs & Robbie were on the telly the whole time - everywhere we went. Spurs seemed to be really popular out there. It was really weird seeing Robbie the whole time.

Interesting enough, walking around the streets i saw only one EPL football jersey, and that was an old Manchester Utd. one with 16/Keane on the back.

[aidz1]

Robbie Keane

[Mr Maroon]

I think most Irish football fans would know the squad players at Barca, Real, Milan, Inter, Roma, etc.

Not many of them.


I'd agree on Robbie Keane.
When I was in Egypt it was a case of "No, I'm not English, I'm Irish."
"Oh, Robbie Keane"

[eirebhoy]

Not many of them.
Let's put it this way. O'Shea has played over 300 games for Man Utd. I think the vast majority of football fans in this country would recognise the names of any player that has played that many games for the top clubs in Europe. As mediocre as O'Shea is by Man Utd standards, I think it says more about the people of Europe if O'Shea isn't a famous name amongst football fans outside of these 2 islands.

[Serb]

I have a Brazillian friend who is football mad and could only name Robbie Keane and Damien Duff. After he went to the Ireland -vs- Brazil friendly in Croke Park last year (or was it the year before last?) he still couldn't name anyone other than Robbie and Duffer :P

[Scram]

Has to be Aidan McGeady surely.

[Hibernian]

Keith Fahy

The new Zidane if you are to believe what some say here

[Dodge]

The new Zidane if you are to believe what some say here

Examples please...

[Hibernian]

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=102730

there quiet a few on this one

[Dodge]

No there's not...

[Hibernian]

best passing player we have him watch him run the show etc etc..

O ya there are ones in there who claim he crap also I also see those but there some in there who before he even proved himself in a main league that he was best thing since slice pan

[Dodge]

best passing player we have him watch him run the show etc etc..

O ya there are ones in there who claim he crap also I also see those but there some in there who before he even proved himself in a main league that he was best thing since slice pan

You're talking crap mate. More people dismissed him him than praised him. The ones that didn't dismiss said that he's a fine footballer and could do well for himself at a decent level in England. Nobody said he was a world beater. I happen to think he is the best passer of a ball that could play for Ireland, and I've seen nothing to say thats wrong. I also said he wouldn't get in an ireland squad if everyone was fit. I'd stand by that comment too

The people who dismissed him without having seen him are being proved wrong.

Look I nearly didn't even mention your "main league" comment

[Hibernian]

You're talking crap mate. More people dismissed him him than praised him. The ones that didn't dismiss said that he's a fine footballer and could do well for himself at a decent level in England. Nobody said he was a world beater.

The people who dismissed him without having seen him are being proved wrong

Look I nearly didn't even mention your "main league" comment

He good player he just not as good as some peole have him made out to be..

If he the best passer Ireland then should he not be playing in top leagues like Italy, Spain England and proving how good he is to the world

[Dodge]

If he the best player Ireland then should he not be playing in top leagues like Italy, Spain England and proving how good he is to the world

Where did anyone say he was the best player Ireland had?