Happy 60th birthday, Niall Quinn
Today we’re wishing iconic former City striker Niall Quinn a very happy 60th birthday.
Niall Quinn was an absolute dream to manage, says Brian Horton
Quinn made 244 appearances for the Blues and scored 77 goals over a seven-season spell at Maine Road.
Growing up in Perrystown, Dublin, Quinn enjoyed Hurling and Gaelic Football at a young age.
But eventually he decided to pursue football and made his name in his early years as a goalkeeper – those who were there at Maine Road for his heroics against Derby won’t be surprised to hear that – more on that later!
Eventually he moved outfield and that set up a big move to England with Don Howe’s Arsenal.
He joined the Gunners shortly after his 17th birthday and his first season was undoubtedly a success, the highlight being a goalscoring debut against Liverpool in December 1985.
My memories of Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants weekend – David White
In total, he played 17 times, including 12 in the First Division before George Graham walked in the door for the 1986/87 campaign.
Quinn played 35 times in the First Division for the Gunners as they finished fourth and 48 across all competitions including starting the 1987 League Cup final victory over Liverpool which saw strike partner Charlie Nicholas bag two in a 2-1 win for the London side.
His time on the pitch became more limited over the next two campaigns and late into the 1989/90 season, Howard Kendall came knocking on Graham’s door and Quinn moved to City for £800,000 having scored 20 goals in 94 games for the Gunners.
He missed the deadline to make his debut away at Luton by 10 minutes but did start the next game at home to Chelsea.
What an impact – heading home an important leveller for City after Gordon Durie had put Bobby Campbell’s team ahead.
Kendall had taken over from Mel Machin with the Blues deep in trouble in the bottom three of the Premier League but with Quinn leading the line they lost only once in their final nine games to move comfortably up the table to 14th.
Quinn hails Kendall influence in City career
Kendall had told Quinn on joining ‘We’ll stay up. Don’t worry about that. And next year we’ll get better.’
He was right although the Everton legend as both a player and manager departed the Blues in November 1990 to rejoin his beloved Toffees.
Player-coach Peter Reid took over and led City to back-to-back fifth place finishes, with Quinn scoring 22 goals in the 1990/91 season, that campaign coming hot on the heels of a brilliant Italia 90 for the Irishman.
He admits that tournament, adored by those who remember it, was ‘the making of me’ as he led the line for Jack Charlton’s men, scoring a vital late goal to send Eire through to the knockouts via a draw with the mighty Netherlands boasting Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit.
After helping Ireland to the quarter-finals in the Nessun Dorma-soundtracked tournament, Quinn came back brimming with confidence and it showed with a superb season for the Blues.
He may have excelled in front of goal, but it was in goal where he made the biggest headlines that term.
His most famous City game came in April 1991 when he scored early on and then later saved a penalty as the Blues beat Derby County 2–1 at Maine Road.
Tony Coton had been dismissed for a foul on Dean Saunders in the penalty box and, without a substitute goalkeeper, Quinn went between the sticks – and remarkably saved the spot-kick from Saunders.
City Vault: Enter The Mighty Quinn!
The result actually relegated the Rams with Quinn rightfully earning the plaudits for a quite remarkable performance at both ends of the pitch.
The prelude to the 1992/93 campaign will forever be remembered for Quinn’s pre-season antics that sparked the terrace chant ‘Niall Quinn: Disco Pants’ as the Irishman, celebrating the gold medal of countryman Michael Carruth at the Barcelona Olympics, was spotted strutting his stuff in an Italian nightclub wearing only some denim shorts.
His remaining time in Manchester never really scaled the same heights.
He missed much of the 1993/94 season after a cruciate ligament injury which also forced him out of the 1994 World Cup in the USA while he was in and out of the team when he returned as he battled Uwe Rosler and Paul Walsh for a spot in the side under Brian Horton.
Quinn’s final campaign in blue saw relegation from the Premier League with Alan Ball at the helm and under the cruellest of circumstances – the players thinking a draw against Liverpool while at 2-2 would keep them up only for the giant Irish forward, substituted just before the hour mark, to stride from the dressing room to tell them they needed another goal which never materialised.
It was the final time he played for the Blues before a summer move to Sunderland where he became a cult hero.
In conversation with Niall Quinn | Official Man City Podcast
He made 168 appearances and scored 61 goals for the Black Cats and formed a formidable little and large partnership with Kevin Phillips.
He had the distinction of being the first player to score at Sunderland’s then new stadium, The Stadium of Light – against City in 1997!
In 2002 Quinn had a testimonial match between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland in which he donated the entire proceeds to charity, an act for which he received numerous awards, including an honorary MBE.
He played for both teams during the match, raising over £1 million.
Even after his near two decades in professional football, Quinn would go on to do further work for Sunderland, briefly as a manager and for several years as chairman.
Quinn also had an illustrious international career winning 92 caps and scoring 22 goals for the Republic of Ireland, including featuring at both the 1990 and 2002 World Cups.
Happy birthday from everyone at Manchester City!
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