Loi Legends · The42

# loi-legends - This year 2022

The Benin international who lit up Irish football

# Fan Favourite

The Benin international who lit up Irish football

Jan 16th 2022, 10:00 AM 26,086 Views 2 Comments

Romuald Boco recalls his League of Ireland days and the three times he played in the Africa Cup of Nations.

# loi-legends - Last year 2021

'I was looking up to these older lads who weren't good for me' - The Englishman who found redemption in Ireland

# LOI Legends

'I was looking up to these older lads who weren't good for me' - The Englishman who found redemption in Ireland

Jul 4th 2021, 9:30 PM 60,576 Views 0 Comments

Danny North looks back on his career and recalls how his lowest moment in football turned into his greatest one.

Winning the '4 in a row,' getting capped by Ireland and escaping a 2016 terrorist attack

# Looking Back

Winning the '4 in a row,' getting capped by Ireland and escaping a 2016 terrorist attack

Jan 17th 2021, 9:30 PM 42,986 Views 3 Comments

Ex-Shamrock Rovers player Peter Eccles is the latest to feature in our League of Ireland Legends series.

The story of one of Irish football's greatest servants and how he almost chose GAA

# LOI Legends

The story of one of Irish football's greatest servants and how he almost chose GAA

Updated Jan 10th 2021, 3:00 PM 32,580 Views 2 Comments

Dundalk legend Gary Rogers reflects on his distinguished career.

# loi-legends - All time

Lining out in the San Siro aged 20, playing with two legendary Irish sides and moving to Australia

# LOI Legends

Lining out in the San Siro aged 20, playing with two legendary Irish sides and moving to Australia

Nov 1st 2020, 9:30 PM 41,230 Views 8 Comments

Former Athlone, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City player Noel Larkin reflects on his career in football.

Joining Manchester United at 16, glory in Ireland and the 'rollercoaster' of management

# Looking Back

Joining Manchester United at 16, glory in Ireland and the 'rollercoaster' of management

Sep 20th 2020, 9:30 PM 49,381 Views 7 Comments

Martin Russell recounts his career on both sides of the water.

'I was considered not to be Irish... I could have buckled at any stage and drank'

# Dedication

'I was considered not to be Irish... I could have buckled at any stage and drank'

Aug 2nd 2020, 8:00 PM 57,795 Views 9 Comments

John O’Flynn reflects on his career with Cork City, Peterborough United, Limerick and others.

‘It was only after we scored, you’re 50 odd minutes in and thinking: we’re 1-0 up in White Hart Lane’

# Dreams

‘It was only after we scored, you’re 50 odd minutes in and thinking: we’re 1-0 up in White Hart Lane’

May 24th 2020, 9:30 PM 30,270 Views 7 Comments

Stephen Rice on how he recovered from difficulties early in his career to enjoy a memorable time at Shamrock Rovers.

'I was just hoping to get a game with the reserves... staying for 17 years was beyond my wildest dreams'

# One Club Man

'I was just hoping to get a game with the reserves... staying for 17 years was beyond my wildest dreams'

May 17th 2020, 7:00 PM 32,610 Views 9 Comments

Derek Tracey spent his entire career with Shamrock Rovers during the homeless period before their move to Tallaght Stadium.

Working with Martin McGuinness in a meat company, singing for the Dalai Lama and playing at the World Cup

# Interview

Working with Martin McGuinness in a meat company, singing for the Dalai Lama and playing at the World Cup

Apr 19th 2020, 9:30 PM 31,373 Views 2 Comments

Felix Healy looks back on his remarkable football career and life.

Coming up against a great Liverpool side, breaking records and trying to get Stephen Cluxton to play soccer

# LOI Legends

Coming up against a great Liverpool side, breaking records and trying to get Stephen Cluxton to play soccer

Apr 13th 2020, 8:00 PM 31,530 Views 7 Comments

Former Dundalk, UCD and Shamrock Rovers star Alan O’Neill looks back on his remarkable career in the game.

'The senior guys, they didn't like me, they didn't want an Irish guy coming over'

# Looking Back

'The senior guys, they didn't like me, they didn't want an Irish guy coming over'

Jan 26th 2020, 9:30 PM 54,708 Views 16 Comments

Waterford legend Alfie Hale reflects on his remarkable career in Irish and British football.

'There's no hard-luck story with me. I wasn't good enough to play Premier League football'

# No Regrets

'There's no hard-luck story with me. I wasn't good enough to play Premier League football'

Oct 27th 2019, 9:30 PM 41,676 Views 4 Comments

Ex-Ireland underage international Barry Ferguson looks back on his career with Coventry, Longford and others.

The Irish striker whose 'little demons' couldn't get the better of him

# Journey

The Irish striker whose 'little demons' couldn't get the better of him

Oct 6th 2019, 9:30 PM 27,066 Views 3 Comments

Dave Mooney on his League of Ireland beginnings and ultimately carving out a successful career abroad.

The Irishman who made his La Liga debut in front of 90,000 at the Camp Nou

# LOI Legends

The Irishman who made his La Liga debut in front of 90,000 at the Camp Nou

Sep 22nd 2019, 9:30 PM 45,352 Views 5 Comments

Liam Buckley on a remarkable career that encompassed stints in Canada, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland.

'If you were from Ballymun, you could be turned away from an interview, let alone a job'

# Origin Story

'If you were from Ballymun, you could be turned away from an interview, let alone a job'

Sep 1st 2019, 9:30 PM 33,377 Views 3 Comments

Bohs legend Tony O’Connor looks back on his League of Ireland career.

'My second oldest brother was a Rovers fanatic... All I could see were the tears running down his face'

# Local Hero

'My second oldest brother was a Rovers fanatic... All I could see were the tears running down his face'

Aug 18th 2019, 9:30 PM 28,660 Views 14 Comments

John Coady on fulfilling a boyhood dream and a difficult period at Chelsea.

The Irish star who joined Premier League giants in their mid-90s peak

# LOI Legends

The Irish star who joined Premier League giants in their mid-90s peak

Jul 14th 2019, 9:30 PM 38,456 Views 7 Comments

Jim Crawford reflects on his career at Newcastle, Shelbourne and his current role as Stephen Kenny’s number two.

‘John Giles didn't want me to leave, but I was determined to play first-team football’

# LOI Legends

‘John Giles didn't want me to leave, but I was determined to play first-team football’

Jun 30th 2019, 9:30 PM 31,406 Views 5 Comments

Harry McCue reflects on his career in the League of Ireland and discusses his FAI role with underage footballers.

'I feel like I was Irish' - The Barbados-born footballer who found a second home

# Looking Back

'I feel like I was Irish' - The Barbados-born footballer who found a second home

Jun 9th 2019, 10:01 PM 35,095 Views 9 Comments

Ex-Longford and Galway player Eric Lavine recalls his career in the League of Ireland.

'Did I think Damien Duff was going to make it? I always thought he had a real chance'

# LOI Legends

'Did I think Damien Duff was going to make it? I always thought he had a real chance'

May 26th 2019, 9:30 PM 22,542 Views 5 Comments

Pat Devlin reflects on a distinguished career in Irish football.

'I look back on my life and for a fella with such a lack of ability on the ball, it's been amazing'

# LOI Legends

'I look back on my life and for a fella with such a lack of ability on the ball, it's been amazing'

May 12th 2019, 9:30 PM 31,806 Views 6 Comments

One of the great characters of Irish football, Dermot Keely relives his highs and lows — both as a player and in management.

'I had never played centre midfield until my very first game at Leicester, when Martin O'Neill told me to'

# LOI Legends

'I had never played centre midfield until my very first game at Leicester, when Martin O'Neill told me to'

Apr 28th 2019, 9:30 PM 32,268 Views 5 Comments

Fergal Harkin looks back at his time in England as well as highs and lows in the League of Ireland, during spells with Bohemians and Finn Harps.

'We used to kick lumps out of each other in training and Pat Fenlon would just sit back and laugh'

# LOI Legends

'We used to kick lumps out of each other in training and Pat Fenlon would just sit back and laugh'

Mar 31st 2019, 9:30 PM 21,867 Views 3 Comments

Former Dundalk and Shelbourne defender David Crawley looks back on his playing days.

‘I would have come from the flats… Brian Kerr gave me the confidence to go into any room and meet people’

# Mentor

‘I would have come from the flats… Brian Kerr gave me the confidence to go into any room and meet people’

Mar 18th 2019, 9:30 PM 43,792 Views 10 Comments

St Patrick’s Athletic legend Johnny McDonnell reflects on his memorable career in football.

'We beat Le Tissier's Southampton. Lawrie McMenemy shook my hand and said: 'Listen kid, sensational f*****g goal''

# Longread

'We beat Le Tissier's Southampton. Lawrie McMenemy shook my hand and said: 'Listen kid, sensational f*****g goal''

Mar 3rd 2019, 9:40 PM 35,601 Views 5 Comments

Brian Morrisroe chats to The42 in the latest instalment of our League of Ireland Legends series.

'You give everything you have, running around like a lunatic, and I’m still doing that at nearly 70'

# Football Man

'You give everything you have, running around like a lunatic, and I’m still doing that at nearly 70'

Feb 17th 2019, 9:30 PM 30,673 Views 6 Comments

National team kit man and former League of Ireland star Mick Lawlor reflects on his football career.

'Bayern Munich had already sold tickets for the next round... We were minutes away from history'

# Good Times

'Bayern Munich had already sold tickets for the next round... We were minutes away from history'

Oct 28th 2018, 9:30 PM 31,123 Views 5 Comments

Mick Kearin reflects on going up against Franz Beckenbauer, being the only Kildare man to be capped by Ireland and the difficulties in loving a “foreign game”.

'Leeds United were over for a second or third look at me the day I got my ankle broken in two places'

# Misfortune

'Leeds United were over for a second or third look at me the day I got my ankle broken in two places'

Oct 21st 2018, 9:30 PM 28,406 Views 3 Comments

Con McLaughlin, the first Donegal man to score 100 goals in the League of Ireland, looks back on his career.

'Boredom leads to a lot of things and we ended up going to the pub and wasting ourselves'

# Regrets I've Had A Few

'Boredom leads to a lot of things and we ended up going to the pub and wasting ourselves'

Oct 14th 2018, 9:30 PM 42,725 Views 7 Comments

Remembered best for scoring two goals in the Old Firm derby, ex-Celtic midfielder Paul Byrne has more than his fair share of regrets.

‘I’ve good friends that are in prison and some that are dead. For me football was an escape’

# Goalscorer

‘I’ve good friends that are in prison and some that are dead. For me football was an escape’

Sep 23rd 2018, 9:30 PM 44,407 Views 10 Comments

Mark Quigley discusses his time at Millwall and his League of Ireland career where the Dubliner won every domestic honour and was named PFAI Player of the Year.

'It’s nice to have the feeling that you belong to a club and I don’t think there are any better than Bohs'

# LOI Legends

'It’s nice to have the feeling that you belong to a club and I don’t think there are any better than Bohs'

Sep 16th 2018, 9:47 PM 23,652 Views 13 Comments

Former Bohemians captain Kevin Hunt looks back at a decade with the Gypsies, playing in Asia and life after retirement.

Facing Zidane in Dublin, an ill-fated stint in England and becoming one of Irish football's all-time top scorers

# LOI Legends

Facing Zidane in Dublin, an ill-fated stint in England and becoming one of Irish football's all-time top scorers

Sep 9th 2018, 9:30 PM 26,677 Views 3 Comments

Former Bohemians and UCD star Derek Swan reflects on a memorable career.

'It does make you stay awake at night and struggle to sleep, and not want to get up in the morning'

# Looking Back

'It does make you stay awake at night and struggle to sleep, and not want to get up in the morning'

Sep 2nd 2018, 9:30 PM 57,358 Views 13 Comments

Ex-Ireland international Noel Hunt on persistent abuse from fans as well as highs and lows at Reading, Leeds and elsewhere in his football career.

'It had become slightly more difficult. Your wife starts to realise that actually, weekends exist'

# LOI Legends

'It had become slightly more difficult. Your wife starts to realise that actually, weekends exist'

Aug 26th 2018, 9:30 PM 31,411 Views 6 Comments

Former UCD, Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers star Andy Myler reflects on his career in football.

'My mother told me to stick with the butcher's trade as she said I'd need it more than the football'

# LOI Legends

'My mother told me to stick with the butcher's trade as she said I'd need it more than the football'

Aug 19th 2018, 9:30 PM 33,171 Views 5 Comments

Former St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians and Derry City striker Joe Lawless looks back on his playing days.

'I played for that jersey' - The Limerick lad who marked Maradona and battled Real Madrid in the European Cup

# Local Lad

'I played for that jersey' - The Limerick lad who marked Maradona and battled Real Madrid in the European Cup

Aug 5th 2018, 9:30 PM 40,716 Views 23 Comments

Pat Nolan reflects on winning the Premier Division and FAI Cup with Limerick, playing against Real Madrid in Europe and being tasked with marking Diego Maradona.