Irish Premier League players of past and present

Who are the best Irish Premier League of all time? Discover Irish Premier League winners and which made the most appearances during their time in the league!

The Premier League has managed to attract some of the world’s best players from various nations across the globe since it began in 1992. And some of the greatest players to play in the division have been Irish. But who are the best Irish Premier League players? And which have been able to build a legacy during their time in England’s top flight?

Whether it’s been tenacious midfielders, top-class goalkeepers, or prolific strikers, Ireland have certainly produced talents that have been worthy of being among the Premier League betting favourites.

So, let’s delve into the top ten Irish Premier League players, and run through which have the most appearances and league titles!

The best Irish Premier League players over the years

Below, we look back to 1992 and pick out the best Irish Premier League players to have graced England’s highest level of football:

10. Seamus Coleman

After signing for Everton in 2010, Seamus Coleman was a loyal servant to the club for his entire 16-year career with the Toffees. The Irish left-back brought both defensive solidity and leadership to the pitch, becoming a fan favourite over the course of his time at Goodison Park.

The defender helped to keep Everton in the Premier League during their relegation scares, offering a threat going forwards and a calm and composed presence when defending.

9. Richard Dunne

Despite holding the record for the most own-goals in Premier League history (10), Richard Dunne was also a top-class player for the teams he featured in, even becoming captain of Manchester City. The defender was both an aerial threat from set pieces and named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2009/10 for solid performances at Aston Villa.

8. Niall Quinn

Leaving Arsenal in 1990 was one of Niall Quinn’s best decisions as the striker managed to revive his career with Manchester City and Sunderland. The 6’4 forward was unsurprisingly fantastic in the air, but surprisingly good with the ball at his feet. Following his spell at City, he formed a feared partnership with Kevin Phillips at Sunderland, becoming one of the best striker duos in Premier League history.

7. Damien Duff

Damien Duff was a versatile winger who impressed on either flank, terrorising defenders at both Blackburn and Chelsea throughout his career. Duff managed to win the Premier League twice with Chelsea, making for a fantastic partner on the wing for Arjen Robben under Jose Mourinho.

During his time at Fulham, the Irish winger helped the Cottagers to the 2010 Europa League final under Roy Hodgson too. Though he also spent time at St. James’ Park, he saw less success there.

6. John O’Shea

With five Premier League titles to his name, John O’Shea has seen lots of success in England’s top flight. Playing for Manchester United, O’Shea is one of the more underrated players for the team and in the league as a whole.

A versatile defender, he was able to play across the entire backline whenever and wherever Alex Ferguson needed him – even keeping a clean sheet as a goalkeeper! O’Shea also went on to play for Sunderland in the Premier League, having a long career due to his high footballing IQ and dedication to any team he featured in.

5. Paul McGrath

After spending the majority of his career at Manchester United, Paul McGrath spent the final five playing years in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Derby County. The defender was incredibly consistent and had fantastic positional awareness, helping him to become one of the best Irish defenders.

Winning the PFA Player of the Year award in 1993, McGrath almost helped the Villans to win the Premier League title.

4. Shay Given

Widely regarded as the best goalkeeper from the Republic of Ireland, Shay Given was a crucial player for Newcastle during his career. His time at St. James’ Park was what established him as one of the best Irish Premier League players, but he also featured for Blackburn, Man City, Aston Villa, and Stoke.

He was renowned for his shot-stopping abilities and was named in the PFA Team of the Year twice, spending 12 of his 21 Premier League seasons with the Magpies.

3. Robbie Keane

Throughout his career, Robbie Keane became known as one of the most clinical forwards, thriving up front for Tottenham. Scoring over 100 goals in the Premier League is nothing to be sniffed at, with the striker being helped by his great relationships with Dimitar Berbatov and Jermaine Defoe.

He may have been at his best with Spurs, but Keane started his Premier League career with Coventry City before moving to Leeds – even having a short spell at Liverpool between his two stints with Tottenham. Also becoming captain of the Lilywhites, he proved he had leadership qualities in his locker to go alongside his great goalscoring skills.

2. Dennis Irwin

Not only is Dennis Irwin one of the best Irish Premier League players, but he’s also one of the best to play in his position. The Irish full-back spent 12 years at Manchester United, winning an abundance of silverware during his time at the club that included seven Premier League titles and the treble in 1999.

Both defensively sound and dangerous going forward, he was an all-round top player, being a threat with his creativity and set-piece abilities – most memorably scoring a free kick in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

1. Roy Keane

Taking the number one spot is the most iconic and legendary Irish player of them all, Roy Keane. The tenacious Irishman was incredibly well-rounded and most definitely one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time, with both strong defensive qualities and a sensational range of passing.

Featuring for Manchester United throughout one of their most dominant periods in the club’s history, he managed to win seven Premier League titles. Because of his achievements, he’s been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame and made the PFA Team of the Year five times.

Keane has proven he’s more than just one of the best Irish Premier League players. He’s easily one of the best players that England’s top flight has ever seen.

How many Irish Premier League players have there been?

The Republic of Ireland is one of the best-represented nations in Premier League history, having had 209 players feature in the division. This figure places them above Spain (172) and behind Scotland (218), meaning they’re the country with the fourth-most players to have played in the Premier League.

Current Irish players in the Premier League

At the moment, there are eight Irish players playing in the Premier League. Despite some being young prospects, there are some more established names such as Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher and Nathan Collins, and Everton’s Jake O’Brien.

The Irish Premier League players with the most appearances

Since we’ve now discussed the best Irish Premier League players, let’s run through the Irish Premier League players with the most appearances. Below is a table of the top ten:

How many Irish Premier League winners are there?

There have been five Irish Premier League winners since the division was formed in 1992. These include Dennis Irwin (seven times), Roy Keane (seven times), John O’Shea (five times), Damien Duff (two times), and Darron Gibson (two times).