by Simon Wright

Created on: March 13, 2009

Malachy Donaghy (more commonly known as Mal Donaghy) was a Northern Ireland international football player during the 1980s and 1990s and is his country's most capped outfield player. A classy defender, Donaghy could fill in at either left back or centre back and was one of the heroes of Northern Ireland's World Cup campaigns in 1982 and 1986. At club level, Donaghy played at the highest level in England, with Luton Town, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Donaghy's senior football career, however, began in much less salubrious surroundings than Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, as he learned his trade in the Irish League with Larne. His burgeoning talent was soon spotted, however, by Luton Town who offered him a route into full-time professional football in 1978. Donaghy went on to become a mainstay of Luton's team for a decade, during which time he played over 400 games for the Hatters. This also coincided with the most successful period in Luton's history. Donaghy picked up a Second Division title winner's medal in 1982, meaning that he (and his club) had finally made it to the top level of English football. They retained their place, amongst England's elite clubs, and in 1988 famously beat Arsenal 3-2 to win the League Cup.

Donaghy's international career had also blossomed during the Eighties. First capped in 1980 (against Scotland), Donaghy was a key member of the Northern Ireland sides that participated in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals. This was the glory era of Northern Irish football and their success was largely based upon a sound defensive capability, which Donaghy helped contribute to.

Whilst Northern Irish fans will always remember 1982 for the famous win over hosts, Spain, Donaghy suffered a low during that match when he was sent off. Northern Ireland bravely held on for their win, with just ten men, but the sending off meant that Donaghy missed the subsequent drawn second round match against Austria. He was able, however, to return for the final match of his country's campaign, which unfortunately was a 4-1 defeat against a super-talented France. Donaghy remained a vital cog in Northern Ireland's defence during qualifying for the 1986 World Cup, qualification for which enabled Donaghy and his team-mates to play against the might of Brazil.

At club level, Donaghy's career took a strange twist in 1988, when (aged 31) his boyhood heroes Manchester United paid 650,000 pounds to sign him from Luton. Donaghy went on to play just under 100 games for United and picked up a European Cup Winners Cup medal in 1991. However, for much of his time with the club, Donaghy found his role restricted to that of a backup player.

In 1992, and approaching the age of 35, Donaghy moved from Manchester United to Chelsea and played 68 games for the London club over the course of two seasons. Throughout his career, he had continued to represent his country. His final match in the green shirt of Northern Ireland was in 1994, against Mexico, and brought his tally of caps to 91. Only goalkeeper Pat Jennings (with 119 caps) can better that.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal_Donaghy

http ://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/hall-of-fame-most -appearances.html

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