Ireland Football Formation

Lineup (4-4-1-1)

john aldridge · robbie keane · ray houghton · damien duff · liam brady · roy keane · dave o leary · paul mcgrath · denis irwin · gary kelly · shay given

Republic Of Ireland Best All time Eleven. This would be my all time 11 Irish players. Some players were shoe ins, no brainers including Denis Irwin at left back, Paul McGrath at centre back, Liam Brady and Roy Keane in midfield.

I chose Shay Given over Packie Bonner as I feel he is the more agile of the two and has played at a Higher level in the Premier League.
I have opted for Dave Oleary at centre back over Richard Dunne and Mark Lawrenson again because of his speed and, passing ability as well as his defensive qualities. He just edged it over Dunne.

Gary Kelly in my memory was a fast and competent, confident right back defensively and was also an attacking threat with his speed down the irght wing.

We have a plethora of midfielders in Irish football history. On the right I couldn't pass on little Ray Houghton, not jus for his Historic goals against England and Italy but because of his incredible workrate. his tenacity and skill in taking on defenders and driving forward, he can pass, cross and sneak in to score from any where in the 18yard area.

I wrestled with Damien Duff and Ronnis Whelan on the left wing but Duffer just shades it for me in the dribbling department.

Robbie Keane and Aldridge are in their because they are class players who can score and have impressive scoring records but in this team, with Brady and Keane driving the midfield, Keane and Aldridge can focus on being the impressive strikers that they are. They would thrive in a team of this nature