Alan McLoughlin
Encyclopedia
Alan Francis McLoughlin (born 20 April 1967 in Manchester
, England
) is a former Irish
coach, and former professional footballer, playing as a midfielder
.
on leaving school in July 1983, turning professional at the start of the 1985–86 season. However, he never played a first team game for United and joined Swindon Town
in August 1986, just after they had won promotion to the Football League Third Division
.
However, his footballing style didn't fit with then manager Lou Macari
's "long ball" style, and just seven months and nine appearances later, he moved to Torquay United
on loan. His Swindon career looked to be over when he returned to Torquay at the start of the following season for another loan spell, but following suspensions to other players McLoughlin was given another chance in the first team and soon established himself as a regular for Swindon.
It was under Macari's successor as manager, Ossie Ardiles, that McLoughlin really blossomed. He was an ever present in Ardiles' first season, scoring sixteen goals. He capped off a fine season by scoring the winning goal in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium
against Sunderland
. McLoughlin's performances won him international recognition, and he was named in the Ireland squad
for the 1990 World Cup in Italy
. He made two appearances in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the matches with England
and Egypt.
However, before the next season began, Swindon were demoted by the Football League for making irregular payments to players. This initially meant that Sunderland
(the team they beat in the playoff final) were promoted to the First Division in their place, and Swindon were demoted to the Third Division and their place in the Second Division was given to losing Third Division playoff finalists Tranmere Rovers
. However, an appeal saw Swindon restored to the Second Division.
With the club in financial trouble, players had to be sold, and McLoughlin left for Southampton
in December 1990, for a club record £
1 million. However he failed to find the same level of form that he had at Swindon, and he was loaned first to Aston Villa
and then to Portsmouth
. The latter were impressed enough by McLoughlin to make a bid for him, and so in February 1992 he moved to Fratton Park
for £400,000 after making only 29 appearances for the Saints. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final, but they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool. He helped them to the brink of the FA Premier League
in 1992–93, but they were pipped to automatic promotion by West Ham United
and lost to Leicester City
in the playoffs.
It was at Portsmouth that he eventually became club captain. While at the club, McLoughlin represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. McLoughlin scored a goal against the Northern Ireland national football team
at Windsor Park
in a 1993 World Cup qualifer. This happened when Ireland was down 1–0 due to a goal scored by Jimmy Quinn of Northern Ireland
. McLouglin's goal qualified the Republic of Ireland
team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States
. He was the first Portsmouth player to be included in any World Cup squad since the 1958 tournament
– nine years before McLoughlin himself was born.
In December 1999 he was sold to Wigan Athletic
for £260,000. However injuries prevented him from making a major impact and he moved on a free transfer to Rochdale F.C. in December 2001, having made only 12 starts (plus 10 as a sub) for Wigan, scoring three goals. He scored once in the league against Gillingham and also scored a brace in an LDV Vans Trophy tie with Oldham Athletic. McLoughlin played his part in Rochdale reaching the play-offs in 2001–02 and scored a twice-taken penalty for them on his last League appearance against Bristol Rovers.
With his career winding down McLoughlin joined Forest Green
as a player-coach for the 2002–03 season. At the end of the season McLoughlin retired from playing to concentrate on coaching with the club. He was capped 42 times for the Republic of Ireland.
He was also a co-commentator on defunct Portsmouth
-based radio station The Quay
.
In February 2011, he joined BBC Radio Solent
as matchday co-commentator for Portsmouth F.C.
matches.
In July 2011, he joined Portsmouth as Senior Academy Coach.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a former Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
coach, and former professional footballer, playing as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Career
McLoughlin began his career as a trainee at Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
on leaving school in July 1983, turning professional at the start of the 1985–86 season. However, he never played a first team game for United and joined Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in August 1986, just after they had won promotion to the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
.
However, his footballing style didn't fit with then manager Lou Macari
Lou Macari
Luigi "Lou" Macari is a Scottish former footballer and football manager of Italian descent.-Playing career:...
's "long ball" style, and just seven months and nine appearances later, he moved to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan. His Swindon career looked to be over when he returned to Torquay at the start of the following season for another loan spell, but following suspensions to other players McLoughlin was given another chance in the first team and soon established himself as a regular for Swindon.
It was under Macari's successor as manager, Ossie Ardiles, that McLoughlin really blossomed. He was an ever present in Ardiles' first season, scoring sixteen goals. He capped off a fine season by scoring the winning goal in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. McLoughlin's performances won him international recognition, and he was named in the Ireland squad
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
for the 1990 World Cup in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He made two appearances in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the matches with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Egypt.
However, before the next season began, Swindon were demoted by the Football League for making irregular payments to players. This initially meant that Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
(the team they beat in the playoff final) were promoted to the First Division in their place, and Swindon were demoted to the Third Division and their place in the Second Division was given to losing Third Division playoff finalists Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. However, an appeal saw Swindon restored to the Second Division.
With the club in financial trouble, players had to be sold, and McLoughlin left for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in December 1990, for a club record £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1 million. However he failed to find the same level of form that he had at Swindon, and he was loaned first to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and then to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. The latter were impressed enough by McLoughlin to make a bid for him, and so in February 1992 he moved to Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
for £400,000 after making only 29 appearances for the Saints. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final, but they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool. He helped them to the brink of the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
in 1992–93, but they were pipped to automatic promotion by West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
and lost to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the playoffs.
It was at Portsmouth that he eventually became club captain. While at the club, McLoughlin represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. McLoughlin scored a goal against the Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
in a 1993 World Cup qualifer. This happened when Ireland was down 1–0 due to a goal scored by Jimmy Quinn of Northern Ireland
Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer)
James Martin "Jimmy" Quinn is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and was manager of Bournemouth.-Club:...
. McLouglin's goal qualified the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the first Portsmouth player to be included in any World Cup squad since the 1958 tournament
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
– nine years before McLoughlin himself was born.
In December 1999 he was sold to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for £260,000. However injuries prevented him from making a major impact and he moved on a free transfer to Rochdale F.C. in December 2001, having made only 12 starts (plus 10 as a sub) for Wigan, scoring three goals. He scored once in the league against Gillingham and also scored a brace in an LDV Vans Trophy tie with Oldham Athletic. McLoughlin played his part in Rochdale reaching the play-offs in 2001–02 and scored a twice-taken penalty for them on his last League appearance against Bristol Rovers.
With his career winding down McLoughlin joined Forest Green
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
as a player-coach for the 2002–03 season. At the end of the season McLoughlin retired from playing to concentrate on coaching with the club. He was capped 42 times for the Republic of Ireland.
He was also a co-commentator on defunct Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
-based radio station The Quay
107.4 The Quay
The Breeze is a United Kingdom radio station, broadcasting to the cities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester. The station is operated by Celador and is part of The Breeze network of stations...
.
In February 2011, he joined BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
as matchday co-commentator for Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
matches.
In July 2011, he joined Portsmouth as Senior Academy Coach.