Liam Brady
Encyclopedia
Liam Brady is a former Irish
association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team
.
In his playing days, Brady was a midfielder
renowned for his elegant technical skills, most notably his left foot, and his high-quality passing and close control. He found success both with Arsenal (one FA Cup
title) and Juventus
(two Serie A
titles), and won 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Brady is now head of Youth Development at Arsenal
, and is a frequent television pundit with RTÉ Sport
.
, moving to London to join the side on schoolboy forms in 1971, at the age of 15. He turned professional on his 17th birthday in 1973, and made his debut on 6 October 1973 against Birmingham City
as a substitute for Jeff Blockley
, and put in an assured performance. However his next match, in a North London derby
against Tottenham Hotspur
, Brady had a poor match, and Arsenal manager Bertie Mee
decided from then on to use the young Irishman sparingly for the time being. Brady ended the 1973–74
season with 13 appearances (four of them as substitute) to his name.
In 1974–75
Brady was a first-team regular at Arsenal, and shone as a rare light in a side that hovered close to relegation for a couple of seasons in the mid-1970s. With the appointment of Terry Neill
as manager and the return of Don Howe as coach, Brady found his best form. His passing provided the ammunition for Arsenal's front men such as Malcolm Macdonald
and Frank Stapleton
, and Arsenal reached three FA Cup
finals in a row between 1978 and 1980. Arsenal won only the middle of the three, against Manchester United
in the 1979 final
, with Brady starting the move that ended in Alan Sunderland
's famous last-minute winner.
Brady was at the peak of his Arsenal form by now, as shown by one of his best goals for Arsenal; having dispossessed Peter Taylor he flighted a looped curled shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner , in a 5–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on 23 December 1978. During this time he was voted the club's player of the year three times, and chosen as the PFA Player of the Year in 1979. Being from the Republic of Ireland
, he was the first player from beyond Britain's borders to win that award.
He was the most talented player in what was then a promising young Arsenal side, which was looking to consistently challenge for honours like the Division One
title. Despite this, by the 1979–80
season rumour was rife that Brady would be leaving the club in search of a fresh challenge.
That season, Arsenal reached the Cup Winners' Cup final (only to lose to Valencia on penalties), having beaten Juventus
2–1 over two legs in the semi-finals. Brady's performance in the tie impressed the Italian giants and in the 1980 close season they signed him for just over £500,000. He is remembered as one of Arsenal's all-time greats, playing 307 matches for the Gunners, scoring 59 goals and setting up many more.
Brady spent two seasons with Juventus, picking up two Italian Championship
medals, in 1981 and 1982; Brady scored the only goal (a penalty) in the 1–0 win against Catanzaro that won the 1982 title. After the arrival of Michel Platini
in summer 1982, Brady moved to Sampdoria, and went on to play for Internazionale (1984–1986) and Ascoli (1986–1987), before returning to London in March 1987, for a transfer fee of £100,000, to play for West Ham United
, where he scored 10 goals in 119 games in all competitions. He was a member of the side relegated from the First Division in 1989 and played one season in the Second Division before finally retiring as a player in 1990. His last game coming on 5 May 1990, a 4–0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers
, a game in which he scored.
in a European Championship qualifier.
Brady has claimed his favourite international goal was that against Brazil in 1987.
He never played in a major tournament, patly due to injury and a suspension accrued before Euro 88.
During qualification for Italia 90 Brady retired from the international game. Once Ireland qualified he un-retired himself however Jack Charlton
decided that those who'd played in the qualifiers deserved to go to Italy.
He won 72 international caps for the Republic of Ireland
, 70 in the starting line-up, scoring 9 goals.
between 1991 and 1993, and then Brighton & Hove Albion
between 1993 and 1995. Neither spell was particularly successful, and at both clubs Brady's tenure was overshadowed by the respective clubs' financial problems. At Celtic, Brady failed to win a single trophy in his two year tenure, and included a 5–2 defeat on aggregate by Neuchâtel Xamax
in the 1991–92 UEFA Cup
, one of the club's worst European defeats in their history.
Brady would have no greater success with Brighton, departing following a disagreement over the way the club was being run; he later led an unsuccessful bid by a consortium to buy the club. He remains involved with the new owners, having appeared at fans forums as a representative as recently as 2005.
He rejoined Arsenal in July 1996, as Head of Youth Development and Academy Director, and has remained there since; although he was linked to the manager's post after the departure of Bruce Rioch
, Brady insisted he was not interested in the role; Arsène Wenger
eventually took the role. Under Brady, Arsenal's youth sides have won the FA Premier Youth League in 1997–98; the FA Premier Academy League U17 title in 1999-00; the FA Premier Academy League U19 title in 2001–02; the FA Premier Academy League U18 title in 2008–09 and 2009–10; and the FA Youth Cup
in 1999-00, 2000–01 and 2008–09.
Brady was one of dozens of former managers linked to the Republic of Ireland
manager's job after the sacking of Steve Staunton
in 2007. Instead, he became an assistant to new manager Giovanni Trapattoni
in 2008, while continuing to work as Director of the Arsenal Youth Academy. He stepped down from the Republic of Ireland post in April 2010 when his contract expired. He has said he would gladly have stayed on with Ireland were it not for his Arsenal commitments.
, along with Bill O'Herlihy
, Johnny Giles
and Eamon Dunphy
. He contributed to RTÉ Sport
's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. In September 2010 he returned as a regular pundit to the panel for Ireland's UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
.
Brady was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame
in 2006 in recognition of his influence on the English game.
Brady also became involved in an anti-drugs campaign in the early 1990s, called "give drugs the boot", encouraging young boys to play sport as a healthy pastime.
having been Irish internationals. His late older brother Frank
won the FAI Cup
with Shamrock Rovers in 1968 and made 2 appearances in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, while another brother, Pat Brady
, played with Queens Park Rangers
.
Around 1980, Brady married Sarah Hillier (born c.1960).
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team
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....
.
In his playing days, Brady was 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...
renowned for his elegant technical skills, most notably his left foot, and his high-quality passing and close control. He found success both with Arsenal (one FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
title) and Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
(two Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
titles), and won 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Brady is now head of Youth Development at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, and is a frequent television pundit with RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
.
Club career
Brady started his career at ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, moving to London to join the side on schoolboy forms in 1971, at the age of 15. He turned professional on his 17th birthday in 1973, and made his debut on 6 October 1973 against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as a substitute for Jeff Blockley
Jeff Blockley
Jeffrey Paul "Jeff" Blockley is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He made over 300 Football League appearances, and was capped by the England national football team....
, and put in an assured performance. However his next match, in a North London derby
North London derby
The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.-History:...
against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, Brady had a poor match, and Arsenal manager Bertie Mee
Bertie Mee
Bertram "Bertie" Mee OBE was an English football player and manager, noted for managing Arsenal to their first Double win in 1971. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Georgie Mee.-Early life:...
decided from then on to use the young Irishman sparingly for the time being. Brady ended the 1973–74
1973-74 in English football
The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England...
season with 13 appearances (four of them as substitute) to his name.
In 1974–75
1974-75 in English football
The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Dave Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and...
Brady was a first-team regular at Arsenal, and shone as a rare light in a side that hovered close to relegation for a couple of seasons in the mid-1970s. With the appointment of Terry Neill
Terry Neill
William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
as manager and the return of Don Howe as coach, Brady found his best form. His passing provided the ammunition for Arsenal's front men such as Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm Macdonald
Malcolm Ian Macdonald is a former English footballer nicknamed Supermac, famed for scoring goals for Luton Town, Newcastle United and Arsenal.-Football career:...
and Frank Stapleton
Frank Stapleton
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton is an Irish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland...
, and Arsenal reached three FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finals in a row between 1978 and 1980. Arsenal won only the middle of the three, against Manchester United
Manchester 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...
in the 1979 final
1979 FA Cup Final
The 1979 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 12 May 1979 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Arsenal and Manchester United. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever finishes in an FA Cup final. For over 85 minutes the game had been unremarkable, with Arsenal taking...
, with Brady starting the move that ended in Alan Sunderland
Alan Sunderland
Alan Sunderland is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal and Ipswich Town. He was capped once for England.-Career:...
's famous last-minute winner.
Brady was at the peak of his Arsenal form by now, as shown by one of his best goals for Arsenal; having dispossessed Peter Taylor he flighted a looped curled shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner , in a 5–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on 23 December 1978. During this time he was voted the club's player of the year three times, and chosen as the PFA Player of the Year in 1979. Being from 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,...
, he was the first player from beyond Britain's borders to win that award.
He was the most talented player in what was then a promising young Arsenal side, which was looking to consistently challenge for honours like the Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
title. Despite this, by the 1979–80
1979-80 in English football
The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.- FA Cup :Second Division West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 with a Trevor Brooking goal...
season rumour was rife that Brady would be leaving the club in search of a fresh challenge.
That season, Arsenal reached the Cup Winners' Cup final (only to lose to Valencia on penalties), having beaten Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
2–1 over two legs in the semi-finals. Brady's performance in the tie impressed the Italian giants and in the 1980 close season they signed him for just over £500,000. He is remembered as one of Arsenal's all-time greats, playing 307 matches for the Gunners, scoring 59 goals and setting up many more.
Brady spent two seasons with Juventus, picking up two Italian Championship
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
medals, in 1981 and 1982; Brady scored the only goal (a penalty) in the 1–0 win against Catanzaro that won the 1982 title. After the arrival of Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
in summer 1982, Brady moved to Sampdoria, and went on to play for Internazionale (1984–1986) and Ascoli (1986–1987), before returning to London in March 1987, for a transfer fee of £100,000, to play for 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...
, where he scored 10 goals in 119 games in all competitions. He was a member of the side relegated from the First Division in 1989 and played one season in the Second Division before finally retiring as a player in 1990. His last game coming on 5 May 1990, a 4–0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, a game in which he scored.
International career
Brady made his debut for Ireland on 30 October 1974, in a 3–0 win against the Soviet Union at Dalymount ParkDalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
in a European Championship qualifier.
Brady has claimed his favourite international goal was that against Brazil in 1987.
He never played in a major tournament, patly due to injury and a suspension accrued before Euro 88.
During qualification for Italia 90 Brady retired from the international game. Once Ireland qualified he un-retired himself however Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
decided that those who'd played in the qualifiers deserved to go to Italy.
He won 72 international caps for the Republic of Ireland
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....
, 70 in the starting line-up, scoring 9 goals.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Report | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 24 March 1976 | Dalymount Park Dalymount Park Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup... |
3–0 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=155 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2. | 30 March 1977 | Landsdowne Road | 1–0 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=161 | 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification A total of 107 teams entered the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.... |
|
| 3. | 30 May 1982 | Arima Stadium Arima Stadium Arima Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Arima Fire FC. The stadium holds 9,500 people. The stadium's real name is the Larry Gomes Stadium.... |
1–2 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=197 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 4. | 12 October 1983 | Dalymount Park Dalymount Park Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup... |
2–3 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=204 | UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 7 Standings and results for Group 7 of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 7 consisted of Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Spain... |
|
| 5. | 16 November 1983 | Dalymount Park Dalymount Park Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup... |
8–0 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=205 | UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 7 Standings and results for Group 7 of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 7 consisted of Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Spain... |
|
| 6. | 16 November 1983 | Dalymount Park Dalymount Park Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup... |
8–0 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=205 | UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 7 Standings and results for Group 7 of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 7 consisted of Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Spain... |
|
| 7. | 26 March 1985 | Wembley Stadium | 1–2 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=215 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 8. | 10 September 1986 | Heysel Stadium King Baudouin Stadium The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition... |
2–2 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=226 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 7 Standings and results for Group 7 of the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 7 consisted of Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Republic of Ireland and Scotland... |
|
| 9. | 23 May 1987 | Landsdowne Road | 1–0 | http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=232 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
Managerial career
After retiring from playing in 1990, he managed CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
between 1991 and 1993, and then Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
between 1993 and 1995. Neither spell was particularly successful, and at both clubs Brady's tenure was overshadowed by the respective clubs' financial problems. At Celtic, Brady failed to win a single trophy in his two year tenure, and included a 5–2 defeat on aggregate by Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
in the 1991–92 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, one of the club's worst European defeats in their history.
Brady would have no greater success with Brighton, departing following a disagreement over the way the club was being run; he later led an unsuccessful bid by a consortium to buy the club. He remains involved with the new owners, having appeared at fans forums as a representative as recently as 2005.
He rejoined Arsenal in July 1996, as Head of Youth Development and Academy Director, and has remained there since; although he was linked to the manager's post after the departure of Bruce Rioch
Bruce Rioch
Bruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
, Brady insisted he was not interested in the role; Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
eventually took the role. Under Brady, Arsenal's youth sides have won the FA Premier Youth League in 1997–98; the FA Premier Academy League U17 title in 1999-00; the FA Premier Academy League U19 title in 2001–02; the FA Premier Academy League U18 title in 2008–09 and 2009–10; and the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in 1999-00, 2000–01 and 2008–09.
Brady was one of dozens of former managers linked to the Republic of Ireland
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....
manager's job after the sacking of Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
in 2007. Instead, he became an assistant to new manager Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
in 2008, while continuing to work as Director of the Arsenal Youth Academy. He stepped down from the Republic of Ireland post in April 2010 when his contract expired. He has said he would gladly have stayed on with Ireland were it not for his Arsenal commitments.
Media career
Up until the end of UEFA Euro 2008, Brady appeared as a pundit on RTÉ SportRTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
, along with Bill O'Herlihy
Bill O'Herlihy
Bill O'Herlihy is an Irish sports broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He also heads one of Ireland's largest public relations firms.-Bill's life:...
, Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
and Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...
. He contributed to RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. In September 2010 he returned as a regular pundit to the panel for Ireland's UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Other
While at Arsenal, he was nicknamed "Chippy", not for his ability to chip the ball but for his fondness for fish and chipsFish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
.
Brady was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame
English Football Hall of Fame
The English Football Hall of Fame is housed at the National Football Museum, currently being relocated to Manchester, England. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of the all-time top English footballing talents, as well as non-English players and managers who have become...
in 2006 in recognition of his influence on the English game.
Brady also became involved in an anti-drugs campaign in the early 1990s, called "give drugs the boot", encouraging young boys to play sport as a healthy pastime.
Family
Brady was from a footballing family, with both his great uncle Frank Brady Sr. and older brother Ray BradyRay Brady
Raymond T. Brady was an Irish International footballer who played in England in the late 1950's and early 1960's with Millwall and QPR....
having been Irish internationals. His late older brother Frank
Frank Brady Jr.
Frank Brady was a former Irish football player who played as a centre half. He was the brother of Liam Brady....
won the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
with Shamrock Rovers in 1968 and made 2 appearances in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, while another brother, Pat Brady
Pat Brady (footballer)
Patrick J. Brady is an Irish footballer who played in England in the late 1950s and early 1960s with Millwall and QPR....
, played with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Around 1980, Brady married Sarah Hillier (born c.1960).
External links
- Fan's tribute to Liam Brady
- Liam Brady profile on Arsenal-land
- Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net