Republic of Ireland Squad at 2002 World Cup Finals
The Irish football squad that travelled to Japan was quite experienced in terms of caps and in terms of age. The Republic of Ireland manager at the time, Mick McCarthy, did not spring any surprises with his squad choices.
The youngest player in the squad was Steven Reid, a 21 year old that played in midfield for Milwall. With just five caps he, along with Andy O’Brien, had the least international experience.
The rest of the Irish squad were largely seasoned campaigners with an overall average age of 27 years and an average of 33.7 caps each. The most experienced players in the squad were Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton who would become the first Irish footballer to win 100 hundred caps during the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan. At 35, Niall Quinn was also the eldest member of the of the playing panel.
Colin Healy almost made it into the squad on the back of Roy Keane’s departure following the infamous Saipan Incident however he missed out because the situation spiralled out of all control and thus Ireland began the competition with a diminished squad.
Republic of Ireland Squad Details
| No. | Name | Position | Club |
Age
|
Caps
|
Goals
|
|
1
|
Shay Given | Goalkeeper | Newcastle United |
26
|
39
|
0
|
|
2
|
Steven Finnan | Defender | Fulham |
26
|
15
|
1
|
|
3
|
Ian Harte | Defender | Leeds United |
24
|
40
|
8
|
|
4
|
Kenny Cunningham | Defender | Wimbledon |
31
|
38
|
0
|
|
5
|
Stephen Staunton | Midfielder | Aston Villa |
33
|
98
|
7
|
|
6
|
Roy Keane | Midfielder | Manchester United |
30
|
58
|
9
|
|
7
|
Jason McAteer | Midfielder | Sunderland |
31
|
47
|
3
|
|
8
|
Matt Holland | Midfielder | Ipswich Town |
28
|
19
|
3
|
|
9
|
Damien Duff | Forward | Blackburn Rovers |
23
|
26
|
1
|
|
10
|
Robbie Keane | Forward | Leeds United |
22
|
33
|
10
|
|
11
|
Kevin Kilbane | Midfielder | Sunderland |
25
|
33
|
3
|
|
12
|
Mark Kinsella | Midfielder | Charlton Athletic |
31
|
28
|
3
|
|
13
|
David Connolly | Forward | Wimbledon |
25
|
33
|
8
|
|
14
|
Gary Breen | Defender | Coventry City |
28
|
43
|
5
|
|
15
|
Richard Dunne | Defender | Manchester City |
22
|
14
|
3
|
|
16
|
Dean Kiely | Goalkeeper | Charlton Athletic |
31
|
6
|
0
|
|
17
|
Niall Quinn | Forward | Sunderland |
35
|
88
|
21
|
|
18
|
Gary Kelly | Defender | Leeds United |
28
|
46
|
2
|
|
19
|
Clinton Morrison | Forward | Crystal Palace |
23
|
7
|
2
|
|
20
|
Andy O’Brien | Defender | Newcastle United |
23
|
5
|
0
|
|
21
|
Steven Reid | Midfielder | Milwall |
21
|
5
|
2
|
|
22
|
Lee Carsley | Midfielder | Everton |
28
|
19
|
0
|
|
23
|
Alan Kelly | Goalkeeper | Sheffield United |
33
|
34
|
0
|
|
Averages
|
27.3
|
33.7
|
|
Ireland Euro 2016 – Irish Squad Euro 2016 – Ireland V Sweden Euro 2016
Ireland V Belgium Euro 2016 – Ireland V Italy Euro 2016 – Ireland V France Euro 2016 Ireland Euro 2012 – Irish Squad Euro 2012 – Euro 2012 Warm-up Matches Ireland Euro 88 – Irish Squad Euro 88 |
Ireland & 1990 World Cup Finals – Irish Squad World Cup 1990
Ireland V England 1990 – Ireland V Egypt 1990 – Ireland V Holland 1990
Ireland V Romania 1990 – Ireland V Italy 1990
Ireland & 1994 World Cup Finals – Irish Squad World Cup 1994
Ireland V Italy 1994 – Ireland V Mexico 1994 – Ireland V Norway 1994 – Ireland V Netherlands 1994
Ireland & 2002 World Cup Finals – 2002 World Cup Irish Squad – 2002 World Cup Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon 2002 – Ireland V Germany 2002 – Ireland V Saudi Arabia 2002 – Ireland V Spain 2002
