The Republic of Ireland international would skip training sessions because of his dodgy knees and almost played with Diego Maradona at Napoli
ONE of the most accomplished defenders of the 1980s and 1990s, Paul McGrath’s effortless style set him apart from his contemporaries during his playing career.
Despite his addicition to alcohol and a turbulent private life, McGrath nevertheless established himself as a star at Manchester United and Aston Villa.
He also became a stalwart of the Republic of Ireland national side, winning 83 caps.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s description of him perhaps tells you all you need to know about McGrath.
He once said: “He was an exceptionally skillful and stylish defender, with marvelous innate athleticism, a man whose abilities stood comparison with any central defender in the game.”
Born in Ealing, Middlesex to an Irish mother and a Nigerian father he never knew, McGrath’s mum had travelled to London to have him.
She had to save her family from what was then considered the scandal of having an illegitimate child from an interracial relationship.
Within four weeks, however, she had given him up to be fostered and by the time he was five he was back in Ireland, moving constantly between orphanages in Dublin.
In 2006, he reflected: “There were no sweets, no affection, no outside contact.”
Before he signed for Manchester United in 1982, McGrath combined playing with St. Patrick’s Athletic with a variety of other jobs.
He made metal gates, he did some roofing and he was even a security guard too.
“It was great,” he said, “because it made me grounded.”
McGrath’s life has been one long, tough battle with the booze; he’s even tried drinking pints of Domestos.
An alcoholic by his mid-twenties, it’s an addiction that nearly cost him his playing career and his life, with the player himself admitting that he’s tried to take his life on four occasions.
The first attempt came in 1989 when, with his time at Old Trafford was coming to a difficult end, he took a knife to his wrists.
He also tried to take an overdose of tranquillisers in 1997.
“Oblivion or death” was how he referred to his state of mind at the time.
Before he signed his first contract at Old Trafford, then United boss Ron Atkinson took him to one side about something that was concerning him.
It's was McGrath’s trademark earring.
In Big Ron’s eyes, no great centre-half had ever worn one and if he didn’t get rid of it, then he may have to think about the deal on the table.
McGrath duly obliged, removing the earring and the contract was signed.
In fact, McGrath was once cornered by his United teammates Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins, who had been sent by their England boss Bobby Robson to tempt into playing for the Three Lions.
However, McGrath pledged his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland and never looked back.
He said: “I would never have done that, I would never have got back into Dublin! There was no choice to make."
Having appeared on Match of the Day with Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen in 2002, McGrath was given the chance to become one of the channel’s pundits at that year’s World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
But his nerves got the better of him and on the flight out to Japan he got drunk again, making a show of himself.
By the time he reached Japan, the BBC had already decided to send him straight back home on the next plane.
In the late 1980s, a team of officials from Napoli were sent to speak to McGrath while he was on holiday near Naples.
This, of course, was a time when Diego Maradona was the star of the Napoli side, a player who had all but single-handedly rewritten the Italian club’s history.
McGrath was sorely tempted to agree to a move but decided against it, given his off the field problems.
“There wasn’t really a drinking culture in Italian football,” he reflected years later, “maybe I would have started one.”
When he left United and joined Aston Villa, McGrath’s knees were in such a bad way that he couldn’t even train.
But Villa boss Graham Taylor, along with physio Jim Walker, knew they could still get a game out of the centre-half.
So the club devised a regime that would prolong McGrath’s career and help get a return on their investment.
Well, it wasn’t much of a regime to be honest. All it was was 10 minutes on an exercise bike each morning and maybe a bath. He didn’t even join in the five-a-sides.
Back in 2011, McGrath decided to have a stab at a singing career, when he released a version of the Gerry Goffin and Carole King song Goin’ Back.
It was followed soon after by an album of cover versions called Handle With Care.
It featured McGrath’s interpretations of classics like Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately and Cat Stevens Father And Son Reunion. Commendably, all the proceeds went to the Acquired Brain Injury Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ireland.
Remember when United fans used to sing ‘Ooh aah Cantona’ in honour of their legendary French striker?
Well, they did it first for McGrath. Altogether now… "Ooh aah Paul McGrath, ooh aah Paul McGrath…”
