Irish
Whites
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Irish
Whites
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| Gary
Kelly DOB Height Born Signed for Leeds From Fee Squad No. First Irish cap Against Venue |
9/7/74 5,9 Drogheda 24/9/91 Home Farm Free 2 23/3/94 Russia Landsdown Road |
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| It
was in the 1993/94 season that Gary, the youngest of a family of thirteen
from County Louth, burst on to the scene after Howard Wilkinson tried him
out as a right back. Remarkably, by the end of his first season, he was
a member of Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland side that went to the U.S.A
for the 1994 World Cup Finals. He made his senior international debut against
Russia that year. For the next two seasons, the flying fullback was an ever present in the Leeds team, and established himself as an Irish regular under Jack Charlton. He now has a real chance of surpassing Big Jack's all-time record number of 773 appearances in the Leeds shirt. |
| Ian
Harte DOB Height Born Signed for Leeds From Fee Squad No. First Irish cap Against Venue |
31/7/88 5,9 Drogheda 15/12/95 Trainee 0 3 2/6/96 Croatia Landsdown Road |
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| Ian was a Youth and Under-21 international and
won his first senior cap when he came on as a substitute against Croatia
on June 2nd 1996. He scored his first international goal against Bolivia
the same month. Ironically at the same time he was appearing regularly as a centre half for the Republic of Ireland, his early career at Leeds stuttered and up until late in the 97/98 season he had actually accumulated more Irish caps to his name than first team appearances at Elland Road. Injury to David Robertson opened the door to the first team again, in February 1998 and Hartey grabbed his chance with both hands, with a series of fine performances at left back in an uninterrupted 12 game run through to the end of the season. His tremendous power with either foot, means that he is capable of switching play with a booming 60 yard pass, and he is collecting a healthy tally of goals. Now expected to form part of the United rearguard along with his uncle Gary for years to come. |
| Stephen
McPhail DOB Height Born Signed for Leeds From Fee Squad No. First Irish cap Against Venue |
9/12/79 5,10 London 23/12/96 Trainee 0 14 30/5/00 Scotland Landsdown Road |
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| Having recovered
from an early 1999/00 season injury, United fans saw just why everybody
has been raving about this boy from the Emerald isle, as he has forced his
way into the United first team following a string of superb performances
for The Whites. A regular under David O'Leary, his reward was a call up to Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland squad and with a new five year contract under his belt as well, he made his full debut for his country against Scotland in Dublin in May. But his start to the 2000/2001 season was hampered by injury and an Achilles operation in November cut short his campaign, although he did return as a substitute during United's run in that took them into Europe again. The last of his 5 caps was also at home against Cyprus 6-10-01, but hopefully if he gets an extended run in the first team with Leeds he will soon add to that total. |
| Robbie
Keane DOB Height Born Signed for Leeds From Fee Squad No. First Irish cap Against Venue |
8/7/80 5,11 Dublin 25/4/01 Inter Milan 12 million 7 3/98 Czceh Rep. Oloumuc |
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| Probably the most exciting Irish striker in years. Robbie
was first capped for Ireland at Under-16 level. In March 1998 he won his
first cap against the Czech Republic at Oloumuc. During the 1998 summer
he helped the Ireland U-18's to an historic victory in the European Championships
then represented his country at the 1999 World Youth Cup in Nigeria. Robbie became Britain's costliest teenager when he signed for Coventry in August 199 for a fee of £6million from Wolves, the club that had nurtured him as a trainee and gave him his football league debut. Robbie scored 12 goals with Coventry in 30 Premiership starts before a sensational £13m move to Italian Giants Inter Milan. Life started well in Italy for Keane under coach Marcello Lippi, but changed drastically after his sacking and the appointment of Marco Tardelli. Keane found himself left out of the squad and pushed down the pecking order by the likes of Christian Vieri,Alvaro Recoba and Hakan Sukur. Rumours of a return to the Premiership soon abounded. His wish came true five days before Christmas when Leeds tied up a deal with Inter that would see him move to Elland Road initially on loan, with a fee of £12miliion agreed for a permanent deal after that. Scored nine goals in just 14 appearances before an ankle injury curtailed his season two games before the end of the campaign. Leeds and Irish fans are expecting big things from Robbie in the coming seasons. |