- Years: 1990-2002
- Appearances: 529
- Goals: 33
- Honours: Premier league (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), FA Cup (1994, 1996, 1999), League Cup (1992), Charity Shield (1990, 1993, 1996, 1997), Champions League (1999), Cup Winners’ Cup (1991), European Super Cup (1991), Intercontinental Cup (1999)
Irwin played the majority of his games for United in the left back position, finally relinquishing it to Mikael Silvestre just before his departure from the club. The reason he features as RB for this team is that one, he was truly two footed and two, that his predecessor Roger Byrne was, arguably, a better left back. This also fits in with Irwin’s ethos of playing wherever his team needed him most. Irwin famously had referred to full backs as “cogs who will never win you the game. They are just there to keep the machine rolling.”
Sir Alex Ferguson himself in his 2013 autobiography says that Irwin is probably the only player he would consider a part of his all time XI team without a second thought. Irwin was an unassuming character not bothered with the airs of playing football for a top club like Manchester United. It, therefore, suited him to play in the full back position where players typically escape the ire of opposition fans. Irwin, in his 12 years at Old Trafford, covered himself with silverware becoming the most decorated United player at the time and yet became part of the scenery (in a good way).
He achieved this primarily by his superb consistency on the field. Whether defending for his team or bombing forward in attack on the break, Irwin was a resolute player. He was an astute defender who was very sure on the ball and off it. He rarely made a shabby tackle or had an off game. Peter Schmeichel, whose time at United overlapped with Irwin, went on record to describe Irwin’s proficiency as a defender. Denis was a dependable character in that respect. He could always be expected to make the decisive challenge or interception and be in the right place at the right time in general.
Irwin’s game wasn’t a defense only game either. He was a complete modern full back equally proficient in defense and attack. His defining attacking moment at United probably came when he chipped a goal against Tottenham in the 1993 season after playing a spectacular one-two with Eric Cantona. At a time when full backs were still chiefly defensive players, Irwin was a perpetual headache for opposition defenders as he provided an added dimension in attack to United.
And if these skills were not enough, Irwin was highly skilled in taking penalties and free kicks. Schmeichel had once commented that he had never seen a better player in a dead ball situation. Irwin regularly took free kicks for United till he relinquished that role to David Beckham in 1995. It is a testament to his skills thatAi??in spiteAi??of being a defender he scored 33 goals in 529 games for United.
Irwin makes it to the team on the back of his excellent defensive abilities, extremely useful attacking contributions, highly intuitive positional play but above all else his attitude. Irwin did not consider himself God’s gift to football. Instead he always put the team ahead of himself, always shying from the spotlight. He was always happier to play the role of the shy guy and let others stand at the front attracting the limelight.
His exit from United was symbolic of his stay at the club – quite and unintrusive. Irwin cleared most of his stuff from the locker and left a forwarding address with the kit man for the rest of his stuff before quietly leaving. It took a full one year, when he returned with Wolves, for the crowd at Old Trafford to give him a well deserved standing ovation. Denis Irwin was unquestionably one of the bedrocks of United’s Premier League domination in the 90s that reached its pinnacle with their treble winning season in 1999. Sir Alex rated him as an 8 on 10 player given that he rarely had a bad game – enough to earn him a place in this all time squad.
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