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Mick Meagan |
Mick Meagan - First
Irish Soccer Manager
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In September 1969 Mick Meagan became
the first manager of the Republic of Ireland football team. Up to
that point teams were selected by a five-man selection committee.
Following pressure from some senior players, led by Eamon
Dunphy, the FAI
decided to appoint Meagan.
In a type of hybrid system Mick Meagan
would recommend players for the squad to the selection committee
while retaining the final decision on the starting line-up. One
long-standing problem for Irish teams persisted however i.e. international
football matches continued to be played on Sundays, just one day
after league matches.
Meagan was the Irish manager from
September 1969 until May 1971.
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Mick Meagan- Football Background
Mick Meagan was born in Dublin 29th
May 1934. He signed for Everton in 1952 as a defender. He did not
make his first team debut until 1957. He went on to make 165 appearances
scoring one goal in the process. Meagan moved to Huddersfield Town
in 1964 making 119 appearances.
Following a short time with Halifax
Town Meagan returned to Ireland to play for both Drogheda
United and Shamrock
Rovers. He finished his playing career as player-manager with
the Glenmalure
outfit and he made history when he appeared in the same side as
his son, Mark Meagan, in and FAI Cup match.
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Mick Meagan - International Career
Mick Meagan made his Irish international
debut against Scotland on the 7th May 1961 in a 1962
World Cup qualifier. Scotland won the match 3-0 at Dalymount
Park. Meagan went on to win 17 caps for Ireland but experience limited
success with the Irish team. He was on the winning team on just four occasions
however these included a memorable away victory in the Czechoslovakia
in a 1968
Nations Cup qualifier. On their last visit to Prague the Irish had
been beaten 7-1 however Ireland came away with a 2-1 win courtesy of a
late winning goal by Turlough O'Connor. Unfortunately for Mick Meagan
he had a part in the Czechoslovakia goal as he deflected a ball into the
path of John Dempsey who sliced the ball into his own net. Mick Meagan
won his last cap for Ireland as he started his international career -
against Scotland in a 1-1 draw. It was also his first match as manager
of Ireland.
Mick Meagan as Republic of Ireland Manager
Mick Meagan was appointed Republic of Ireland
manager in 1969. Unfortunately for Meagan his term in charge was during
the time when international matches were played on Sunday's, just one
day after most Irish internationals played for their clubs. This often
led to many absences of key players for important qualification matches.
Mick Meagan - First Match as Irish Manager
Meagan's first match as manager of the
Irish team was a friendly game against Scotland at Dalymount Park on 21st
September 1969. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with Don
Givens scoring the Irish goal. Meagan, who was playing for Drogheda
United at the time, won his 17th and last cap in the match. Meagan assumed
control of the Irish team midway through the 1970
World Cup qualification campaign. The Republic had lost the first
three matches in the group and things did not improve with Meagan at the
helm. In his first competitive match in Prague against Czechoslovakia
Ireland suffered a 3-0 defeat with Jozef Adamec scoring a hat-trick. The
rest of the campaign was not much better and the best result that Ireland
and Meagan could muster was a 1-1 home draw against Denmark.
Mick Meagan - 1972 European Championship
Qualification Campaign
Following two defeats in friendly matches
against Poland and West Germany Mick Meagan kicked off the 1972 European
Championship on a relatively positive note with a 1-1 home draw against
Sweden on the 14th October 1970. Unfortunately for Meagan this was followed
by four straight defeats culminating in a 4-1 hammering at home at the
hands of Austria.
Mick Meagan's Term as Ireland Manager
Comes to an End
With the return away tie against Austria
looming Mick Meagan's term as Republic of Ireland football team manager
came to an end. He had been in charge for almost two years and 12 matches
and had failed to register a single victory. During those matches scoring
goals was a particular problem with the Irish only scoring seven goals
and never more than one in any match. The team shipped 26 goals, and average
of 2.2 goals per match. During his term Meagan used 30 different players
giving debuts to ten, including Liverpool's Steve
Heighway.
Mick Meagan's Record as Irish Manager
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Played
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Won
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Drew
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Lost
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Goals For
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Goals Against
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Win Ratio
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12
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0
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3
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9
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7
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26
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0%
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| Home Team |
Match Result
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Away Team |
Date & Venue |
Competition |
| Ireland |
1:1 (1:1)
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Scotland |
21/09/1969 Dublin |
Friendly Match |
| Czechoslovakia |
3:0 (3:0)
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Ireland |
07/10/1969 Prague |
World Cup Qualifier |
| Ireland |
1:1 (1:0)
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Denmark |
15/10/1969 Dublin |
World Cup Qualifier |
| Hungary |
4:0 (1:0)
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Ireland |
05/11/1969 Budapest |
World Cup Qualifier |
| Poland |
2:1 (2:0)
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Ireland |
06/05/1970 Poznan |
Friendly Match |
| Germany FR |
2:1 (1:0)
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Ireland |
09/05/1970 Berlin West |
Friendly Match |
| Ireland |
0:2 (0:2)
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Poland |
23/09/1970 Dublin |
Friendly Match |
| Ireland |
1:1 (1:0)
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Sweden |
14/10/1970 Dublin |
European Qualifier |
| Sweden |
1:0 (0:0)
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Ireland |
28/10/1970
Solna |
European
Qualifier |
| Italy |
3:0 (2:0)
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Ireland |
08/12/1970 Florence |
European Qualifier |
| Ireland |
1:2 (1:1)
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Italy |
10/05/1971 Dublin |
European Qualifier |
| Ireland |
1:4 (0:3)
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Austria |
30/05/1971 Dublin |
European Qualifier |
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