Pat Jennings

Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE ( born June 12, 1945 in Newry, County Down ) is a former Northern Irish football player. He is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time.

Jennings has played in his career over 1000 games for clubs and the national team. The FA Community Shield Final 1967, he even managed a goal as a deduction the back of the net by Alex Stepney, the goalkeeper of Manchester United found.

Club career

Jennings began his career in his hometown at the age of 16 Newry Town. In England it became aware of him and the third division Watford FC signed him in 1963. Since he missed the age of 18 no league game, one has now also in higher leagues noticed him and Tottenham Hotspur paid £ 27,000 transfer fee at the end of the season.

Jennings was 13 years at White Hart Lane and ran to 472 times for the Spurs. With the club he has been successful in several competitions, as they won the 1967 FA Cup, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and 1972 succeeded the victory in the UEFA Cup. 1973 elected him the Football Writers ' Association Footballer of the Year in 1976 awarded the Professional Footballers' Association it with this title. In addition, Jennings made ​​in the Charity Shield against Manchester United in 1967 for a curiosity, as he gave the opposing keeper Alex Stepney overcame a discount of 102 meters.

In August 1977 Jennings moved to arch rivals Arsenal. There he completed 237 league games and led the club from 1978 to 1980 three times in a row, the final of the FA Cup. However, only succeeded 1979 Cup win when they defeated Manchester United 3-2.

1986 Jennings returned to the Spurs and was there after finishing his career goalkeeping coach.

Internationally

On April 15, 1964, the then 18 -year-old Jennings was the first time in goal for the Northern Ireland national football team, as they won 3-2 against Wales. Until his final game on June 12, 1986, his 41st birthday, at the soccer World Cup in 1986, a 0-3 against Brazil, Jennings played 119 internationals. Between his first and last game were 22 years and 58 days. No other male soccer player played for so long for his national team. In his last game he was ( surpassed in 1994 by Roger Milla ) who at the time the oldest World Cup participants. Of 23 April 1986 to 16 June 1990, he was a European record holder and was replaced by Peter Shilton.

This and That

Jennings son, also named Pat, is also football player. He plays for Derry City in the League of Ireland and was there in 2006 to win the League Cup.