32 Facts About Mark Lawrenson

Mark Thomas Lawrenson was born on 2 June 1957 and is a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Liverpool, among others, during the 1970s and 1980s.

Mark Lawrenson was born in Preston and attended St Teresa's Catholic Primary School in Penwortham and, later, Preston Catholic College, a Jesuit school.

Mark Lawrenson always wanted to be a footballer, although his mother, Theresa, wanted him to become a priest.

Mark Lawrenson began his career, as a 17-year-old, with his hometown club, Preston North End in 1974 who were then managed by World Cup winner Bobby Charlton.

Mark Lawrenson settled in at the Goldstone Ground and made 40 league appearances by the end of his first season of the club.

However the club entered a financial crisis in 1981 and Mark Lawrenson was forced to leave the club to make funds available.

Mark Lawrenson was to form a formidable central defensive partnership with Alan Hansen after Phil Thompson suffered an injury.

Mark Lawrenson came on for Ray Kennedy in the 64th minute scoring in the 72nd.

Mark Lawrenson dislocated his shoulder three weeks before the 1985 European Cup final, the Heysel Stadium Disaster.

Mark Lawrenson earned a fifth and final title medal when that season ended.

In 1989, Mark Lawrenson spent one season with the Florida side Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Soccer League.

Mark Lawrenson managed Peterborough United from 6 September 1989 until 9 November 1990.

Mark Lawrenson returned to playing with non-league clubs Corby Town and Chesham United.

Mark Lawrenson played his first competitive match on 12 October 1977 against Bulgaria in a 1978 World Cup qualifier.

Mark Lawrenson scored his first of his five goals for Ireland against Cyprus in Nicosia on 26 March 1980 in a 1982 World Cup Qualifier.

In between these two matches Mark Lawrenson renewed his Preston acquaintance with Alan Kelly Snr as Kelly managed Ireland in a caretaker capacity for a friendly against Switzerland.

Unfortunately for Mark Lawrenson injury prevented him from making the Irish Euro 1988 squad for the finals.

Mark Lawrenson played his last match for the Republic of Ireland against Israel on 10 November 1987.

Mark Lawrenson has since become established as a pundit, both on BBC television and radio, often finding himself sitting alongside his former defensive partner, Alan Hansen.

Mark Lawrenson appears regularly on Football Focus and Match of the Day.

Mark Lawrenson is often a co-commentator on BBC Radio Five Live, often working on the feature matches on Sunday afternoons.

Mark Lawrenson was replaced in that role by Tony Cascarino and Martin Keown, and moved into the commentary box alongside TV3 commentator Trevor Welch.

Mark Lawrenson had a column on the BBC website where he gives his views and predictions on the Premier League's weekend fixtures.

Mark Lawrenson is one of a number of ex-Liverpool players who made up the BBC pundit team.

Mark Lawrenson writes a regular Preston North End column for the University of Central Lancashire's Students' Union newspaper, Pluto, and a weekly column for the Liverpool Daily Post.

Mark Lawrenson worked with Japanese entertainment company Konami, recording commentary samples for the Pro Evolution Soccer series, alongside ITV commentator Jon Champion, from Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 to Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

Mark Lawrenson was replaced by ITV pundit Jim Beglin for Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.

Mark Lawrenson lost the bet after Sam Allardyce's team stayed up, and shaved off his moustache as a result.

At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the BBC received 172 complaints after Mark Lawrenson said that Swiss striker Josip Drmic "should put a skirt on".

In 2003, Mark Lawrenson was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Myerscough College near Preston for his achievements in football.

Mark Lawrenson was made aware of the seriousness of the growth when a concerned viewer contacted the editor of Football Focus.

Mark Lawrenson later met the viewer, Dr Alan Brennan, on television.