37 Facts About Niall Quinn

Niall John Quinn is an Irish former professional footballer, manager, businessman and sports television pundit.

Niall Quinn appeared with the Irish team at the UEFA European Football Championship of 1988 and two FIFA World Cups in 1990 and 2002.

Niall Quinn later was part of a consortium to buy Sunderland and became the club's chairman.

Niall Quinn had a spell as manager before stepping down to a role of club director.

Niall Quinn left the club in February 2012 and has since worked as a pundit namely on Sky Sports.

Niall Quinn played Gaelic football for the Perrystown, Dublin 12, club Robert Emmets.

In July 1983, Niall Quinn captained a Dublin Colleges GAA party on a one-month tour of Australia.

Niall Quinn played as a youth for Irish club Manortown United and then Lourdes Celtic in Crumlin, Dublin 12.

Niall Quinn was signed as a centre-forward, but had a brief spell as a centre-half for the Arsenal third team.

Niall Quinn made a further 11 league appearances for Arsenal that season, but failed to score as they finished seventh in the league.

Niall Quinn found himself playing under a new manager for the following season, as George Graham was appointed in place of Don Howe.

Niall Quinn had a regular place in the side that season, appearing in 35 league games and scoring eight goals.

However, after Arsenal signed another target man, Alan Smith, in the 1987 close season, Niall Quinn struggled to get into the team.

Niall Quinn managed a total of 193 league appearances in over six years at Maine Road, and scored a total of 64 goals for them.

In similar circumstances to when playing for Manchester City against Derby County in 1991 Niall Quinn scored and then went in goal, and kept a clean sheet to help his side win.

Niall Quinn has the distinction of being the first player to score at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, against Manchester City in 1997.

Niall Quinn became a local legend at Sunderland, winning both the Sunderland and North East Sportswriters' Player of the Year awards in 1999 after scoring 21 goals in Sunderland's record-breaking Division One title-winning season.

Niall Quinn made his senior debut as a substitute against the host nation in the Iceland Triangular Tournament in 1986.

Niall Quinn played for his country at two World Cups, in 1990 and 2002; he missed the 1994 FIFA World Cup because of injury.

Niall Quinn scored the equaliser against the Netherlands in the 1990 FIFA World Cup which allowed the Republic to progress to the second round of that tournament.

Niall Quinn had a testimonial match between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland in 2002.

Niall Quinn donated the entire proceeds to charity, an act for which he received a number of awards, including an honorary MBE.

Niall Quinn retired in 2003 at the age of 37, taking a brief coaching role at Sunderland.

Niall Quinn has made appearances as a television pundit and commentator for televised matches involving his former teams with Sky Sports.

Niall Quinn made a single league appearance for Thai Premier League side BEC Tero Sasana in March 2006 to promote the league and the side's link with Arsenal.

In July 2006 Niall Quinn became the chairman and manager of Sunderland.

Niall Quinn stepped to one side paving the way for Roy Keane to take charge.

Niall Quinn made substantial amounts of money available for buying new players, as he had a declared ambition to establish Sunderland as a top club.

In 2010, Niall Quinn was named a patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Niall Quinn was appointed as Director of International Development on behalf of the club and remained in this role until stepping down in February 2012 and after six years involved with the running of the club saying "Everything is in place for Sunderland to really make a statement, which was always my aim".

Since leaving Sunderland, Niall Quinn is chairman of a satellite broadband company in Ireland called Q Sat.

In 2012, Niall Quinn started commentating for Sky Sports and normally commentates alongside Martin Tyler.

Niall Quinn won, in 2012, the North East Football Writers' Association's Personality of the Year for 2011.

In November 2013, Niall Quinn was bestowed with the Freedom of Sunderland award by the city of Sunderland.

In January 2020, Niall Quinn was appointed as interim deputy chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland, choosing to go without salary until the financial future of the organisation could be secured.

Niall Quinn has received praise for his relationship with Sunderland fans.

Niall Quinn has been married to the Irish model Gillian Roe since 1992, and they have two children: Aisling and Michael.