29 Facts About Packie Bonner

Packie Bonner earned a total of 80 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team after making his debut on his 21st birthday.

Packie Bonner is remembered for his famous penalty save from Daniel Timofte of Romania at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy during the knockout stage.

Packie Bonner played Gaelic football for his native county Donegal.

Packie Bonner played Gaelic football for the Donegal county team at minor and senior level in the 1970s.

Packie Bonner played a number of games in the National Football League.

Packie Bonner began his career in the late 1970s with his local youth side, Keadue Rovers.

The August 1977, Packie Bonner had agreed a deal to sign for League of Ireland side Finn Harps on a 6 month contract after impressing in a guest appearance in a friendly against English team Stoke City FC An agreement was put in place, with then Harps manager, Eunan 'Busty' Blake, that if a bigger club came in, he would be allowed to leave and Blake himself would personally tear up his contract.

Packie Bonner was spotted by Sean Fallon, who was scouting in Ireland for Celtic, and invited to Glasgow for a trial.

True to his word, 'Busty' Blake tore up his Finn Harps contract, without ever making a competitive appearance for the club, and Packie Bonner signed for Celtic on 14 May 1978.

Packie Bonner went on to play 642 times for Celtic, with 483 league appearances.

Packie Bonner made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland on his 21st birthday in a friendly against Poland on 24 May 1981.

However, by the time of the appointment of Jack Charlton in March 1986, Packie Bonner was already claiming the number one position.

Packie Bonner played in seven of Ireland's eight games in the qualifying round of UEFA Euro 1988.

However, in the second half, Packie Bonner produced a number of outstanding saves to keep Ireland in the lead, most notably from Gary Lineker, and was named Man of the Match.

Packie Bonner missed the opening qualifying game for the 1990 FIFA World Cup away to Northern Ireland due to a back injury.

Packie Bonner made a simple save from a poorly taken penalty by Daniel Timofte, setting up David O'Leary to score the winning Irish kick.

Packie Bonner arrived home in Dublin to a hero's welcome the following day.

Packie Bonner's penalty save has been remembered by FIFA as one of the great moments of that World Cup.

Packie Bonner remained Ireland's number one choice goalkeeper for UEFA Euro 1992, where Ireland was drawn against Poland, Turkey and England in the qualifying round.

Packie Bonner represented Ireland in all 12 qualifying matches for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Packie Bonner's saves throughout the tournament were key to Ireland's goal-difference remaining on par with Denmark and ensuring eventual qualification.

However, Packie Bonner fumbled the shot and it dribbled into the net.

Packie Bonner became the Republic of Ireland's most capped goalkeeper with 80 appearances for his country.

Packie Bonner held this record until it was surpassed in 2007 by fellow Donegal native Shay Given who, by the end of 2011, had achieved 120 caps.

Packie Bonner remains a cultural icon in Ireland for his role in some of the most memorable moments in Irish sporting history, including the win over England at Euro 88, the draws with England and the Netherlands at the 1990 World Cup and the penalty save that sent Ireland to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first and, to date, only time.

On 2 February 2003, following the promotion of Brian Kerr to the position of Republic of Ireland team manager, Packie Bonner was named as technical director of the Football Association of Ireland.

Packie Bonner previously held the role of the senior squad's goalkeeping coach in the organisation.

Packie Bonner is married to Ann and has two children, Andrew and Melissa.

Packie Bonner's son Andrew was a footballer who played as a striker for the Republic of Ireland youth teams and in the Scottish Junior leagues at club level, and was later a top amateur distance runner.