27 Facts About Pat Bonner

Patrick Joseph Bonner was born on 24 May 1960 and is an Irish retired football goalkeeper who spent his entire career at Celtic.

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

Pat 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.

Pat Bonner played Gaelic football for his native county Donegal.

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

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

The August of 1977, Pat Bonner had agreed a deal to sign for League of Ireland side Finn Harps FC 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.

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

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

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

Pat Bonner conceded a goal in the opening 90 seconds of the match, scored by Andrzej Iwan.

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

However, in the second half, Pat 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.

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

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

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

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

Pat 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.

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

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

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

Pat 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.

Pat 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, Pat Bonner was named as technical director of the Football Association of Ireland.

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

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

Pat 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.