Samuel Baxter McIlroy was born on 2 August 1954 and is a Northern Irish retired footballer who played for Manchester United, Stoke City, Manchester City, Orgryte, Bury, VfB Modling, Preston North End and the Northern Ireland national team.
14 Facts About Sammy McIlroy
2.
Sammy McIlroy was most recently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe, which he helped guide to the English Football League for the first time in their history.
3.
Sammy McIlroy was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1986 Birthday Honours for services to association football.
4.
Sammy McIlroy was born in Belfast and moved to English club Manchester United in 1969 becoming Matt Busby's final signing.
5.
Sammy McIlroy played in all of the country's matches during both the 1982 World Cup, where Northern Ireland defeated the host nation Spain and advanced to the second round, and the 1986 World Cup in which he captained the team.
6.
Sammy McIlroy was part of the Northern Ireland side which won the final Home Internationals Championship.
7.
Sammy McIlroy began his managerial career as player-coach under John McGrath at Preston North End in 1991.
8.
Sammy McIlroy then went on to manage non-league team Ashton United and Northwich Victoria before joining Macclesfield Town for six and a half seasons, culminating in their promotion to the Football League in 1997.
9.
Sammy McIlroy arrived at the Moss Rose in 1993 replacing Peter Wragg who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season.
10.
Sammy McIlroy left the Moss Rose in 1999 to take up the position at his own national team.
11.
Sammy McIlroy managed Northern Ireland for nearly three years, but the team won only five times in 29 matches, with all of the wins occurring in McIlroy's first year.
12.
Sammy McIlroy spent just over a year at Edgeley Park which saw him win just 14 matches.
13.
On 9 May 2011 Sammy McIlroy left Morecambe by mutual consent after a 20th-place finish in the league.
14.
On 10 October 2022, Sammy McIlroy returned to Macclesfield in a mentoring capacity, to work closely with manager Danny Whitaker.