Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil

Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil
Event Friendly
Date July 3, 1973
Venue Lansdowne Road, Dublin

The Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil association football friendly match was played in Lansdowne Road in Dublin, Ireland, on 3 July 1973 between the Brazil national team and a team billed as "Shamrock Rovers XI", made up of Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland international players. Brazil won the match 4–3; it was the first time in eight years that any team scored three goals against them.[1]

Background

The match was played at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland as a gesture of friendship and solidarity. Louis Kilcoyne, the owner of the domestic Shamrock Rovers football team, persuaded João Havelange of the Brazilian FA to include a match against an "Ireland XI" on the itinerary for their nine-match summer tour of Europe, reportedly promising him the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) vote in the 1974 election for President of FIFA.[1][2]

Kilcoyne's brother-in-law and captain of the Republic team, Johnny Giles,[1] and Derek Dougan of Northern Ireland were friendly with each other. They supported the project and persuaded many of their respective teammates to participate.

The Irish Football Association (IFA) was opposed to the match, seeing it as setting a precedent which might encourage moves for the IFA to merge with the FAI. Further, the Republic of Ireland manager, Liam Tuohy, who also managed this team, subsequently disclosed that the FAI also had reservations. In deference to these concerns, the "Ireland XI" had to be called a "Shamrock Rovers" selection,[3] after the leading League of Ireland club connected to the Kilcoyne family. (In actuality, all the team played in the English League.[4]) Also, only the Brazilian national anthem and flag were sung and displayed, although A Nation Once Again was among the tunes in the pre-match entertainment.

Derek Dougan alleged that IFA President Harry Cavan instructed Northern Ireland manager Terry Neill not to pick him in future because of his involvement in organising this match, thereby ending his international career. However, Dougan had not appeared in any of Northern Ireland's five matches prior to the game in Dublin, had failed to score in any of the last ten international games in which he had played and, at 35, he was in the twilight of his career. Indeed, he was to retire from playing full time football less than two seasons later.

None of the five other Northern Ireland players who played in this match suffered any adverse consequences for their international career. Three of them (Jennings, Hamilton and O'Neill) were subsequently to captain Northern Ireland, and Hamilton was also appointed manager.

Proceeds from the match went to UNICEF and the Irish Cancer Society.

The match was featured on the television programme, Monday Night Soccer, on 7 April 2008.[5]

Line ups

Shamrock Rovers XI

Team photograph[6]
Pos Player Club
GK Pat Jennings Tottenham Hotspur
DF David Craig Newcastle United
DF Paddy Mulligan Crystal Palace
DF Allan Hunter Ipswich Town
DF Tommy Carroll Birmingham City
DF Liam O'Kane
sub on for Carroll; 66 mins 		Nottingham Forest
MF Johnny Giles Leeds United
MF Mick Martin Manchester United
MF Martin O'Neill Nottingham Forest
MF Terry Conroy Stoke City
MF Miah Dennehy
sub on for Conroy; 88 mins 		Nottingham Forest
FW Derek Dougan Wolverhampton Wanderers
FW Don Givens Queens Park Rangers
FW Bryan Hamilton
sub on for Givens; 66 mins 		Ipswich Town
Manager Liam Tuohy Shamrock Rovers

Brazil

Pos Player Club
GK Émerson Leão Palmeiras
DF Zé Maria Corinthians
DF Luís Pereira Palmeiras
DF Piazza Cruzeiro
DF Marco Antônio Fluminense
MF Paulo Cézar Caju Flamengo
MF Clodoaldo Santos
MF Rivelino Corinthians
MF Dirceu Botafogo
FW Jairzinho Botafogo
FW Valdomiro Internacional
Manager Mário Zagallo Flamengo

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 All-Ireland Samba Shamrock Rovers All-Ireland XI 3 – 4 Brazil Lansdowne Road, Tuesday 3 July 1973 History Ireland, Issue 4 (Jul/Aug 2008), Volume 16.
  2. ↑ FAI abandons plans for minute silence in memory of Louis Kilcoyne due to fears of Shamrock Rovers fan protest Goal Ireland. Retrieved: 2013-11-04.
  3. ↑ Gaffers: 50 Years of Irish Football Managers By Trevor Kean pages 110 and 111,ISBN 978 1 85635 666 4
  4. ↑ http://www.dundalkfc.com/history/irish-football-time-capsule/all-ireland-xi-v-brazil-1973/shamrock-rovers-xi-v-brazil-friendly-international-1973/
  5. ↑ Jimmy Magee reports on the Shamrock Rovers XI v Brazil game 35 years on RTÉ Sport: "Monday Night Soccer", 2008-04-07.
  6. ↑ Murphy, Colm (13 February 2011). "Shamrock Rovers XI v Brazil – Friendly International 1973". www.dundalkfc.com. Dundalk FC. Retrieved 20 January 2013.

External links