Alan McLoughlin

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Alan Francis McLoughlin (born 20 April 1967 in Manchester, England) is a former Irish coach, and former professional footballer, playing as a midfielder.

Career

McLoughlin began his career as a trainee at Manchester United on leaving school in July 1983, turning professional at the start of the 1985–86 season. However, he never played a first team game for United and joined Swindon Town in August 1986, just after they had won promotion to the Football League Third Division.

However, his footballing style didn't fit with then manager Lou Macari's "long ball" style, and just seven months and nine appearances later, he moved to Torquay United on loan. His Swindon career looked to be over when he returned to Torquay at the start of the following season for another loan spell, but following suspensions to other players McLoughlin was given another chance in the first team and soon established himself as a regular for Swindon.

It was under Macari's successor as manager, Ossie Ardiles, that McLoughlin really blossomed. He was an ever present in Ardiles' first season, scoring sixteen goals. He capped off a fine season by scoring the winning goal in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium against Sunderland. McLoughlin's performances won him international recognition, and he was named in the Ireland squad for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He made two appearances in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the matches with England and Egypt.

However, before the next season began, Swindon were demoted by the Football League for making irregular payments to players. This initially meant that Sunderland (the team they beat in the playoff final) were promoted to the First Division in their place, and Swindon were demoted to the Third Division and their place in the Second Division was given to losing Third Division playoff finalists Tranmere Rovers. However, an appeal saw Swindon restored to the Second Division.

With the club in financial trouble, players had to be sold, and McLoughlin left for Southampton in December 1990, for a club record £1 million. However he failed to find the same level of form that he had at Swindon, and he was loaned first to Aston Villa and then to Portsmouth. The latter were impressed enough by McLoughlin to make a bid for him, and so in February 1992 he moved to Fratton Park for £400,000 after making only 29 appearances for the Saints. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final, but they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool. He helped them to the brink of the FA Premier League in 1992–93, but they were pipped to automatic promotion by West Ham United and lost to Leicester City in the playoffs.

It was at Portsmouth that he eventually became club captain. While at the club, McLoughlin represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. McLoughlin scored a goal against the Northern Ireland national football team at Windsor Park in a 1993 World Cup qualifer. This happened when Ireland was down 1–0 due to a goal scored by Jimmy Quinn of Northern Ireland. McLouglin's goal qualified the Republic of Ireland team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States. He was the first Portsmouth player to be included in any World Cup squad since the 1958 tournament – nine years before McLoughlin himself was born.

In December 1999 he was sold to Wigan Athletic for £260,000. However injuries prevented him from making a major impact and he moved on a free transfer to Rochdale F.C. in December 2001, having made only 12 starts (plus 10 as a sub) for Wigan, scoring three goals. He scored once in the league against Gillingham^[1] and also scored a brace in an LDV Vans Trophy tie with Oldham Athletic.^[2] McLoughlin played his part in Rochdale reaching the play-offs in 2001–02 and scored a twice-taken penalty for them on his last League appearance against Bristol Rovers.^[3]

With his career winding down McLoughlin joined Forest Green as a player-coach for the 2002–03 season and also featured in Rovers FA Cup first round tie with Exeter City which was broadcast live on BBC Match of the Day.^[4] At the end of the season McLoughlin retired from playing to concentrate on coaching with the club. He was capped 42 times for the Republic of Ireland.

He was also a co-commentator on defunct Portsmouth-based radio station The Quay.

In February 2011, he joined BBC Radio Solent as matchday co-commentator for Portsmouth F.C. matches.

In July 2011, he joined Portsmouth as Senior Academy Coach.

References

External links

• Republic of Ireland profile
• Quay Radio Profile

v t e Republic of Ireland squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Bonner 2 Morris 3 Staunton 4 McCarthy (c) 5 Moran 6 Whelan 7 McGrath 8 Houghton 9 Aldridge 10 Cascarino 11 Sheedy 12 O'Leary 13 Townsend 14 Hughton 15 Slaven 16 Sheridan 17 Quinn 18 Stapleton 19 Kelly 20 Byrne 21 McLoughlin 22 Peyton Coach: Charlton

v t e Republic of Ireland squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Bonner 2 Irwin 3 Phelan 4 Moran 5 McGrath 6 Keane 7 Townsend (c) 8 Houghton 9 Aldridge 10 Sheridan 11 Staunton 12 G. Kelly 13 Kernaghan 14 Babb 15 Coyne 16 Cascarino 17 McGoldrick 18 Whelan 19 McLoughlin 20 D. Kelly 21 McAteer 22 A. Kelly Coach: Charlton