By Jamie Miley
John O’Shea: what a guy.
O’Shea is set to bring the curtain down on his 20-year career at the end of season and, to celebrate his time in football, we look back at the Waterford native’s finest moments for club and country.
Last-gasp winner against Liverpool
O’Shea sent United fans into hysterics at Anfield in May 2007, thumping the ball into the roof of the net in stoppage time to give Alex Ferguson’s a vital win en route to clinching the title.
Scoring against Germany
Shane Long will be remembered for his goal against Germany but O’Shea was doing it before it was cool. In the 93rd-minute, the versatile defender pounced on Jeff Hendrick’s pull-back to fire expertly past Manuel Neuer and snatch a 1-1 draw against the reigning world champions.
Becoming an Irish centurion
That Germany game also happened to be O’Shea’s 100th cap. It’s a rare feat, with only five other men reaching the milestone. They are Robbie Keane (146), Shay Given (134), Kevin Kilbane (110), Steve Staunton (102) and Damien Duff (100).
Winning the Champions League in 2008
The centre-back was part of the Manchester United side that memorably beat Chelsea on penalties to become kings of Europe. O’Shea was an unused substitute in the final in Moscow and his memories of the following year are not much better, when he started at right-back as United lost 2-0 to Barcelona.
Donning the gloves against Spurs
During United’s 4-0 win at White Hart Lane in 2007, fans were treated to the comical sight of O’Shea hopping in goal after Edwin Van der Sar was forced off with a broken nose. He kept a clean sheet and made a great save from Irish teammate Robbie Keane, denying the Spurs man in a one-on-one.
That outrageous goal against Arsenal
United’s 4-2 victory at Highbury in February 2005 is largely remembered for Roy Keane’s infamous tunnel spat with Gunners captain Patrick Vieira.
However, Keane’s compatriot grabbed the headlines for his exploits on the pitch, rather than off it, when he chipped Jens Lehmann and offered a hilariously bemused look on his face by way of a celebration.
And, of course, that cheeky nutmeg on Luis Figo
In one of the finest Champions League games ever played, United beat Real Madrid 4-3 (Madrid won 6-5 on aggregate). Ronaldo may have scored a superb hat-trick for Real to earn himself a standing ovation from United fans, but O’Shea left his mark on the night, too, nutmegging Luis Figo. Definitely something he’ll be telling his grandchildren.
Thanks for the memories, John. We wish you a happy retirement.
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