At number 14 in our list we pay homage to the mustachioed genius that is John Aldridge.
Don’t let the thick Scouse accent fool you, his heart pumps green Irish blood. Okay, maybe it pumps red for Liverpool too, he’s revered around that territory and any Liverpool fan will tell you that the strike partnership he struck up with Ian Rush was one of their greatest of all-time.
For a long-time for Ireland Aldo couldn’t find his scoring boots. Having started his international career at the ripe old age of 27, he didn’t score his first international goal until November 1988 in his 15th international against Tunisia.
This lack of scoring perplexed Irish fans, who in the past had got on Aldo’s fellow Liverpool legend Steve Heighway for not replicating his club form at international level. At a time when Aldo couldn’t hit a barn door for Ireland he was scoring 26goals in 36 games in the 1988 season for the ‘Pool.
Big Jack, kept the fate with Aldo, who had an amazing capacity to run himself into the ground for Ireland and his fate was repaid a year later with his next goals for Ireland
In November 1989 Aldo scored again in his 28th international, his brace in the 2-0 victory over Malta in the World cup qualifier at Ta’Qali Stadium in Valetta sent Ireland into their first ever World Cup.
Aldridge went on to score 19 goals for Ireland, which was a respectable tally and equaled a goal every 3.5games for the future Tranmere Rovers manager.
We’re counting down the days to Ireland’s Euro 2012 opener against Croatia. Join us every day in the build-up to the tournament for another classic Irish soccer memory.
There’s 10% OFF TVs at D.I.D Electrical this weekend. Offer ends Monday. Browse the Full Range of Smart TVs, LED TVs and 3DTVs.
