Dubbed 'Mr Consistency' by the Manchester United faithful, Denis Irwin retired at the end of last season after a couple of years with Wolves and is now considering his options with media work a possible future direction. He spoke to Jon Wilde about his career and his future plans.
'Most footballers like to live in a nice quiet area', muses Denis Irwin, sitting at the kitchen table in his Cheshire home which is situated ideally in every sense.
For when you consider the tranquillity of the Cheshire village in which the former Republic of Ireland defender and his family reside it is difficult to believe the hubbub of Manchester Airport is just down the road.
But that is the beauty of this part of the world - peace and privacy can swiftly be exchanged for the practicality of the local amenities.
"It's a nice place to live," said the recently-retired 38-year-old, whose career of well over 700 club games - more than half for Manchester United - and 56 for his country reached its conclusion in May at Wolves, where he was a first team regular right to the end.
"We've been here five years and did not live far from here before that. The airport is only five or ten minutes away and the schools are great - the standard of education is very high in this area. I can't see us moving."
The education system is of particular importance to Irwin. He and Jacqueline, his wife of 13 years - they met in a pub in Leeds, home of the club at which he started - have three children, all of whom are school age.
Indeed, he points to the dining room and office and refers to them as 'homework rooms' for Liam (11), Lauren (8) and Katy (6).
And it soon becomes apparent where Liam's future may lie. A number of trophies adorn a cabinet in the kitchen but, apart from a lion-shaped Premier League Team of the Decade award, it is quickly pointed out that the rest have been won by Irwin junior.
A midfielder, Liam plays for Broadheath Central and his father is not ruling out the possibility of him one day following in his footsteps.
"I think every kid these days would love to become a footballer," said Irwin. "He's going for a trial at Bolton this summer so we'll have to see what happens."
"But now that his own days as a player are over, what comes next for the man dubbed 'Mr Consistency' by supporters at Old Trafford and Lansdowne Road. Last season had only been completed a month previously but his services were already in demand - as a studio pundit for Irish television station RTE during the opening week of the European Championship.
"I'll be taking a holiday over the next few months and chilling out before deciding what to do next," said Irwin. "I've done a bit of media work with MUTV and RTE and that area is one option.
"I haven't any coaching badges yet but I'll look at taking them over the next year or two. That would be another string to my bow. It depends how much I miss football. I¹ve been playing for 22 and a half years but I don't think I'll miss the playing side too much - the craic with the lads is what I'll miss. But I could maybe see myself coaching youngsters in the future."
The summer, however, is traditionally a family time for footballers and therefore inevitably the holiday to which Irwin referred. Dubai has been one destination they have enjoyed but, following a recent visit to Cyprus, a different direction will be taken this time.
"It's a bit too hot in Dubai at this time of year so we are going to the States for three weeks," he said. "We like going to places with nice hotels and that are suitable for the family."
And what about when the children are at school and, like on this particular day, Mrs Irwin cannot resist the lure of Manchester's excellent shopping facilities!
"I have the odd game of golf," he said. "I've not played all that much recently though. I have a handicap of 14 and tend to blow hot and cold on the course. I'm a fair weather golfer.
"I used to read quite a bit when I went away on European trips with United but not so much now and I enjoy playing chess against the computer, although with three young kids it's hard to find the time.
"I'm not really a massive fan of music but I do enjoy listening to bands like Oasis and Snow Patrol. I watch quite a bit of TV - unless the kids have got to it first - and I enjoy wildlife programmes. I didn't used to watch much football but I've started watching a bit more now, although to be honest I prefer watching golf."
In some ways, given its rural ambience, Cheshire is not all that different to the southern part of Ireland, where Irwin grew up in Cork. But any comparisons end when you leave behind the countryside and step back into the city.
"Manchester is certainly bigger than most places in Ireland, which has a slower pace of life and is more relaxed," he said. "But it's getting more expensive over there now for everything, especially since the introduction of the euro.
"I don't go into the centre of Manchester very often - you don't really need to for socialising because there's enough going on near where we are.
"We sometimes go out on a Saturday night with a couple of friends to a restaurant - there are plenty of those in the Altrincham area. Everything we need is on the doorstep." He may need to go a little further for his next career move but, rest assured, it will be sought with great consideration and then carried out with all the professionalism and dedication for which he was renowned as a player.
* Article reproduced by kind permission of Players' Club - official magazine of the PFA.
