Sammy McIlroy

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Samuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroy (born 2 August 1954) is a Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United. After playing, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Ireland national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town. He is currently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe.

[edit] Playing career

From East Belfast, McIlroy played from 1971 to 1982 at Manchester United. He was the last youth player signed by Matt Busby, therefore making him the last of the Busby Babes. He was dubbed 'The next George Best', and in his first-team debut match in 1971 at the age of 17 he scored, in a 3-3 draw in the Manchester derby against Manchester City at Maine Road on 6 November, but was not able to win a regular first-team place until the 1974-75 season. This was shortly after United slipped out of the top flight, but he helped them shoot straight back up again, finished third in the top flight a year later and also reach an FA Cup final - which they surprisingly lost to Southampton. A year later, McIlroy picked up a winner's medal as United triumphed 2-1 against Liverpool. A runners-up medal in the FA Cup followed two years after that as United were defeated 3-2 by Arsenal, with McIlroy equalising for United having been 2-0 down, only for Alan Sunderland to dramatically win it for Arsenal minutes afterwards.

In the late 1970s McIlroy moved from 'Reds' striker to midfielder.

In 1982, he was sold to Stoke City, where he played the next four seasons. McIlroy went on to play at Örgryte IS in Sweden in 1986, Manchester City in 1986-87, Bury from 1987 to 1990 and Preston North End in 1989/90.

As a player for the Northern Ireland national team McIlroy won 88 caps and scored 5 goals. He played in all of the country's matches during both the 1982 World Cup, where Northern Ireland defeated the host nation Spain and advanced to the second round, and the 1986 World Cup in which he captained the team.

[edit] Managerial career

McIlroy began his managerial career as player-coach under John McGrath at Preston North End in 1991. He then went on to manage non-league team Ashton before joining Macclesfield Town for six and a half seasons, culminating in their promotion to The Football League in 1997. He remains a legend in Macclesfield and has a suite at the Moss Rose stadium named after him.

Sammy arrived at the Moss Rose in 1993 replacing Peter Wragg who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season. Sammy's first season at the Moss Rose saw a very creditable seventh place finish plus silverware in the shape of the Drinkwise Cup (also known as the Bob Lord Trophy). His second season surpassed all expectations as his skillful and flowing football brought the Silkmen a conference title, only to be denied promotion to the Football League thanks to ground regulations. The following season brought more silver to the club as the Silkmen beat Northwich Victoria 3-1 at Wembley to win the club's second FA Trophy. But the ultimate prize of League football was still elusive as the club finished fourth in the pre-play-off Conference. 1996/7 was a red letter season for the Silkmen as a final day, 4-1 victory over Kettering Town secured promotion to the Football League for the first time in 120 years. The success continued the following year and 1997/8 began well with a home win over Torquay. The Silkmen finished the season unbeaten at home with a remarkable record of P23 W19 D4 L0 and were promoted into the Second Division in second place.

But that promotion was a bridge too far for the rapidly rising club. Facing the might of Manchester City, Fulham, Wigan, Stoke, Reading, Preston and the like, the Silkmen eventually finished bottom of the division, but still achieved 46 points. Sammy left the Moss Rose in 1999 to take up the position at his own national team.

He managed Northern Ireland for nearly three years, but the team won only five times in 29 matches, with all of the wins occurring in McIlroy's first year. The side failed to score even a single goal in 13 qualifying matches for Euro 2004. Upon completion of the qualifying matches, McIlroy resigned to re-enter club management with Stockport County, whom he managed until November 2004.

On 17 November 2005 he took over as caretaker manager of Conference side Morecambe, stepping in for incumbent manager Jim Harvey who had suffered a heart attack. Having guided Morecambe into the Conference play-offs—where they lost 3–4 on aggregate to Hereford United—McIlroy was appointed permanent manager in May 2006. In his first full season, Morecambe again reached they play-offs where they defeat Exeter City to win promotion in one of the first games played at the new Wembley Stadium.

[edit] Managerial stats

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Northwich Victoria		1992	1993
Macclesfield Town		1993	2000
Northern Ireland		23 February 2000	15 October 2003	28	4	7	17	14.29
Stockport County		16 October 2003	25 November 2004	58	14	18	26	24.14
Morecambe		17 November 2005	Present	196	79	57	60	40.31

As of 2 May 2009.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Short biography on Manchester United official website
• RedCafe.net with biographical information on McIlroy during his time at United
• sporting-heroes.net with a 1976 photograph of McIlroy in action
• Sammy McIlroy management career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Northern Ireland squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Jennings • 2 J. Nicholl • 3 Donaghy • 4 McCreery • 5 C. Nicholl • 6 J. O'Neill • 7 Brotherston • 8 M. O'Neill • 9 Armstrong • 10 McIlroy • 11 Hamilton • 12 McClelland • 13 Nelson • 14 Cassidy • 15 Finney • 16 Whiteside • 17 Platt • 18 Jameson • 19 Healy • 20 Cleary • 21 Campbell • 22 Dunlop • Coach: Bingham

v • d • e Northern Ireland squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Jennings • 2 Nicholl • 3 Donaghy • 4 O'Neill • 5 McDonald • 6 McCreery • 7 Penney • 8 McIlroy • 9 Quinn • 10 Whiteside • 11 Stewart • 12 Platt • 13 Hughes • 14 Armstrong • 15 Worthington • 16 Ramsey • 17 Clarke • 18 McClelland • 19 Hamilton • 20 McNally • 21 Campbell • 22 Caughey • Coach: Bingham