Don Givens
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph "Don" Givens (born 9 August 1949 in Limerick
, Ireland
) is a football player and coach, and former Republic of Ireland U21 team
manager
. He was part of the FAI
's three man selection committee in helping to select the new Ireland manager.
in 1968, making a scoring debut against Shamrock Rovers in May 1969 but he played just 8 games before moving to Luton Town
. He played for Queens Park Rangers
from 1972 to 1978, where he became a first team player, making 243 appearances and scoring 76 goals for the club. He helped them win promotion to the old First Division in his first season with the club, scoring 23 times in their victorious campaign. As a First division striker, the next few years would see him reach his peak, scoring a combined 49 goals in four seasons and helping QPR hold onto their top-flight status. After an unsuccessful season in 1977–78, scoring just four goals in 37 appearances, he parted ways with QPR, and his career took him to Birmingham City
, Bournemouth
, Sheffield United
and Neuchâtel Xamax
. His time at Sheffield United will forever be remembered for the time he missed a last minute penalty in the last match of the 1980–81 season against Walsall at Bramall Lane in the old third division. If he had scored, The Saddlers would have been relegated, instead it was Sheffield United who were consigned to the 4th division for the first (and only) time in their history. In 1982, escaping the negativity of his time at Sheffield United, Givens moved to Switzerland to play for Neuchâtel Xamax
. He would make 144 appearances for them, scoring 34 goals. He retired from club football in 1987.
between 1969 and 1982, scoring 19 goals, including a record four goal haul against Turkey
, and becoming his country's leading goalscorer for a period. He currently ranks joint fourth on that list along with Tony Cascarino
, behind Frank Stapleton
on 20, Niall Quinn
on 21 and Robbie Keane
on 51 and still counting.
Givens time in an Ireland shirt was one of frustration. He began playing during the ill-fated 1970 World Cup qualifying campaign, when an Irish team with great names including Givens, Mick Meagan and John Giles, could not find enough consistency to make an impact, and finished last in a group containing Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Denmark. Givens did open his competitive scoring account for Ireland with goals against Hungary and Denmark.
In the following 1972 European Championship and subsequent 1974 World Cup, Ireland faced tough opposition and never found themselves in with a chance of qualification. Givens did not score in either of these tournaments.
The 1976 European Championship qualifiers pitted Ireland against the Soviet Union again, along with Turkey and Switzerland. The winner of this group would have to play-off against the winner of another group to determine the qualifier. This may have seemed a bridge too far but it would prove to be Givens finest moment in a green shirt as he scored a hat-trick against the U.S.S.R. to give Ireland a 3–0 win in the opening game and a fighting chance of making that play-off. He scored again in a 1–1 draw against Turkey in Izmir. Ireland had peaked too early in the group though, and after a 2–1 loss to the Soviet Union in Kiev and a 1–0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland in Berne, Ireland last match against Turkey was not expected to mean anything, since the Soviets were already a point ahead with a game in hand. Even a win meant that the Soviet Union would need only two points in their final two games to finish on top. Ireland won the game 4–0, with Givens scoring all four goals, the first and only time an Irish player has done this. But it was not enough and the Soviet Union went on to top the group.
In the 1978 World Cup, Ireland was paired with France again, and Bulgaria. Ireland beat France 1–0 in their new home stadium, Lansdowne Road, but lost 2–0 in Paris. Givens scored in Sofia, but it was a consolation as Ireland lost 2–1 and subsequently went out of the World Cup with a 0–0 draw in the final game against Bulgaria at Lansdowne Road.
For the 1980 European Championships, Ireland was drawn in a Group alongside England, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Denmark. It was a disappointing campaign for Givens, who, despite scoring against Denmark, was unable to make an impact in a group where Ireland would manage just two wins from eight games.
By the 1982 World Cup, Ireland had acquired a world class team, with Liam Brady
, Frank Stapleton, Mark Lawrenson
, Chris Hughton
, Gerry Daly
and others, and there was excitement that this team could not only qualify for the World Cup, they could make some waves there. It was therefore devastating to the team to hear their draw: Belgium, France, Holland, Cyprus. Ireland would end up losing out to France on goal difference, but Givens was no longer the main threat, and Givens last appearance for Ireland was in the 3–2 win at home to France.
manager
from 2000 until 2010 when he stepped down.
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
) is a football player and coach, and former Republic of Ireland U21 team
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He was part of the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
's three man selection committee in helping to select the new Ireland manager.
Club career
A centre forward, Givens started his career at Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in 1968, making a scoring debut against Shamrock Rovers in May 1969 but he played just 8 games before moving to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. He played for Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
from 1972 to 1978, where he became a first team player, making 243 appearances and scoring 76 goals for the club. He helped them win promotion to the old First Division in his first season with the club, scoring 23 times in their victorious campaign. As a First division striker, the next few years would see him reach his peak, scoring a combined 49 goals in four seasons and helping QPR hold onto their top-flight status. After an unsuccessful season in 1977–78, scoring just four goals in 37 appearances, he parted ways with QPR, and his career took him to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
. His time at Sheffield United will forever be remembered for the time he missed a last minute penalty in the last match of the 1980–81 season against Walsall at Bramall Lane in the old third division. If he had scored, The Saddlers would have been relegated, instead it was Sheffield United who were consigned to the 4th division for the first (and only) time in their history. In 1982, escaping the negativity of his time at Sheffield United, Givens moved to Switzerland to play for Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
. He would make 144 appearances for them, scoring 34 goals. He retired from club football in 1987.
International career
Givens made 56 appearances for the senior teamRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
between 1969 and 1982, scoring 19 goals, including a record four goal haul against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, and becoming his country's leading goalscorer for a period. He currently ranks joint fourth on that list along with Tony Cascarino
Tony Cascarino
Anthony Guy 'Tony' Cascarino is an former association football player who played as a forward for various British and French clubs and internationally for the Republic of Ireland national team, with whom he competed in the 1988 European Football Championship and two World Cups in 1990 and...
, behind Frank Stapleton
Frank Stapleton
Francis Anthony "Frank" Stapleton is an Irish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland...
on 20, Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
on 21 and Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
on 51 and still counting.
Givens time in an Ireland shirt was one of frustration. He began playing during the ill-fated 1970 World Cup qualifying campaign, when an Irish team with great names including Givens, Mick Meagan and John Giles, could not find enough consistency to make an impact, and finished last in a group containing Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Denmark. Givens did open his competitive scoring account for Ireland with goals against Hungary and Denmark.
In the following 1972 European Championship and subsequent 1974 World Cup, Ireland faced tough opposition and never found themselves in with a chance of qualification. Givens did not score in either of these tournaments.
The 1976 European Championship qualifiers pitted Ireland against the Soviet Union again, along with Turkey and Switzerland. The winner of this group would have to play-off against the winner of another group to determine the qualifier. This may have seemed a bridge too far but it would prove to be Givens finest moment in a green shirt as he scored a hat-trick against the U.S.S.R. to give Ireland a 3–0 win in the opening game and a fighting chance of making that play-off. He scored again in a 1–1 draw against Turkey in Izmir. Ireland had peaked too early in the group though, and after a 2–1 loss to the Soviet Union in Kiev and a 1–0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland in Berne, Ireland last match against Turkey was not expected to mean anything, since the Soviets were already a point ahead with a game in hand. Even a win meant that the Soviet Union would need only two points in their final two games to finish on top. Ireland won the game 4–0, with Givens scoring all four goals, the first and only time an Irish player has done this. But it was not enough and the Soviet Union went on to top the group.
In the 1978 World Cup, Ireland was paired with France again, and Bulgaria. Ireland beat France 1–0 in their new home stadium, Lansdowne Road, but lost 2–0 in Paris. Givens scored in Sofia, but it was a consolation as Ireland lost 2–1 and subsequently went out of the World Cup with a 0–0 draw in the final game against Bulgaria at Lansdowne Road.
For the 1980 European Championships, Ireland was drawn in a Group alongside England, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Denmark. It was a disappointing campaign for Givens, who, despite scoring against Denmark, was unable to make an impact in a group where Ireland would manage just two wins from eight games.
By the 1982 World Cup, Ireland had acquired a world class team, with Liam Brady
Liam Brady
Liam Brady is a former Irish association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team....
, Frank Stapleton, Mark Lawrenson
Mark Lawrenson
Mark Thomas Lawrenson is a former professional football player, a defender in the Liverpool and Irish football teams of the 1980s; he since became a radio, television and internet pundit for the BBC and Today FM. He was born in England, but played for the Republic of Ireland because his...
, Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton
Christopher William Gerard "Chris" Hughton is a professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Birmingham City F.C....
, Gerry Daly
Gerry Daly
Gerard Anthony Daly was an Irish football player.Daly started his football career in Drumcondra with the famous schoolboy nursery Stella Maris...
and others, and there was excitement that this team could not only qualify for the World Cup, they could make some waves there. It was therefore devastating to the team to hear their draw: Belgium, France, Holland, Cyprus. Ireland would end up losing out to France on goal difference, but Givens was no longer the main threat, and Givens last appearance for Ireland was in the 3–2 win at home to France.
Coaching career
Givens was the Republic of Ireland U21 teamRepublic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
from 2000 until 2010 when he stepped down.
International
- Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first.
Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Goals (time) 27 May 1969 Away Denmark 0–2 World Cup qualifier 8 June 1969 Home Hungary 1–2 World Cup qualifier 1 (60') 21 September 1969 Home Scotland 1–2 Friendly 1 (11') 7 October 1969 Away Czechoslovakia 3–0 World Cup qualifier 15 October 1969 Home Denmark 1–1 World Cup qualifier 1 (10') 5 November 1969 Away Hungary 0–4 World Cup qualifier 6 May 1970 Home Poland 1–2 Friendly 1 (84') 9 May 1970 Away West Germany 1–2 Friendly 14 October 1970 Home Sweden 1–1 European Championship qualifier 8 December 1970 Away Italy 0–3 European Championship qualifier 10 May 1971 Home Italy 1–2 European Championship qualifier 30 May 1971 Home Austria 1–4 European Championship qualifier 11 June 1972 Neutral Iran 1–2 Friendly 1 (67') 18 June 1972 Neutral Ecuador 3–2 Friendly 25 June 1972 Neutral Portugal 1–2 Friendly 15 November 1972 Home France 2–1 World Cup qualifier 13 May 1973 Away Soviet Union 0–1 World Cup qualifier 16 May 1973 Away Poland 0–2 Friendly 19 May 1973 Away France 1–1 World Cup qualifier 6 June 1973 Away Norway 1–1 Friendly 21 October 1973 Home Poland 1–0 Friendly 5 May 1974 Away Brazil 1–2 Friendly 8 May 1974 Away Uruguay 0–2 Friendly 12 May 1974 Away Chile 2–1 Friendly 30 October 1974 Home Soviet Union 3–0 European Championship qualifier 3 (22', 30', 70') 20 November 1974 Away Turkey 1–1 European Championship qualifier 1 (61') 1 March 1975 Home West Germany B 1–0 Friendly 10 May 1975 Home Switzerland 2–1 European Championship qualifier 18 May 1975 Away Soviet Union 1–2 European Championship qualifier 21 May 1975 Away Switzerland 0–1 European Championship qualifier 29 October 1975 Home Turkey 4–0 European Championship qualifier 4 (25', 28', 34', 88') 24 March 1976 Home Norway 3–0 Friendly 26 May 1976 Away Poland 2–0 Friendly 2 (5', 11') 8 September 1976 Away England 1–1 Friendly 13 October 1976 Away Turkey 3–3 Friendly 17 November 1976 Away France 0–2 World Cup qualifier 9 February 1977 Home Spain 0–1 Friendly 30 March 1977 Home France 1–0 World Cup qualifier 1 June 1977 Away Bulgaria 1–2 World Cup qualifier 1 (66') 12 October 1977 Home Bulgaria 0–0 World Cup Qualifier 21 May 1978 Away Norway 0–0 Friendly 24 May 1978 Away Denmark 3–3 European Championship qualifier 20 September 1978 Home Northern Ireland 0–0 European Championship qualifier 25 October 1978 Home England 1–1 European Championship qualifier 2 May 1979 Home Denmark 2–0 European Championship qualifier 1 (66') 19 May 1979 Away Bulgaria 0–1 European Championship qualifier 22 May 1979 Home West Germany 1–3 Friendly 29 October 1979 Home United States 3–2 Friendly 1 (66') 21 November 1979 Away Northern Ireland 0–1 European Championship qualifier 6 February 1980 Away England 0–2 European Championship qualifier 30 April 1980 Home Switzerland 0–2 European Championship qualifier 1 (12') 16 May 1980 Home Argentina 0–1 Friendly 10 September 1980 Home Netherlands 2–1 World Cup qualifier 15 October 1980 Home Belgium 1–1 World Cup qualifier 19 November 1980 Home Cyprus 6–0 World Cup qualifier 24 February 1981 Home Wales 1–3 Friendly 14 October 1981 Home France 3–2 World Cup qualifier