Stephen McGuinness is a former Irish

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,...

 footballer.

A centre half, he played schoolboy football for Home Farm and spent his schooldays in Patrician College

Patrician College

Patrician College, a Catholic coeducational institution, is affiliated to the University of Madras. The college is under the directive of the Brothers of the Patrician Order. The congregation was established in 1808 by Bishop Daniel Delaney. The members draw inspiration from the life and spirit...

, Finglas, a school which has produced many Republic of Ireland underage internationals players, and most notably two full international players in Alan Moore (footballer)

Alan Moore (footballer)

Alan Moore, born November 25, 1974 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland is a retired Irish footballer.-Club career:Moore moved to Derry City after a short spell without a club as he had left Shelbourne in January, 2007 over pay disputes....

 and Ronnie Whelan

Ronnie Whelan

Ronald Andrew "Ronnie" Whelan is a former Irish football midfielder, and sometimes defender, who was an integral part of the dominant Liverpool side of the 1980s...

.

McGuinness made his League of Ireland

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

 debut for Home Farm against St James' Gate on the 11th of October 1992.

He joined St Patrick's Athletic in 1997 where he had a very successful four years before joining Dundalk

Dundalk F.C.

Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...

 where his stay was to be brief following their relegation in 2002.

McGuinness was Liam Buckley

Liam Buckley

Liam Buckley , is an Irish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Liam began his League of Ireland career with Shelbourne F.C. and signed for Shamrock Rovers as a full time player in the 1979 close season...

's first signing at Shamrock Rovers and in his two seasons he scored 3 times in 30 appearances which included one goal from 2 appearances in the UEFA Cup

UEFA Cup

The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

 He made his Rovers debut on the 11th of July 2002http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vderry110702.htm. In his first appearance against his old club he was sent off http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2002/0730/sport/rovers-gain-revenge-over-dundalk-62046.html Scored his first goal on the 3rd of January 2003 http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vbray030103.htm.

Missed Rovers game at Slovan Liberec in the UEFA Intertoto Cup

UEFA Intertoto Cup

The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...

 in July 2003 due to his marriage! http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2003/0705/Pg034.html#Ar03403:47577F4AB79445F81F49683558271E5BA73353074F56676464374E67A76344177F471794. On his last appearance for the Hoops he scored the equaliser http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vshels281103.htm.

Spent another two seasons at Oriel Park

Oriel Park

Oriel Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Dundalk F.C. Its current capacity is about 4,500 with 3,000 seats. The ground was opened in 1919.-History:...

 before retiring.

Stephen McGuinness is currently the General Secretary of the PFAI http://www.pfai.ie/index.php?mod=one&id=16491&PHPSESSID=99e79c2f5d0ce5a772f448f89c2ffd2e

Honours

• League of Ireland
  League of Ireland
  The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
  
  : 2
  • St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
    St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
    St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
    
     1995/96, 1997/98
• FAI Cup
  FAI Cup
  The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
  
  
  • Dundalk F.C.
    Dundalk F.C.
    Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
    
    2002