.jpg) Jennings in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Anthony Jennings | ||
| Date of birth | (1945-06-12)12 June 1945 (age 80) | ||
| Place of birth | Newry, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1956 | Shamrock Rovers (Newry) | ||
| 1961–1963 | Newry Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1964 | Watford | 48 | (0) |
| 1964–1977 | Tottenham Hotspur | 472 | (0) |
| 1977–1985 | Arsenal | 237 | (0) |
| 1985–1986 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | (0) |
| 1986 | Everton | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 757 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1964–1986[1] | Northern Ireland | 119 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Patrick Anthony Jennings (born 12 June 1945[2]) is a Northern Irish former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper. He is widely recognised as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport[3][4] and was nominated for theBallon d'Or in1973,1975 and1985.[5]
He played 119 international matches forNorthern Ireland in an international career which lasted for over 22 years. During his career, Jennings played forNewry Town,Watford and in the top division withTottenham Hotspur andArsenal, winning theFA Cup with both of the north Londonrivals. In total, Jennings madeover 1,000 top level appearances, and despite being a goalkeeper, he scored from play in the1967 FA Charity Shield.
After playing for a local under-18 side in Newry at the age of 11 (named Shamrock Rovers, not to be confused with the Dublin club of the same name),[6] Jennings concentrated onGaelic football until he was sixteen years old, when he made his football comeback with his hometown sideNewry Town. After impressing with the team he moved to EnglishThird Division sideWatford in May 1963. Jennings again impressed in his first season in England, playing every league game for his club, and making two international appearances that season. He was signed byTottenham Hotspur for £27,000 in June 1964.[7]
Jennings spent thirteen years atWhite Hart Lane, where he played in 472 league games for Spurs, and 591 in all competitions. He won theFA Cup in 1967, theLeague Cup in 1971 and 1973, and theUEFA Cup in 1972.[8] He also scored once, in the 1967Charity Shield, from his own area, kicking the ball from his hands and sending a large punt down the field that bounced overManchester United goalkeeperAlex Stepney and into the net.[9] In 1973 theFootball Writers' Association named him as its footballer of the year.[10] Three years later he wonPFA's version of theaward – he was the first goalkeeper to receive this accolade, and to this date remains only one of two, along withPeter Shilton.[11]
On 6 August 1977,[12] he was transferred to Tottenham's arch-rivals,Arsenal, with Tottenham, who had just been relegated, thinking he was nearing the end of his career. However, Jennings saw off rivals for the goalkeeper's jersey to play for Arsenal for another eight years. Whilst atHighbury, he helped Arsenal to four Cup finals in three successive years; the FA Cup final in 1978, 1979, and 1980, as well as theEuropean Cup Winners Cup final that year. However, Arsenal only managed to win the second of these finals, a 3–2 victory againstManchester United. In total, Jennings made 327 appearances for Arsenal, 237 of them in the League, between 1977 and his eventual retirement from first-team club football in 1985.[13] On 26 February 1983, he became the first player inEnglish football to make 1,000 senior appearances, celebrating this milestone with a clean sheet in a goalless league draw for Arsenal atWest Bromwich Albion.[14] Jennings played his final game in the league for Arsenal againstSheffield Wednesday on 25 November 1984,[15][page needed] and he was eventually replaced byJohn Lukic as the first choice keeper. A farewell match for Jennings was played against Tottenham Hotspur 8 May 1985 at Highbury.[16][17]
After his retirement, Jennings returned to Tottenham Hotspur, playing mostly in their reserve side to maintain his match sharpness for Northern Ireland's 1986 World Cup campaign. His final appearance for Tottenham was in theFootball League Super Cup against Liverpool in January 1986. He was also briefly onEverton's books, having been signed as goalkeeping cover for the1986 FA Cup Final againstLiverpool,Neville Southall having been injured playing for Wales.[18]
_-_Pat_Jennings.jpg)
On 15 April 1964, whilst playing for Watford, Jennings made hisNorthern Ireland debut in aBritish Home Championship match againstWales. Northern Ireland won the game 3–2, withGeorge Best also making his international debut. Jennings made four appearances in Northern Ireland's best-ever performance at the1982 World Cup, conceding only one goal in the threefirst group stage games — including a 1–0 victory with ten men against hosts Spain — before letting four past him against eventual group D winners France in thesecond group stage games.[citation needed]
Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the1986 FIFA World Cup on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant untilRoger Milla broke his record at 42 in 1994, who also had his record broken byFaryd Mondragón at 43 years in 2014 andEssam El Hadary at 45 years in 2018, the latter two goalkeepers, like Jennings. The match was Northern Ireland's final group game, a 3–0 defeat againstBrazil.[18] In total, Jennings participated in the qualifying stages of six World Cups between 1966 and 1986.[19]
Following his retirement Jennings has worked as a goalkeeping coach. He has worked at Tottenham in this capacity since 1993. In 2003 Jennings was inducted into theEnglish Football Hall of Fame in recognition of the skills he demonstrated in the English league. His son, also namedPat, is also a goalkeeper, having played forLeague of Ireland clubsUniversity College Dublin,Derry City,Shamrock Rovers andNIFL Premiership clubGlenavon.
Jennings and his family have lived for many years inBroxbourne,Hertfordshire, where his son attendedThe Broxbourne School along with the sons of fellow Spurs playersChris Hughton,Osvaldo Ardiles andRay Clemence. He is still associated with Spurs and hosts Corporate Hospitality fans in the Pat Jennings Lounges at White Hart Lane[18] and Windsor Park, Belfast.
Jennings married Eleanor Toner, a singer from Newry, in 1967.[20] They have four children: Mairead, Siobhan, Ciara andPatrick Junior, a goalkeeper.[21] Jennings is Catholic.[22]
Jennings was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to association football in the1976 Birthday Honours;[23] he was promoted toOfficer of the same Order (OBE) in the1987 New Year Honours for services to football, particularly in Northern Ireland,[24] and promoted further toCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the2023 New Year Honours for services to association football and charity.[25]On 8 November 2023, Jennings unveiled a statue in his honour in Kildare Street, Newry.[26]
Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal
Northern Ireland
Individual
| World Cup records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Oldest Player 41 12 June 1986 – 28 June 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Oldest Goalkeeper 41 12 June 1986 – 24 June 2014 | Succeeded by | |
Northern Ireland squads | |||||||
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