Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael Anthony Walsh | ||
Date of birth | 13 August 1954 | ||
Place of birth | Chorley, England | ||
Playing position | Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
–1973 | Chorley | ? | (?) |
1973–1978 | Blackpool | 180 | (72) |
1978–1978 | Everton | 21 | (1) |
1978–1981 | QPR | 18 | (3) |
1980–1986 | Porto | 85 | (42) |
1986–1987 | Salgueiros | 29 | (5) |
1987–1988 | Espinho | 26 | (4) |
Total | 349 | (127) | |
National team | |||
1975–1984 | Republic of Ireland | 21 | (3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Michael Anthony "Mickey" Walsh (born 13 August 1954) is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer, now a football agent.
Walsh began his professional career at Blackpool in 1973, making his debut in a goalless draw at Fulham on 12 September. He went on to score 72 league goals for the Seasiders in 180 games during his five years at the club. His strike in a 3–2 win against Sunderland at Bloomfield Road on 1 February 1975 earned him the "Goal of the Season" award on the BBC's Match of the Day. He had a spell with Cape Town City in 1978.
He spent six years playing in Portugal with FC Porto, and appeared in their 2–1 defeat by Juventus in the 1984 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final in Basel.
Walsh was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Walsh is in the 1970s.
The highlight of his international career was when he scored the only goal of the game as Ireland defeated the Soviet Union in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin in September 1984.