Kevin Moran's rollercoaster career, which took in All-Ireland football championships with Dublin, FA Cup finals with Manchester United, and World Cups with the Republic of Ireland soccer team, is one of the best stories in Irish sport.
Kevin Moran's career through the years, from Dublin GAA to Manchester United
Moran was raised in Dublin playing Gaelic football during the week with his school, before lining out with Rangers A.F.C. for weekend soccer matches.
His focus turned more significantly to Gaelic football once he broke onto the Dublin inter-county team (with whom he won back-to-back All-Ireland medals in 1976 and '77), though he did keep up appearances for UCD's postgraduate soccer team Pegasus. It was during this time that Manchester United came knocking.
25 September 1977; The Dublin team, back row, left to right, Kevin Moran, Anton O'Toole, Seán Doherty, Jimmy Keaveney, Paddy Cullen, Tommy Drumm, John McCarthy, Bernard Brogan, Bobby Doyle. Front row, left to right, Brian Mullins, Pat O'Neill, Tony Hanahoe, David Hickey, Robbie Kelleher, Gay O'Driscoll. All Ireland GAA Senior Football Championship Final, Dublin v Armagh, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Connolly Collection / SPORTSFILE
Moran signed for the English giants in 1978, and would go on to win two FA Cups and a Charity Shield during a decade of service at the club - but it all came from just a three-day trial.
The football legend of two codes was this week's special guest on the Manchester United podcast, and explained how - despite his unusual trial - he believes an old adage of former manager Matt Busby's might have swayed things in Moran's favour.
READ HERE: Kevin Moran Recalls How He Got Away With Playing For Dublin Behind Man United's Back
Kevin Moran joins Manchester United
After being spotted by scout Billy Behan - an Irishman himself who had played for Manchester United in the 1930s - Kevin Moran recalls being asked to carry out a two-week trial at United. With major Gaelic football commitments back home, he could only commit to three days.
Expecting nothing more to come of the trial, Moran was stunned when he was offered a permanent contract, a decision he had to ponder for two weeks before finally accepting.
Moran revealed that Behan had been entrusted by legendary ex-United boss Matt Busby due to his eye for talent and that Busby had no issue if Behan seldom brought him, players, as he knew the ones that did arrive would be up to United standard.
READ HERE: Kevin Moran Reveals Alex Ferguson Gave A Nonsense Excuse For Booting Him Out Of Man United
Kevin Moran explains how old Matt Busby's adage helped him end up at Manchester United
Though Busby was no longer manager when Moran signed for the club, the Dub believes that Busby's attitude had embedded itself in the culture of Manchester United, and helped him to get his foot in the door when no other clubs in England were pursuing him:
I remember Billy Behan telling me a story whereby he said he went to Sir Matt - they used to pay him on a quarterly basis - and said, 'Sir Matt, I don't think you should pay me anything, I haven't sent you over a player for nearly two years.'
Matt turned to him and said, 'that's the reason you're worth more money than any of the others. I know that if ever you send anybody over, they're going to be good.'
I have no doubt that was passed on to the managers after Busby left. You look at some of the players that the likes of Billy Behan sent over - there was Johnny Carey, Johnny Giles, Gerry Daly, Mick Martin, Ashley Grimes, Paul McGrath - there was a list of them that all came through in those sort of terms. These were all players that Billy Behan had particularly sent over as well.
I think when he sent me over, there was an element of [that] - they couldn't have seen much of me!
Who else did Kevin Moran play for?
Kevin Moran would go on to play for Sporting Gijon and Blackburn Rovers after leaving Manchester United, and he also played at EURO 88 and the 1990 FIFA World Cup with the Republic of Ireland national team.
Why is Kevin Moran often called the 'Boxer'
Kevin Moran seemingly got his notorious nickname 'Boxer' at just the age of eight. He allegedly got the name after hitting an opponent on the football pitch when he was just 8 years old.
He wouldn't say it on air but Boxer says he got his name after hitting a fella on the football field, at the tender age of 8. #GE16 #ldwh
— Sinéad Hussey (@SineadHus) February 27, 2016
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