Johnny Carey

Known for an English league title and FA Cup won as captain plus the writers' player of the year award; no Irish player before Roy Keane had a comparable club standing, and he is simply not on the list. Biggest achievements: Manchester United captain: First Division 1952 and FA Cup 1948; FWA Footballer of the Year 1949, the first Irishman to win it; captained the Rest of Europe XI against Great Britain in 1947; captained the Ireland side that beat England 2-0 at Goodison Park in 1949, the first non-UK team to win in England.