Patrick Joseph Gary "Packie" Bonner (born 24 May 1960 in Cloughglass, County Donegal, Ireland) is a former football goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday. He is remembered for his famous penalty save from Daniel Timofte of Romania at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy during the knockout stage.^[1]

[edit] Career

He was spotted by Celtic while he kept goal for Leicester City^[2] in the FA Youth Cup, signing for Celtic on 14 May 1978. He would be Jock Stein's last signing for Celtic. He went on to play 642 times for Celtic, with 483 league appearances^[3]. In total with Celtic, he won four League Championship badges, three Scottish Cup winners' medals and a League Cup winners' medal. His last appearance for Celtic was winning the 1995 Scottish Cup final under Tommy Burns. After the Scottish Cup Final victory over Airdrie Bonner took on the role of player-coach and finally left the club in 1998 to work as a coach alongside former team mate Tommy Burns.

Bonner made his international debut on his 19th birthday in a friendly against Poland on May 24, 1981. The game was played in Zawisza Stadium, Bydgoszcz. He conceded a goal in the opening 90 seconds of the match, scored by Andrzej Iwan. A David O'Leary own goal in the 37th minute and a third Polish goal in the second half from Roman Ogaza would make it a forgettable experience.^[4]

Bonner represented Ireland at 3 major finals tournaments, Euro 88 in West Germany and World Cups, Italia 90 and USA 94. Among the highlights of his career were his performance against England in a 1-0 win in Stuttgart in the first game of Euro 88 and his famous save from Daniel Timofte in the penalty shootout aginst Romania in the last 16 of Italia 90.

On 2 February 2003, following the promotion of Brian Kerr to the position of Republic of Ireland team manager, Bonner was named as technical director of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). He previously held the role of the senior squad's goalkeeping coach in the organisation. In addition, he has worked as a football presenter with TV3 Ireland.

His brother Dennis played for Galway United and Finn Harps. His son, Andrew Bonner, is also a footballer, although a striker not a keeper, and has played for the Republic of Ireland national youth team, and at club level he has so far only played in the lower leagues of Scotland.

[edit] Honours

Scottish League: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988,

Scottish Cup: 1980, 1988, 1989, 1995

Scottish League Cup: 1983

[edit] See also

• List of people on stamps of Ireland

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Listen to interviews with Packie (Realplay)

v • d • e Republic of Ireland squad – UEFA Euro 1988 1 Bonner • 2 Morris • 3 Hughton • 4 McCarthy • 5 Moran • 6 Whelan • 7 McGrath • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Stapleton • 11 Galvin • 12 Cascarino • 13 O'Brien • 14 Kelly • 15 Sheedy • 16 Peyton • 17 Byrne • 18 Sheridan • 19 Anderson • 20 Quinn • Coach: Charlton

v • d • e Republic of Ireland squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Bonner • 2 Morris • 3 Staunton • 4 McCarthy • 5 Moran • 6 Whelan • 7 McGrath • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Cascarino • 11 Sheedy • 12 O'Leary • 13 Townsend • 14 Hughton • 15 Slaven • 16 Sheridan • 17 Quinn • 18 Stapleton • 19 Kelly • 20 Byrne • 21 McLoughlin • 22 Peyton • Coach: Charlton

v • d • e Republic of Ireland squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Bonner • 2 Irwin • 3 Phelan • 4 Moran • 5 McGrath • 6 Keane • 7 Townsend • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Sheridan • 11 Staunton • 12 G. Kelly • 13 Kernaghan • 14 Babb • 15 Coyne • 16 Cascarino • 17 McGoldrick • 18 Whelan • 19 McLoughlin • 20 D. Kelly • 21 McAteer • 22 A. Kelly • Coach: Charlton