In his first season at Liverpool, Ronnie made just one appearance for the first team, spending much of his early months in the reserves. The following season, he earned a regular place in the left side of Liverpool’s midfield, eventually displacing Ray Kennedy and taking over his No.5 shirt.
It was a standout season for Ronnie as he settled into the first team, contributing to another League championship victory for Liverpool. They also retained the League Cup with a 3-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, with Ronnie scoring twice in the final.
In 1983, Liverpool again secured both the League title and League Cup, with Ronnie scoring another memorable goal in the League Cup final. His long-range strike into the Manchester United net in extra-time sealed a 2-1 victory.
That season saw Liverpool play an exciting and attacking brand of football, culminating in another league title and the FA Cup triumph. Unfortunately, Ronnie missed the FA Cup final due to injury, with Nigel Spackman stepping in to fill his role in the starting line-up.
Ronnie was a regular for the Republic of Ireland, making his debut on 29 April 1981 when he came off the bench in a 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia at Lansdowne Road.
He was part of the Irish side that qualified for the 1988 European Championships in West Germany. During the 1988/89 season, following an injury to club captain Alan Hansen, Ronnie took on the captaincy, leading Liverpool through a challenging period following the Hillsborough disaster. His leadership both on and off the pitch was pivotal during this difficult time.
When Hansen recovered, Ronnie continued as captain for continuity purposes, lifting the FA Cup in 1989 after a 3-2 win over rivals Everton. However, Liverpool narrowly missed out on the league title to Arsenal, who secured the championship thanks to Michael Thomas’ dramatic last-minute goal.
Following his departure from Anfield, Ronnie managed Southend United and had coaching roles in Greece with Panionios, Apollon Limassol, and notably Olympiakos Nicosia. His most notable success came with Panionios in 1999, when his team reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, eventually eliminated by SS Lazio with a 0-4 aggregate score.
Today, Ronnie Whelan is a popular speaker on the after dinner circuit, sharing his experiences from a distinguished football career.
