The transfer of English or Irish players from the Premier League to Spain’s La Liga is perhaps less of a novelty these days and the news of Steve Finnan’s move grabbed few headlines the day the transfer window closed last September. However the significance of Steve Finnan's return from Espanyol this week contrasts starkly with the success of another Anfield legend, Steve McManaman, who in going to Real Madrid in 1999 not only revitalised his career but also superseded the trophy haul of any other premier league player – a list that has included over the years David Beckham and Michael Owen.
The history of Irish Internationals in La Liga is a shorter list and Steve Finnan could fair no better than the others that had played in Spain before him.
Given Finnan’s style of play he could have made an impact in La Liga in a style of game that over the years has fostered reliable and competitive right full backs like Michel Salgado, Roberto Carlos and Gordillo. Unfortunately though the chances of major success were always against him as he has done what most of the other Republic of Ireland players have done, gone to Spain towards the end of their playing careers.
In many ways McManaman was the first English player to establish himself on the national stage in Spain securing a bag of medals along the way which leaves has a legacy that will be very tough to beat. Even amidst all the managerial changeover that took place within months of MacManaman’s arrival to Real Madrid, which saw Vicente Del Bosque replacing John Toshack, the midfielder still claimed a place in the team and was the scorer of a key goal when Real Madrid won the 2000 Champions League in Paris by three goals to nil against Valencia.
However his move from England far exceeded the experiences of the other big names that had preceded him. These included such names as the current Manchester City manager, Mark Hughes, who had a mixed time at Barcelona; BBC sports pundit Gary Lineker who made some impact at Barcelona when Terry Venables was manager but then fell out with Johan Cruyff; Laurie Cunningham who never fulfilled the expectations when he went to Real Madrid in 1979 after leaving Ron Atkinson at West Bromwich Albion.
Ironically Steve Archibald was the most successful English player in the eighties following his move from Tottenham Hotspur emerging as top scorer in La Liga in his first season at Barcelona making him a favourite at Camp Nou – and still remembered today.
Footballing history though reflects that players who moved to a club outside the top four in Spain - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Valencia – life was a tougher grind and less successful.
For Republic of Ireland players, the most recent, prior to Finnan’s arrival, was Ian Harte who left Elland Road to join Levante when his club had to sell off players to make some cash. In 2004 Levante were in the Second Division and their manager Bernd Schuster, secured promotion and for the following two seasons Ian Harte was part of the squad in the Primera Division. In 2007 Levante were relegated from Primera Division he returned to England on a free transfer, joining Roy Keane’s Sunderland, with no medals in hand.
Two other Republic of Ireland stalwarts from Liverpool moved to La Liga in an earlier era the first being Michael Robinson, who went to Osasuna in 1987 and John Aldridge who went to Real Sociedad in 1989.
Despite only playing for a season at Anfield, Mick Robinson, moved to Spain to join his ex-Liverpool team-mate Sammy Lee making 59 appearances for the club and scoring 12 goals in total. Injury shortened Robinson’s career and when he told the club he was not enforcing his contract he became a reluctant local hero. His enthusiasm and acceptance of the “Spanish Way” in Osasuna not only made him a local favourite but it also opened a media career that still continues today.
The connection between the Republic of Ireland and Osasuna continued some years later when former Bohemians defender Ashley Grimes went to Spain and ended his playing career at the club in 1989. Having won 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland and scoring one of those memorable goals against Spain in a Euro ‘84 qualifier at Lansdowne Road, Grimes was with Manchester United between 1977 and 1983 making 107 first team appearances.
John Aldridge moved to San Sebastian while he was still gathering some of his 69 caps for Ireland and spent two seasons with Real Sociedad, a club in the Basque region that up to that time only selected Basque players.
The club’s only link with Anfield was through John Toshack, who had managed them to a Copa del Rey title in 1987 and a runners-up place in La Liga in 1988. During his two seasons at Real Sociedad Aldridge played 75 times and scored 40 goals. His decision to return to Tranmere Rovers in 1991 was for personal reasons as the incoming boss John Toshack, who was asked to come back to the club once more, might have formed a strong partnership with the Irish man had he chosen to stay.
At Manchester United, following a glittering career at Old Trafford, Kevin Moran moved to Sporting Gijon in 1988 when Alex Ferguson let him go on a free transfer. During his two years in Spain Moran only made 33 appearances and never made an impact at Gijon despite remaining a key part of Jack Charlton’s Ireland squad, where he played in Italia ’90 when Ireland reached the quarter finals.
In the end he also returned to England to join Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn where he stayed for four seasons, just missing out on the Championship win of 1994 due to retirement.
Amidst all those names it was two League of Ireland stars who went to Spain in the mid eighties and fared better, with both joining Racing Santander, albeit in different seasons. Ironically both came from the same club in Ireland as well, Shamrock Rovers.
Alan Campbell went to Spain in 1984 as his League of Ireland scoring ability attracted the attention of some European clubs and as result he joined Racing Santander for two seasons. His time in the northern Spanish town also earned him an international call up when the Republic of Ireland manager, Jack Charlton, met him pitch side after a La Liga game in Malaga one summer during his holidays in the South of Spain.
His move to the lesser club Logrones after his contract was up in Santander was less spectacular and it was then followed by a move to Berchem in Belgium and ultimately to Dundee FC in Scotland.
His Rovers team mate, and current Fingal County Manager, Liam Buckley, made the move in the reverse order going to KSV Waregem in Belgium first before joining Racing in 1987. The season Liam Buckley arrived La Liga was buoyant and Santander had ambitions even if modest resources.
In his first ever game the opponents were Barcelona with a team that included Mark Hughes and Gary Lineker, amongst others. Although he had an injury free season Buckley only lasted the year before moving to Montreux in Switzerland the Folliwng season and the returning to Ireland. During his time in Spain he also played for the national side on two occasions.
For Finnan though all this history will have meant little prior to his departure and on his return his achievements were insufficient to improve the record of Premier League players in Spain or even Republic of Ireland Internationals that had earned their keep there over the years.
It remains to be seen who is the next name to try his fortune alongside the likes of Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo.
All rights reserved [First published July 28 2009]
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