Liam Brady

Sublimely gifted Irish playmaker whose left foot and creative brilliance lit up Arsenal and Italian football in the late 1970s and 1980s.

William "Liam" Brady was born on 13 February 1956 in Dublin, Ireland, and joined Arsenal's youth setup via St. Kevin's Boys, making his first-team debut in 1973. Renowned for his exceptional left foot, vision, and passing range, he developed into one of the most technically gifted midfielders in English football, helping Arsenal win the 1979 FA Cup with a decisive assist in a dramatic final against Manchester United. Brady moved to Italy's Juventus in 1980, where he won back-to-back Serie A titles and a Coppa Italia, becoming one of the first British players to thrive in Italian football's demanding tactical environment. He went on to play for Sampdoria, Internazionale, and Ascoli before returning to England with West Ham United to close out his playing career in 1990. Brady earned 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland across a 16-year international career, captaining his country and becoming a central figure in the national team's rise to prominence during the 1980s, helping raise the international profile of Irish football. After retiring, Brady moved into management with Celtic and Brighton & Hove Albion, before returning to Arsenal as Head of Youth Development from 1996 to 2013, a role in which he helped nurture generations of young talent at the club. He later served as assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national team and became a respected television pundit.

Creative attacking midfielder with exceptional passing ability and left foot

Considered one of the most technically gifted Irish players ever

• FA Cup 1979
• Serie A 2x
• Serie A 1981
• Serie A 1982

Club Career

Club	Period	Fee	Apps	Goals
Arsenal	1973–1980	—	235	43
Juventus	1980–1982	£600	76	15
Sampdoria	1982–1984	—	57	6
Internazionale	1984–1986	—	58	5
Ascoli	1986–1987	—	17	0
West Ham United	1987–1990	—	89	9
Ireland	—	—	72	9