Legendary Northern Irish goalkeeper who excelled at both Tottenham and Arsenal across an extraordinary career spanning over two decades.
Pat Jennings once scored a goal from inside his own half -- a huge downfield kick that bounced over the opposing goalkeeper and into the net during the 1967 FA Charity Shield, an almost freakish moment for a position that essentially never appears on a scoresheet. His actual job, shot-stopping, is what built a career that outlasted most of his generation: enormous hands that let him palm away shots other goalkeepers could only parry, and a professional career stretching from 1963 into the mid-1980s, well past the age most goalkeepers of that era had retired. Jennings won major honours with both Tottenham and Arsenal, a rare case of a goalkeeper being genuinely beloved by supporters of two rival London clubs rather than being remembered primarily through one side's history -- a testament to a level of consistent excellence that transcended whichever shirt he happened to be wearing that season.
Being the first goalkeeper to score in top-flight English football
He played his final international on his 41st birthday at the 1986 World Cup, and is one of the few players to have played for both Tottenham and Arsenal and be loved by fans of both clubs.
Did You Know?How They Played
Exceptional shot-stopper with huge hands, great positioning and ability to distribute the ball accurately
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and Northern Ireland's most capped player
Career Honours
- FA Cup 2x
- League Cup 2x
- UEFA Cup 1972
- FWA FOTY 1973
- FA Cup 1967
- FA Cup 1984
- League Cup 1971
- League Cup 1973
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watford | 1963–1964 | 591 | 0 | #1 |
| Arsenal | 1977–1985 | 77 | 0 | #12 |
| Newry Town | 1961–1963 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1964–1977 | 472 | 1 | #12 |
 Northern Ireland | — | 119 | — | — |