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{{Short description|Republic of Ireland international footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Lawrenson
| image = Spelmoment, Bestanddeelnr 932-3392.jpg
| caption = Lawrenson (right) playing for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] in 1982
| full_name = Mark Thomas Lawrenson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|06|02|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Lancashire]], England
| height = 6 ft 0 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=222 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| years1 = 1974–1977
| clubs1 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| years2 = 1977–1981
| clubs2 = [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
| years3 = 1981–1988
| clubs3 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| years4 = 1988–1989
| clubs4 = [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]
| years5 = 1989
| clubs5 = [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]]
| years6 = 1990–1991
| clubs6 = [[Corby Town F.C.|Corby Town]]
| years7 = 1992
| clubs7 = [[Chesham United F.C.|Chesham United]]
| caps1 = 73
| goals1 = 2
| caps2 = 152
| goals2 = 5
| caps3 = 332
| goals3 = 11
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| caps5 = 20
| goals5 = 3
| totalcaps = 488
| totalgoals = 21
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| nationalyears1 = 1977–1987
| nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| nationalcaps1 = 39
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| manageryears1 = 1988
| managerclubs1 = [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| manageryears2 = 1989–1990
| managerclubs2 = [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
}}

'''Mark Thomas Lawrenson''' (born 2 June 1957) is a former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]]. He is best known for his time at [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], during the 1980s. After a short career as a manager, he then became a radio, television and internet [[Pundit (expert)|pundit]], most prominently with the [[BBC]], until his retirement in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/may/24/mark-lawrenson-retirement-marks-end-football-punditry-innocence | title=Lawrenson's retirement marks the end of football punditry's era of innocence | work=The Guardian |first=Jonathan |last=Liew | date=24 May 2022 }}</ref> Born and raised in England, Lawrenson qualified to play for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] through his grandfather, Thomas Crotty, who was born in [[Waterford]].

==Club career==

===Preston and Brighton===
Mark Lawrenson was born in Preston and attended St Teresa's Catholic Primary School in [[Penwortham]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/the-big-interview-mark-lawrenson-1-161985|title=The Big Interview: Mark Lawrenson|website=www.lep.co.uk|language=en|access-date=1 July 2019|archive-date=1 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701110640/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/the-big-interview-mark-lawrenson-1-161985|url-status=dead}}</ref> and, later, [[Preston Catholic College]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] school. His father, Tom, had been a winger for [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]. He always wanted to be a footballer, although his mother, Theresa, wanted him to become a priest.<ref name="ross">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/mark-lawrenson-the-deborah-ross-interview-652454.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117131451/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/mark-lawrenson-the-deborah-ross-interview-652454.html|archive-date=17 November 2009|author=Deborah Ross|author-link=Deborah Ross (journalist)|title=Mark Lawrenson: The Deborah Ross Interview|work=[[The Independent]]|date=27 May 2002|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> He began his career, as a 17-year-old, with his hometown club in 1974, who were then managed by [[1966 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] winner [[Bobby Charlton]]. Lawrenson was voted Preston's [[Preston North End Player of the Year Award Winners|Player of the Year]] for the [[1976–77 in English football|1976–77 season]].

After 73 league appearances for the [[Deepdale]] club, he moved to [[Alan Mullery]]'s [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] in the summer before the start of the 1977–78 season for £100,000. Ironically, the then Second Division side outbid First Division [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] who also showed interest in the 19-year-old Lawrenson. Lawrenson made his Brighton debut on 20 August 1977 in a 1–1 draw against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] at [[The Dell (Southampton F.C.)|The Dell]]. He settled in at the [[Goldstone Ground]] and made 40 league appearances by the end of his first season of the club. He went on to make 152 league appearances by the end of the 1980–81 season. However the club entered a financial crisis in 1981 and Lawrenson was forced to leave the club to make funds available. A number of clubs were interested in signing Lawrenson after his resilient performances for both Preston and Brighton, but it was Liverpool manager [[Bob Paisley]] who secured his signature.

===Liverpool===
[[File:Hovenkamp in aktie, Bestanddeelnr 931-7563.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lawrenson in 1981, tackling [[AZ (football club)|AZ]]'s [[Hugo Hovenkamp]]]]
[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] offered a club transfer record of £900,000, and Lawrenson joined in the summer of 1981. He was to form a formidable central defensive partnership with [[Alan Hansen]] after [[Phil Thompson]] suffered an injury. He was also used occasionally at left-back. He made his first start for the team at left-back in a 1–0 league defeat at the hands of [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]] on 29 August 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_id=1219|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Liverpool|date=29 August 1981|publisher=LFC History.net|access-date=13 August 2010|archive-date=22 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622103959/http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_id=1219|url-status=dead}}</ref> He scored his first goal a month later during the 7–0 [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] first round second leg trouncing of Finnish team [[Oulun Palloseura]] at [[Anfield]] on 30 September. Lawrenson came on for [[Ray Kennedy]] in the 64th minute, scoring in the 72nd.

In Lawrenson's first full season, 1981–82, Liverpool won the [[Football League First Division|League championship]] and the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], defeating [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the final. The team retained both titles for the next two seasons (in the League Cup finals defeating [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in [[1983 Football League Cup final|1983]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in [[1984 Football League Cup final|1984]]), becoming the third club in history to win three league titles in a row. They also added the club's fourth European Cup in [[1984 European Cup final|1984]], the last time Liverpool would win Europe's most prestigious club prize until 2005. Lawrenson dislocated his shoulder three weeks before the [[1985 European Cup final]], the [[Heysel Stadium disaster]]. He started the game, which Liverpool lost 1–0 to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], but was injured after a few minutes and had to be substituted.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7409221.stm |title=Champions League Analysis| publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=21 May 2008 | date=20 May 2008}}</ref>

Lawrenson earned a reputation as an accomplished player and in the 1985–1986 season, he was an integral part of the Liverpool side who completed the third league championship and [[FA Cup]] double of the 20th century. They overtook [[Merseyside derby|derby]] rivals [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] to win the league by two points and later came from behind to defeat Everton 3–1 in the [[1986 FA Cup final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. After 1986, Lawrenson's first team place came under threat from the younger [[Gary Gillespie]]. Lawrenson's partnership with team captain Hansen continued for one more season before he, already out through a minor injury, suffered [[Achilles tendon]] damage in 1988 which prematurely ended his career. He earned a fifth and final title medal when that season ended. His Liverpool career ended after 332 appearances and 18 goals in all competitions – one of which was the fifth goal in a 5–0 defeat of [[Merseyside]] rivals Everton on 6 November 1982, a game in which [[Ian Rush]] scored four of the five goals.

===Later career===
After his time at Liverpool, he was appointed [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] manager in 1988. His time at the club was frustrating and he resigned after star striker [[Dean Saunders]] was sold by the [[board of directors]] without Lawrenson's approval.<ref name="How Dean Saunders' sale cost Mark Lawrenson the Oxford Utd job">{{Cite news| title = How Dean Saunders' sale cost Mark Lawrenson the Oxford Utd job| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/20642881| work = BBC Sport| date = 7 December 2012| access-date = 8 December 2012}}</ref> Over that winter, he made a brief playing comeback in the [[National League (English football)|Football Conference]], making two appearances for [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], as well as a season with the [[Florida]] side [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)#ASL/APSL: 1988–1993|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] in the [[American Soccer League (1988–1989)|American Soccer League]].<ref>[http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1989/statsasl89.htm 1989 American Soccer League]. A-Leaguearchive. Retrieved 4 April 2013.</ref> Lawrenson also managed [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] from 6 September 1989 until 9 November 1990.

Lawrenson returned to playing with non-league clubs [[Corby Town F.C.|Corby Town]] and [[Chesham United F.C.|Chesham United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/354 |title=Liverpool career stats for Mark Lawrenson |publisher=LFC History.net |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> His final season as a player was as part of the Chesham team that won the [[1992–93 Isthmian League]]. The club was not promoted to the then Football Conference as this would have required ground improvements that could not be afforded, so he decided the time was right to retire from playing completely.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trurocityfc.net/news/focus-on-chesham-utd-1264403.html |title=Focus on Chesham United |last=Rogers |first=Steve |date=5 August 2014 |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Spelmoment, Bestanddeelnr 932-3391.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lawrenson (left) tracking the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]' [[Willy van de Kerkhof]] in 1982]] 
After Preston coach (and former Irish international goalkeeper) [[Alan Kelly Sr.|Alan Kelly]] became aware of the young player's Irish connections (and informed Irish international manager [[Johnny Giles]]), Lawrenson's solid performances earned him a call-up to the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]].<ref name="IrishmanAbroad">{{cite podcast |url=https://soundcloud.com/an-irishman-abroad/mark-lawrenson-episode-158 |author-link=Jarlath Regan |title=Mark Lawrenson |first=Jarlath |edition=158 |date=26 September 2016 |publisher=[[SoundCloud]] |work=An Irishman Abroad |access-date=27 September 2016 |last=Regan}}</ref> He won the first of 39 international caps at the age of 19, in a friendly with [[Poland national football team|Poland]] on 24 April 1977 at [[Dalymount Park]]; the game ended 0–0. Ireland employed Lawrenson's versatility and burgeoning talent by playing him at fullback, in midfield, and occasionally in his favoured position at centre half.

Lawrenson played his first competitive match on 12 October 1977 against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in a [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1978 World Cup qualifier]]. This match also ended 0–0, at [[Lansdowne Road]] (now [[Aviva Stadium]]). Lawrenson scored his first of his five goals for Ireland against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] in [[Nicosia]] on 26 March 1980 in a [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1982 World Cup qualifier]]. He scored his second goal for Ireland in the next competitive match as Ireland beat [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] 2–1 at Lansdowne Road in the same qualification campaign. This was also notable as it was [[Eoin Hand]]'s first match as manager of Ireland. In between these two matches, Lawrenson renewed his Preston acquaintance with Kelly, as he managed Ireland in a caretaker capacity for a friendly against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]].

Lawrenson scored two goals in Ireland's record victory – an 8–0 thrashing of [[Malta national football team|Malta]] in a [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying|1984 European Championship qualifier]] but the Irish goal that he is best remembered for is one against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. It was [[Jack Charlton]]'s first qualification campaign as Irish manager and Ireland were playing Scotland in Hampden Park in a [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying|1988 Euro qualifier]]. A sixth-minute goal earned Ireland a precious away victory that went a very long way to helping Ireland to qualify for its first ever major football championship finals. Unfortunately for Lawrenson, injury prevented him from making the Irish Euro 1988 squad for the finals.

Lawrenson played his last match for the Republic of Ireland against [[Israel national football team|Israel]] on 10 November 1987. It was a friendly match at Dalymount Park and was also notable because [[David Kelly (association footballer)|David Kelly]] scored a hat trick on his international debut.

==Media career==
After retiring from international football Lawrenson wrote for the ''Irish Times'', initially providing analysis for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1990/0531/Pg014.html |title=Register |date=31 May 1990 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Lawrenson began his television career providing match analysis on [[ITV Wales & West|HTV West]]'s local football coverage,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-anfield-heroes-who-turned-villans-saunders-staunton-and-houghton-are-ready-for-a-mersey-dash-phil-shaw-talks-to-mark-lawrenson-about-the-dynamic-trio-1477217.html |title=Anfield heroes who turned Villans: Saunders, Staunton and Houghton are ready for a Mersey dash.|work=The Independent |first=Phil |last=Shaw |date=8 January 1993}}</ref> before working as a pundit for the [[BBC]], but then left briefly to become a coach specialising in defensive tactics for [[Kevin Keegan]] at [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], where he admitted in 2017, that "I did nothing. Absolutely nothing".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-nothing-absolutely-nothing-mark-13789979 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022130139/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-nothing-absolutely-nothing-mark-13789979 |date=20 October 2017 |website=www.chroniclelive.co.uk |archivedate=22 October 2017 |title='I did nothing. Absolutely nothing': Mark Lawrenson on his time as Newcastle's defensive coach}}</ref><ref name="lfchistory">[http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/354 Mark Lawrenson profile]. LFC History.net. Retrieved 4 April 2013.</ref> However, the position was again short-lived and he returned to media work. He became established as a pundit, both on BBC television and radio, often finding himself sitting alongside his former defensive partner, [[Alan Hansen]]. Since the departure of [[Trevor Brooking]] from the BBC, he was the main co-commentator on major national and international (FIFA) matches covered by the television network. He appeared regularly on ''[[Football Focus]]'' and ''[[Match of the Day]]''.

He was also often a co-commentator on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]], often working on the feature matches on Sunday afternoons. He previously worked as a pundit for Ireland's [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]] between 2001 and 2007 for mid-week [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] games alongside [[Wales national football team manager|Welsh national team manager]] and former Liverpool striker, [[John Toshack]]. When the Champions League returned to TV3 in 2010, he no longer provided punditry. He was replaced in that role by [[Tony Cascarino]] and [[Martin Keown]], and moved into the commentary box alongside TV3 commentator [[Trevor Welch]]. He worked for Irish radio station [[Today FM]] on ''Premiership Live'' with presenter [[Michael McMullan]] in talking about football related topics, predicting scores and stating facts.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} He also had a column on the BBC website where he gave his views and predictions on the Premier League's weekend fixtures. Lawrenson was one of a number of ex-Liverpool players who made up the BBC pundit team.

He also writes a regular Preston North End column for the [[University of Central Lancashire]]'s [[Students' Union]] [[newspaper]], ''Pluto'', and a weekly column for the ''[[Liverpool Daily Post]]''. He worked with Japanese entertainment company [[Konami]], recording commentary samples for the [[Pro Evolution Soccer (series)|Pro Evolution Soccer]] series, alongside [[ITV Sport|ITV]] commentator [[Jon Champion]], from ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2008]]'' to ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2010]]''. He was replaced by ITV pundit [[Jim Beglin]] for ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2011]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/249073/pes-2011-loses-mark-lawrenson/ |title=PES 2011 loses Mark Lawrenson |work=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=7 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bespokeradio.co.uk/blog/archives/new-signing-match-of-the-days-mark-lawrenson-joins-bespoke-radio/ |title=Match of the Day's Mark Lawrenson joins Bespoke Radio |publisher=Bespoke Radio |date=July 2011 |access-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20111229001637/http://www.bespokeradio.co.uk/blog/archives/new-signing-match-of-the-days-mark-lawrenson-joins-bespoke-radio/ |archive-date=29 December 2011}}</ref> In addition, Lawrenson has also featured alongside [[John Motson]] as a commentator in [[EA Sports]]' ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]'' series from ''99'' through ''2001'' and on the [[UEFA Euro 2000 (video game)|Euro 2000 video game]].

In 2002, Lawrenson made a bet on ''Football Focus'' that [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] would be relegated from the Premier League in the 2001–02 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/1981517.stm |title=Where is Lawro's moustache? |publisher=BBC News |first=Daniel |last=Warren |date=11 May 2002 |access-date=7 July 2010}}</ref> He lost the bet after [[Sam Allardyce]]'s team stayed up, and shaved off his moustache as a result.

At the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]], the BBC received 172 complaints after Lawrenson said that Swiss striker [[Josip Drmić]] "should put a skirt on". The channel responded by stating "We acknowledge that the remark by commentator Mark Lawrenson about Switzerland's Josip Drmić was inappropriate and we apologise for any offence caused by it".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sheen|first1=Tom|title=World Cup 2014: BBC receive 172 complaints after Mark Lawrenson made a 'sexist' comment during Argentina vs Switzerland|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/world-cup-2014-bbc-receive-172-complaints-after-mark-lawrenson-made-a-sexist-comment-during-argentina-vs-switzerland-9583926.html|access-date=17 November 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|date=4 July 2014}}</ref>

At the end of the [[2021–22 Premier League|2021–22 Premier League season]], and after a 30-year stint with the BBC, during which he covered a total of six [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]], Lawrenson was told by the football head his typical one-year contract would not be renewed.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHqoplCfnSY |title="The BBC HATE Me" Liverpool Legend Finally Reveals Why He Was AXED by BBC - Mark Lawrenson |date=2024-06-10 |last=Rob Moore |access-date=2025-01-15 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He subsequently claimed that the cause was ostensibly BBC's "[[Woke#2019–present: emergence of pejorative use|woke culture]]".<ref name=fin>{{cite news |last=Morgan|first=Tom|date=24 September 2022 |title=Mark Lawrenson: I was axed by the BBC for being a 65-year-old white male |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/09/24/mark-lawrenson-axed-bbc-65-year-old-white-male/|url-access=subscription|work=[[The Financial Times]] |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=man>{{cite news |last1=Draper|first1=Samuel |last2=Walker|first2=Amy |date=25 September 2022 |title=Mark Lawrenson claims he was sacked by the BBC because he is a 'white male' |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/mark-lawrenson-claims-sacked-bbc-25101808|work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=livecho>{{cite news |last=Newbould|first=Kyle |date=26 September 2022 |title=Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson slams 'woke' BBC and explains sacking phone call|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-legend-mark-lawrenson-slams-25105952|work=[[Liverpool Echo]] |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> He stated that a "very early woke moment" occurred 25 years previously, in the aftermath of the death of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], when an editor allegedly told him to "not mention the wall" if describing [[Free kick (association football)|free tkicks]] in a forthcoming match.<ref name=gua>{{cite news  |date=25 September 2022 |title=Mark Lawrenson claims BBC dropped him because he is '65 and a white male'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/25/mark-lawrenson-claims-bbc-dropped-him-because-he-is-65-and-a-white-male|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 2003, Lawrenson was awarded an [[Honorary fellowship|Honorary Fellowship]] from [[Myerscough College]] near Preston for his achievements in football.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/why-myerscough/honorary-fellows/|title=Honorary Fellows {{!}} Myerscough College|website=www.myerscough.ac.uk|access-date=1 July 2019|archive-date=3 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203020606/https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/why-myerscough/honorary-fellows/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, he was given the all-clear after having a cancerous growth removed from his face.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Lawrenson: BBC football pundit given cancer all-clear after scare |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45440911 |access-date=6 September 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He was made aware of the seriousness of the growth when a concerned viewer contacted the editor of ''Football Focus''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Lawrenson: How Football Focus viewer alerted me to cancer scare |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45451518 |access-date=7 September 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 September 2018}}</ref> Lawrenson later met the viewer, Dr Alan Brennan, on television.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Lawrenson's cancer diagnosis and other TV stars 'saved' by viewers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45471479 |access-date=14 September 2018 |publisher=BBC News |date=10 September 2018}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="lfchistory"/><ref name="nft">{{NFT player|id=16631|name=Lawrenson, Mark|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref>
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|[[1974–75 Football League#Third Division|1974–75]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|3||0||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|[[1975–76 Football League#Third Division|1975–76]]||24||0||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24||0
|-
|[[1976–77 Football League#Third Division 2|1976–77]]||46||2||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||46||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!73||2||||||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||73||2
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|[[1977–78 Football League#Second Division|1977–78]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|40||1||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||40||1
|-
|[[1978–79 Football League#Second Division|1978–79]]
|39||2||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||39||2
|-
|[[1979–80 Football League#First Division|1979–80]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|33||1||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||1
|-
|[[1980–81 Football League#First Division|1980–81]]
|40||1||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||40||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!152||5||||||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||152||5
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[1981–82 Liverpool F.C. season|1981–82]]
|rowspan="7"|First Division
|39||2||3||1||10||0||6{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in [[European Cup]]}}||1||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||0||59||4
|-
|[[1982–83 Liverpool F.C. season|1982–83]]
|40||5||3||0||8||2||3{{efn|name=EC}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS|Appearance in [[FA Charity Shield]]}}||0||55||7
|-
|[[1983–84 Liverpool F.C. season|1983–84]]
|42||0||2||0||12||0||9{{efn|name=EC}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||0||66||0
|-
|[[1984–85 Liverpool F.C. season|1984–85]]
|33||1||4||0||2||0||9{{efn|name=EC}}||1||2{{efn|One appearance in FA Charity Shield, one appearance in [[European Super Cup]]}}||0||50||2
|-
|[[1985–86 Liverpool F.C. season|1985–86]]
|38||3||7||1||7||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|Appearances in [[Football League Super Cup]]}}||1||58||5
|-
|[[1986–87 Liverpool F.C. season|1986–87]]
|35||0||3||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||3{{efn|One appearance in FA Charity Shield, two appearances in Football League Super Cup}}||0||49||0
|-
|[[1987–88 Liverpool F.C. season|1987–88]]
|14||0||2||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!241||11||24||2||50||2||27||2||14||1||356||18
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!466||18||24||2||50||2||27||2||14||1||581||25
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
<ref name="nft"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
| colspan=3 | [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
|-
!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|1977||2||0
|-
|1978||5||0
|-
|1979||0||0
|-
|1980||7||2
|-
|1981||3||0
|-
|1982||3||0
|-
|1983||5||2
|-
|1984||4||0
|-
|1985||6||0
|-
|1986||1||0
|-
|1987||3||1
|-
!Total||39||5
|}

'''International goals'''
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan="7"|'''Lawrenson – goals for Ireland<ref>[http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=11902 Mark Lawrenson]. EU-football.info. Retrieved 4 April 2013.</ref>'''
|- 
!  # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
|align=center| 1. || 26 March 1980 || [[Makario Stadium]], [[Nicosia]], Cyprus || {{fb|CYP}} ||align=center| 0–'''2''' ||align=center| 2–3 || [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#UEFA Group 2|World Cup 1982 qualifier]]
|-
|align=center| 2. || 10 September 1980 || [[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]], Ireland || {{fb|NED}} ||align=center| '''2'''–1 ||align=center| 2–1 || World Cup 1982 qualifier
|-
|align=center | 3. ||rowspan=2| 16 November 1983 || rowspan=2 | [[Dalymount Park]], [[Dublin]], Ireland || rowspan=2 | {{fb|MLT}} ||align=center| '''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 8–0 || rowspan=2 | [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 7|Euro 1984 qualifier]]
|-
|align=center| 4. ||align=center| '''4'''–0
|-
|align=center| 5. || 18 February 1987 || [[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland || {{fb|SCO}} ||align=center| 0–'''1''' ||align=center| 0–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 7|Euro 1988 qualifier]]
|}

==Managerial statistics==
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=927 |title=Mark Lawrenson's managerial career |work=Soccerbase |access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|24 March 1988
|align=left|25 October 1988
{{WDL|25|4|9|12}}
|-
|align=left|[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|6 September 1989
|align=left|9 November 1990
{{WDL|64|25|23|16}}
|-
! colspan="4"| Total
{{WDLtot|89|29|32|28|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Liverpool'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1981–82 Football League First Division|1981–82]], [[1982–83 Football League First Division|1982–83]], [[1983–84 Football League First Division|1983–84]], [[1985–86 Football League First Division|1985–86]], [[1987–88 Football League First Division|1987–88]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1986 FA Cup final|1985–86]]
*[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]: [[1982 Football League Cup final|1981–82]], [[1983 Football League Cup final|1982–83]], [[1984 Football League Cup final|1983–84]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1982 FA Charity Shield|1982]], [[1986 FA Charity Shield|1986]]
*[[Football League Super Cup]]: 1986
*[[European Cup]]: [[1984 European Cup final|1983–84]]

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[Football League Second Division]]: 1978–79; [[Football League First Division]]: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86

==See also==
* [[List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/mark-lawrenson Profile] at the Liverpool F.C. website
* {{UEFA player}}
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=354 Player profile] at LFC history.net
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/liverpool-fc/mark-lawrenson-8648/part-2-1984-85-1987-88_a16097/ Mark Lawrenson] at Sporting Heroes.net
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018151237/http://www.soccer-ireland.com/liverpool/irish-footballers/mark-lawrenson.htm |date=18 October 2014 |title=Mark Lawrenson at Soccer-Ireland.com}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1978–79 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1982–83 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1983–84 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1984–85 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1985–86 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Oxford United F.C. managers}}
{{Peterborough United F.C. managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrenson, Mark}}
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