View source for Niall Quinn

{{Short description|Irish association football player and manager}}
{{about|the Irish international footballer|other people}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Niall Quinn
| image = Niall Quinn 2011 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Quinn in 2011
| fullname = Niall John Quinn<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|16250|access-date=15 August 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|10|6|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/>
| birth_place = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| height = 1.93 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/304/Niall-Quinn/overview |title=Niall Quinn: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1 = 1975–
| youthyears2 = –1983
| youthclubs1 = [[Manortown United F.C.|Manortown United]]
| youthclubs2 = Lourdes Celtic
| youthclubs3 = [[Arsenal F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Arsenal]]
| years1 = 1983–1990
| clubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| caps1 = 67
| goals1 = 14
| years2 = 1990–1996
| clubs2 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| caps2 = 204
| goals2 = 66
| years3 = 1996–2002
| clubs3 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| caps3 = 203
| goals3 = 61
| totalcaps = 475
| totalgoals = 141
| nationalyears1 = 1985
| nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-17 football team|Republic of Ireland U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 1986–1989
| nationalteam2 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1990
| nationalteam3 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-23 football team|Republic of Ireland U23]]
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 1990
| nationalteam4 = [[Republic of Ireland B national football team|Republic of Ireland B]]
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 2
| nationalyears5 = 1986–2002
| nationalteam5 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| nationalcaps5 = 92
| nationalgoals5 = 21
| medaltemplates = 
| manageryears1 = 2006
| managerclubs1 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
}}
'''Niall John Quinn''' (honorary [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/niall-quinn-to-receive-honorary-mbe-109278.html|title=Niall Quinn to receive honorary MBE|date=11 August 2003|website=Breaking News|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> born 6 October 1966) is an Irish former professional [[association football|footballer]], manager, businessman and sports television pundit.

As a player, he was a [[striker (association football)|striker]] who played top flight football for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], with spells in the [[Premier League]] for both City and the Black Cats. Quinn also received 92 caps for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]], scoring 21 times, which makes him Ireland's second highest goalscorer of all time. He also appeared with the Irish team at the [[UEFA European Football Championship]] of [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]] and two [[FIFA World Cup]]s in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] and [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]].<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/niall-quinn|title=Niall Quinn|website=FAI.ie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/republic-of-ireland/tab/stats/option/scorers/|title=Irish Topscorers|website=11v11.com}}</ref>

After his soccer career he was part of a consortium to buy Sunderland and became the club's chairman. He also had a spell as manager before stepping down to a role of club director. He left the club in February 2012 and has since worked as a pundit namely on [[Sky Sports]].

==Club career==

===Early career and Gaelic games===
Born in [[Perrystown]], Quinn started playing association football for his local club [[Manortown United F.C.|Manortown United]] as a nine-year-old. Initially a goalkeeper, he did not play outfield until he was twelve. He later moved to Lourdes Celtic in [[Crumlin, Dublin|Crumlin]] and played as a centre-back or midfielder. It was not until he represented [[Drimnagh Castle Secondary School]] in association football that he finally became a centre-forward.<ref name="bill_darby">{{cite web |last=Mackey |first=Liam |date=31 March 2020 |title=A smashing man: Liam Brady on how Bill Darby turned Arsenal green |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30991359.html |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=Irish Examiner |quote=''There was only ever one other man who regarded me as a centre-forward and that was John Molloy, our teacher and coach with Drimnagh Castle. When I started at Manortown as a nine-year-old, I was playing for their under-12 team as a goalkeeper. When I got to 12 and went back to playing with my own age, they put me as an outfield player but never as a striker. When I moved to Lourdes Celtic, I was always a midfielder or a centre-back, never put upfront. John Molloy was the only man who regarded me as an out and out centre-forward until Bill came along.''}}</ref><ref name="crumlin_history">{{cite web |title=Niall Quinn – Crumlin & Walkinstown History Group |url=https://www.crumlinwalkinstownhistory.ie/person/niall-quinn/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=www.crumlinwalkinstownhistory.ie}}</ref> 

The son of All-Ireland-winning Tipperary hurler Billy, Quinn also participated in [[Gaelic games]], playing [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] for local Perrystown club [[Robert Emmets GAA|Robert Emmets]].<ref>[http://homepage.eircom.net/~pfur/quinn.html Niall Quinn<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="crumlin_history" /> His ability saw him represent his county, playing for the [[Dublin GAA]] minors in both codes, and in July 1983 Quinn captained the Dublin Colleges Under-18 Gaelic football team on a tour of Australia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Liam |date=22 November 2022 |title=Niall Quinn living life to the full at new look K Club |url=https://irishgolfer.ie/latest-golf-news/2022/11/22/niall-quinn-living-life-to-the-full-at-new-look-k-club/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=Irish Golfer Magazine }}</ref><ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/03/07/story24400.asp Irish Examiner – 2002/03/07: Quinn game for Gaelic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005150012/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2002/03/07/story24400.asp|date=5 October 2008}}</ref> His sporting career came to a crossroads when, aged 16, he played in the 1983 [[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship]] final,<ref name="Arsenaldebut">{{cite news|title=Robson out as jinx hits United again |work=The Times |date=14 December 1985|first=Clive|last=White}}</ref> was offered a contract to play professional [[Australian rules football]] as well as receiving an offer from Arsenal to pursue a career in [[association football]].<ref name="hof106">{{cite book |last=James|first= Gary| title= The Official Manchester City Hall of Fame |publisher= Hamlyn |year=2005 |isbn= 0-600-61282-1 |pages=108–9}}</ref><ref name="crumlin_history" /> He later returned to play Gaelic football for County Kildare club [[Eadestown GAA|Eadestown]] after his retirement, winning a junior C county title in 2008.<ref>[http://www.leinsterleader.ie/sport/Niall-Quinn-helps-Eadestown-to.4590113.jp Junior C victory<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209011808/http://www.leinsterleader.ie/sport/Niall-Quinn-helps-Eadestown-to.4590113.jp |date=9 December 2008 }}</ref>

===Arsenal===
After an unsuccessful trial at [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], he signed professional forms with English club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in 1983. He was signed as a centre-forward, but also had a brief spell as a centre-half for the Arsenal third team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Without targets what are Gunners?|work=The Sunday Times |date=22 December 1985|first=Brian|last=Glanville|author-link=Brian Glanville}}</ref> After scoring 18 goals in 18 reserve matches in the first half of the 1985–86 season, Quinn was included in the first-team squad for a match against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref name="Arsenaldebut"/> Quinn scored in the match as Arsenal recorded a 2–0 win.<ref name="Arsenal">{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/554/niall-quinn |title=Niall Quinn |publisher=Arsenal FC |access-date=28 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108035220/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/554/niall-quinn |archive-date=8 November 2012}}</ref> He made a further 11 league appearances for Arsenal that season, but failed to score as they finished seventh in the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1985-86/ClubResults/1985-86Arsenal.html |title=Footballsite – Arsenal results 1985/86 |access-date=6 February 2012 |archive-date=31 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731140931/http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1985-86/ClubResults/1985-86Arsenal.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The end of the season brought Quinn his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sport in brief: Quinn selected|work=The Times |date=20 May 1986}}</ref>

Quinn found himself playing under a new manager for the [[1986–87 in English football|following season]], as [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]] was appointed in place of [[Don Howe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/grahams-glory-years/george-graham-appointed-as-manager |title=George Graham appointed as manager &#124; Graham's Glory Years &#124; History &#124; Arsenal.com |access-date=30 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208044503/http://www.arsenal.com/history/grahams-glory-years/george-graham-appointed-as-manager |archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> Quinn had a regular place in the side that season, appearing in 35 league games and scoring eight goals. He also collected a [[Football League Cup]] winner's medal as Arsenal triumphed 2–1 over Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-s-league-cup-finals-a-history|title=Arsenal's League Cup Finals: A history|website=Arsenal.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617153436/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-s-league-cup-finals-a-history|archive-date=17 June 2016}}</ref> However, after Arsenal signed another target man, [[Alan Smith (footballer, born 1962)|Alan Smith]], in the 1987 close season,<ref>{{cite news|title=Graham happy as he keeps up pressure on the chosen|work=The Times |date=5 August 1987|first=Dennis|last=Signy}}</ref> Quinn struggled to get into the team. Over the next three seasons he managed a total of just 20 league appearances and five goals – his three appearances in [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]] not being enough for a title medal. Quinn's lack of opportunities led him to submit a written transfer request at the start of the 1989–90 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Allen staying at Tottenham|work=The Times |date=2 August 1989|first=Dennis|last=Signy}}</ref> In total he scored 20 goals in 94 appearances for Arsenal, of which 81 were starts.<ref name="Arsenal"/>

===Manchester City===
[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] manager [[Howard Kendall]] signed Quinn for £800,000 in March 1990, shortly before the [[transfer deadline]].<ref name="mre">{{cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=The Maine Road Encyclopedia |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |year=1995 |isbn= 1-85158-710-1}}</ref> He marked his debut with a goal, in a 1–1 draw against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Maine Road]].<ref name="mre"/> He scored 22 times in his first full season, and he went on to spend six years at the club, scoring 78 goals in 245 appearances; his time at City was hampered by a [[cruciate ligament]] injury in [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]]. Although he returned to the side the [[1994–95 in English football|following season]], he managed just eight goals from 35 games.

His most notable game for City was 20 April 1991 when he scored early on and saved a penalty as City beat [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] 2–1, relegating Derby in the process.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/20/theknowledge.sport Who has saved and scored a penalty in the same match?], The Guardian, 20 October 2004</ref> City goalkeeper [[Tony Coton]] had been sent off before half time for fouling [[Dean Saunders]] to concede the penalty. At this time teams rarely named goalkeepers as substitutes, so Quinn replaced Coton in goal. Other notable games included the [[Manchester derby]] on 7 November 1993, in which he scored twice in the first half to put City 2–0 up against [[Manchester United F.C.|United]] by half time, although a remarkable United comeback saw City lose 3–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-city-v-manchester-united-07-november-1993-21401/|title=Manchester City v Manchester United, 07 November 1993|website=11v11.com|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

In the 1993 close season, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] made a bid to sign Quinn and a further bid was made early in the [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94 season]], but both bids were rejected and Quinn remained at [[Maine Road]] for a further three seasons.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hpkWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7xMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4885,638683&dq=howard+kendall&hl=en Quinn could lead exodus from Manchester City], ''[[New Straits Times]]'', 2 September 1993. Retrieved 3 February 2012.</ref> A cruciate ligament injury sustained in a match against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in November 1993 caused Quinn to miss the majority of the 1993–94 season, and prevented him from playing in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. He returned at the start of the 1994–95 season, but the partnership forged by [[Uwe Rösler]] and [[Paul Walsh]] in his absence meant he was not always a starter. In an attempt to reduce the wage bill, Manchester City tried to sell Quinn in the 1995 close season, but a proposed move to Lisbon club [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting]] fell through after failure to agree contractual terms.<ref>{{cite news| title=Sporting turn cool on Quinn |first=Don |last=Beet |work=The Guardian |page=21 |date=6 June 1995}}</ref>

He managed a total of 193 league appearances in over six years at [[Maine Road]], and scored a total of 64 goals for them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=43016|title = Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net}}</ref>

===Sunderland===
[[File:Kevin Phillips & Niall Quinn.jpg|thumb|right|While at Sunderland, Quinn is noted for his partnership with fellow striker [[Kevin Phillips (English footballer)|Kevin Phillips]]; both players scored a combined 194 goals in all competitions within six seasons]]

Quinn finished his career with a highly successful spell at [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], joining the north-east club in August 1996 for a club record £1.3&nbsp;million, although he missed six months of his first season due to a knee injury – similar to the one which ruined his World Cup chances three years earlier. Before his injury, he had got off to a fine start to his Sunderland career, finding the net twice on his debut in a 4–1 win at [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. In his absence from September to March, Sunderland struggled and although he was back in action by the end of the season, they were relegated.<ref>[http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=match&MatchID=1745 Premier League 96/97 / Notts Forest vs Sunderland] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120910194248/http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=match&MatchID=1745 |date=10 September 2012 }}, Statbunker.com. Retrieved 3 February 2012.</ref>

His partnership with striker [[Kevin Phillips (English footballer)|Kevin Phillips]], signed in the 1997 close season, was one of the most prolific in the [[English Football League|Football League]] in the late 1990s/early 2000s (a combined 194 goals for both players in all competitions from 1997–98 to 2002–03) and helped the club to regain promotion to the [[Premier League|Premiership]] for the 1999–2000 season. In March 1999, Quinn again had to play in goal, this time replacing the injured [[Thomas Sørensen]] in a game against [[Bradford City]]. In similar circumstances to when playing for Manchester City against Derby County in 1991, Quinn scored and then went in goal, and kept a clean sheet to help his side win.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-quinn-turns-his-talents-to-keeping-clean-1079672.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-quinn-turns-his-talents-to-keeping-clean-1079672.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Football: Quinn turns his talents to keeping clean |date=22 October 2011 |publisher=Independent |access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref> He also has the distinction of being the first player to score at Sunderland's [[Stadium of Light]], against Manchester City in 1997. He quickly became a legend at Sunderland, winning both the Sunderland and North East Sportswriters' Player of the Year awards in 1999 after scoring 21 goals in Sunderland's record-breaking Division One title-winning season. His final appearance for Sunderland came on 19 October 2002 against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2317775.stm|title=Sinclair flattens Black Cats|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=19 October 2002 |access-date=21 March 2010}}</ref>

In a league career lasting 17 years, he had played a total of 475 times in the [[Premier League]] and [[English Football League|Football League]], scoring 141 goals.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

==International career==
Quinn played in the qualifiers for the [[1986 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship]], and made his Irish international debut at [[Republic of Ireland national under-17 football team|under-17]] level against [[Northern Ireland national under-17 football team|Northern Ireland]] at [[Seaview (football ground)|Seaview]] in a 6–1 friendly win in January 1985, the first ever fixture between the two nations. Quinn scored a hat trick, as did [[Eamonn Dolan]]. However, Arsenal refused permission for Quinn to travel to the [[1985 FIFA World Youth Championship]]s.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

Quinn made his [[Republic of Ireland national football team|senior]] debut as a substitute against the host nation in the [[Iceland Triangular Tournament]] in 1986. Quinn played for his country at two [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]], in [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]] and [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]; he missed the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] because of injury.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/niall-quinn-on-usa-94-4686559-Jun2019/|title ='My first memory is being so gutted to miss out... Man City wouldn't let me play'|date=18 June 2019|work=The 42|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> Quinn was also a member of the Irish squad that participated in the [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 European Championship]] playing just once, as a substitute in the Republic of Ireland's 1–0 win over [[England national football team|England]] in [[Stuttgart]].

Quinn scored the equaliser against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the 1990 FIFA World Cup which allowed the Republic to progress to the second round of that tournament. In the qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he scored against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] on his 35th birthday to break the all-time goalscoring record, then held by [[Frank Stapleton]]. In the tournament proper, his header set up [[Robbie Keane]]'s late equaliser against [[Germany national football team|Germany]], which was the only goal Germany conceded before the final. In the second-round, with the Republic behind 1–0 to [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]], it was a foul on Quinn that led to Ireland's last-minute penalty, converted by [[Robbie Keane]], which tied the game and brought extra-time, but the Republic lost 3–2 in the resulting penalty shootout.

After the tournament, he announced his retirement from international football, amassing 92 [[cap (football)|caps]]. At the time, he was his country's all-time top scorer with 21 goals; this record was surpassed in October 2004 by Robbie Keane.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

Quinn had a [[testimonial match]] between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland in 2002. He donated the entire proceeds to charity, an act for which he received a number of awards, including an honorary MBE. Instead of receiving an appearance fee for the game, all the players received a letter from a sick child. Quinn played for both teams during the match, which raised over £1 million. The Republic of Ireland won the match 3–0.<ref>{{cite web |quote= The testimonial game, held at The Stadium of Light, Sunderland, raised more than £1 million |url= http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/biography2003_14.asp |title= Niall Quinn |work= Biography |publisher= Beacon Fellowship |access-date= 3 February 2012 |archive-date= 7 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140712/http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/biography2003_14.asp |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
[[File:Quinn, Niall.jpg|thumbnail|right|Quinn at [[Villa Park]], 2008]]

Quinn retired in 2003 at the age of 37, taking a brief coaching role at [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. He made a single league appearance for [[Thai Premier League]] side [[BEC Tero Sasana F.C.|BEC Tero Sasana]] in March 2006 to promote the league and the side's link with Arsenal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quinn to play for BEC Tero today|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/04/sport/sport_20001975.php|website=The Nation|access-date=22 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202212802/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/04/sport/sport_20001975.php|archive-date=2 February 2010}}</ref> His post-playing career has involved stints as chairman of Sunderland and, on an interim basis, the FAI, as well as journalism and commentary, charitable work and business pursuits. He was mooted as a potential candidate for [[Fianna Fáil]] in the [[2025 Irish presidential election]], and while open to the idea, ultimately did not run.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/12/in-years-to-come-we-will-ask-so-where-were-you-the-day-you-heard-that-pat-the-cope-was-willing-to-run-for-president/ |title=In years to come, we will ask: ‘So, where were you the day you heard that Pat the Cope was willing to run for president?’ |work=The Irish Times |first=Miriam |last=Lord |date=July 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250712050848/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/12/in-years-to-come-we-will-ask-so-where-were-you-the-day-you-heard-that-pat-the-cope-was-willing-to-run-for-president/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |archive-date=12 July 2025}}</ref>

===Football executive and coach===
Heading the [[Drumaville Consortium]] of wealthy Irish businessmen, in June 2006, Quinn successfully brokered a deal to buy a controlling stake in Sunderland.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060725/ai_n16640036 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210040529/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060725/ai_n16640036 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 December 2008 | title=Football: Quinn set to take over as new Sunderland manager |first=Gordon |last=Tynan |newspaper=Independent |date=25 July 2006 }}</ref> In July, Quinn became the [[chairman]] and [[Manager (association football)|manager]] of Sunderland.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reluctant-quinn-will-step-in-to-manage-sunderland-409166.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reluctant-quinn-will-step-in-to-manage-sunderland-409166.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Reluctant Quinn will step in to manage Sunderland | first=Gordon | last=Tynan | date=25 July 2006 | access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> The deal was finalised on 27 July, with sufficient shares being sold to the consortium in order for them to take complete control.

His managerial career had an inauspicious start as Sunderland lost its first four consecutive league games. On 22 August, Sunderland played Bury away in the League Cup where they lost 2–0.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/aug/23/match.sunderland | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Shakers make Sunderland quake as Quinn prepares to step aside | first=Stuart | last=James | date=23 August 2006 | access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref> After the match, Quinn said that a new manager would be appointed by Sunderland's next game. Quinn stepped to one side (to continue in his role as Sunderland chairman) paving the way for [[Roy Keane]] to take charge. This was unexpected considering the rift between the two arising from [[Saipan incident|Keane's infamous ejection from the 2002 World Cup]]. Keane was appointed manager of the club on 28 August. The appointment became a success, with Sunderland clinching an immediate [[Premier League]] comeback as [[Football League Championship]] champions. Quinn made substantial amounts of money available for buying new players, as he had a declared ambition to establish Sunderland as a top club.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In October 2011, [[Ellis Short]] replaced Quinn as chairman of Sunderland. Quinn was appointed as Director of International Development on behalf of the club<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/03/niall-quinn-sunderland-ellis-short | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=New role for Niall Quinn as Ellis Short becomes Sunderland chairman | date=3 October 2011}}</ref> and remained in this role until stepping down in February 2012 and after six years involved with the running of the club saying "Everything is in place for Sunderland to really make a statement, which was always my aim".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17094436|title=Niall Quinn quits Sunderland role after six years|work=BBC Sport|date=20 February 2012 |access-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>

Quinn was interim deputy chief executive officer of the [[Football Association of Ireland]] from January to September 2020, choosing to go without salary until the financial future of the organisation could be secured.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0123/1110444-niall-quinn-set-to-become-deputy-ceo-at-fai/ |title=Niall Quinn appointed interim deputy CEO at FAI |last=O'Donoghue |first=Tony |date=23 January 2020 |work=[[RTÉ Sport]] |access-date=24 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/its-for-a-fraction-of-what-the-old-gang-were-at-niall-quinn-to-defer-salary-as-fais-interim-deputy-ceo-38889640.html |title='It's for a fraction of what the old gang were at' – Niall Quinn to defer salary as FAI's interim deputy CEO |last=Bennett |first=Stephen |date=23 January 2020 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |access-date=24 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Niall Quinn steps down from FAI deputy interim CEO role|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/niall-quinn-steps-down-from-fai-deputy-interim-ceo-role-39509127.html|access-date=7 September 2020|website=independent}}</ref> In 2025 he was appointed Director of Coaching at [[Athletic Union League (Dublin)|Athletic Union League]] side [[Dublin Celtic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/niall-quinns-return-coaching-sees-36177167 |first=Mark |last=McCadden |date=November 2, 2025 |work=Irish Mirror |title=Niall Quinn’s return to coaching sees him take on fresh role ahead of top amateur tournament |accessdate=2025-11-16}}</ref>

===Media work===
Quinn released an autobiography ''Niall Quinn – The Autobiography'' (2002), which was [[Ghostwriter|ghostwritten]] by [[Tom Humphries]]. It won the Best Autobiography category in the inaugural [[British Sports Book Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Previous Winners |url=https://sportsbookawards.com/previous-winners/ |website=Sports Book Awards |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> It was also nominated for a [[William Hill Sports Book of the Year]] award.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3038269/Autobiographies-dominate-shortlist.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Sarah | last=Edworthy | title=Autobiographies dominate shortlist | date=21 November 2002}}</ref> The book is not structured chronologically, but rather in the context of Quinn's career swansong, the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

In 2012, Quinn started commentating for [[Sky Sports]], often alongside [[Martin Tyler]], for televised matches involving his former teams. {{citation needed|date=January 2014}} He ceased commenting in 2025, having found himself with little to say about the [[Pep Guardiola]]-influenced possession era of the sport, saying "When every match you are watching has the goalkeeper and the two centre-backs getting the most touches of the ball in both teams, I didn't know what to say about the game".<ref name=sw>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundayworld.com/sport/soccer/niall-quinn-why-i-walked-away-from-soccer-punditry-and-what-came-next/a1458198190.html |work=Sunday World |title=Niall Quinn: Why I walked away from soccer punditry and what came next |first=Kevin |last=Palmer |date=April 15, 2025 |accessdate=2025-11-16}}</ref> He redirected his focus to Team Taca, his podcast network that enables soccer clubs to produce private and localised club podcasts, targeting the American market.<ref name=sw/>

===Businessman===
In 2011, Quinn launched Q Sat, a satellite broadband company in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.qsat.ie| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110809091427/http://qsat.ie/| archive-date = 9 August 2011| title = Q Sat- Satellite Low Cost Broadband All Over Ireland}}</ref> He invested  €700,000 in the venture, which provided internet service to 3000 homes in Ireland before shutting down in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 May 2017 |title=Niall Quinn's QSAT broadband service shut down over dispute |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2017/0519/876502-niall-quinns-qsat-broadband-service-shut-down-over-dis/ |website=RTE News}}</ref>

===Charitable work and recognition===
[[File:Premier League and DEC unite to tackle famine (6344940162).jpg|thumbnail|right|Quinn and [[Patrick Vieira]] participate in a game of headers at [[11 Downing Street]], while schoolchildren from Gillespie Primary School look on, 2011]]
A large portion of the proceeds from Quinn's 2002 testimonial match were donated to [[City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust|City Hospitals Sunderland]] to help fund the building of a new children's centre. The centre was subsequently named "The Niall Quinn Children's Centre" in his honour and Quinn officially opened it in 2004.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/6982152.footballer-niall-opens-childrens-centre-built-testimonial-game/ | title=Footballer Niall opens children's centre built after testimonial game | date=6 August 2004 | access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/sunderland-echo/20120221/282892317572975?srsltid=AfmBOoqSb2Z5zNnX0GHRWHFwXhMSXthL6_qgZv6BeMTYP4REQJf1ElYD | title=Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions | date=21 February 2012 | access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> He is an advocate of and fundraiser for the Irish Professional Footballers Benevolent Association, a welfare organisation which seeks to raise awareness of and alleviate health and financial issues ex-professionals are susceptible to.<ref name=sw/> 

Quinn was awarded an honourary [[Member of the British Empire]] in 2003 for his services to British charities.<ref name=indo>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/niall-quinn-fulfils-promise-made-to-mother-40-years-ago-by-completing-masters-degree-in-history/42100412.html |title=Niall Quinn fulfils promise made to mother 40 years ago by completing master’s degree in history |work=The Irish Independent |date=October 27, 2022 |first=Allison |last=Bray |accessdate=2025-11-16}}</ref> In 2008, he received the [[James Joyce Award]] of the [[Literary and Historical Society (University College Dublin)|Literary & Historical Society]] in [[University College Dublin]]. In 2010, Quinn was named a patron of the [[Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]].<ref name=SBRFoundationBlog5Nov2010QuinnPatron>{{cite web|url=https://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/11/niall-quinn-becomes-patron-of-sir-bobby.html |title=Niall Quinn Becomes A Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation |publisher=Sir Bobby Robson Foundation |date=5 November 2010 |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827083219/http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.blogspot.com/2010/11/niall-quinn-becomes-patron-of-sir-bobby.html |archive-date=27 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the 2011 North East Football Writers' Association's Personality of the Year,<ref name=Award1 /> and in 2013 he was granted the Freedom of Sunderland award by the city of Sunderland.<ref name=Award />

==Fan relationships==
Quinn has his own song titled "Niall Quinn's Disco Pants". The song was originally created by [[Manchester City F.C. supporters|Manchester City supporters]] during a night out on a pre-season tour in Penola, Italy, in 1992. There had been a bust-up with City team-mate [[Steve McMahon]] and Quinn had removed his torn and bloodied shirt and was dancing with [[Rick Holden]] wearing just a pair of cut-off jeans. He was "hardly aware" that there were a group of hardcore City fans watching and they treated him to "the first performance of the song that will follow me till the end of my career."<ref name=auto>Niall Quinn, ''The Autobiography'' (Headline Publishing, 2002), 182.</ref>

The song was adopted by Sunderland fans and released as a single by the club's dedicated fanzine ''[[A Love Supreme (fanzine)|A Love Supreme]]''. It reached no. 56 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in April 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/apr/02/football.travel |title=Fans thrown off plane over Niall Quinn's Disco Pants |last=Gillan |first=Audrey |author-link=Audrey Gillan |date=2 April 2007|website=[[theguardian.com]]|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Both Quinn's parents are from [[Thurles]], [[County Tipperary]].<ref name="GL">{{cite news |first=Declan |last=Bogue |title=What makes world beaters? |newspaper=Gaelic Life |date=4 September 2009}}</ref> His father as well as his uncles on his mother's side played [[hurling]] for [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]].<ref name="GL"/> He was born in [[Dublin]].<ref name=Hugman/> and later settled in [[Kildare]].<ref name="GL"/> He has been married to the Irish model Gillian Roe since 1992,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Andrea |title=How Niall Quinn made his most vital match |url=https://www.independent.ie/incoming/incoming_dailyfeed/how-niall-quinn-made-his-most-vital-match-26692524.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |work=Irish Independent |date=24 October 2010}}</ref> and they have two children: Aisling and Michael.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/quinn-familys-heartbreak-in-speed-tragedy/27995451.html|title=Quinn family's heartbreak in Speed tragedy|date=7 December 2011|access-date=7 December 2011|first=M|last=F|work=Evening Herald}}</ref> Quinn struggled to adapt to post-playing life, the loss of his teammates' presence and his identity as a player, which affected his marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/our-marriage-definitely-suffered-says-gillian-quinn-wife-of-niall-on-life-post-soccer-1.4701915 |title=‘Our marriage definitely suffered’, says Gillian Quinn, wife of Niall, on life post-soccer |date=October 15, 2021|first=Mark |last=Hilliard |accessdate=2025-11-16 |work=The Irish Times}}</ref> In 2005, Quinn was banned for driving for three months and ordered to pay a €200 fine after admitting drink-driving.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-soccer-star-loses-driving-licence-1.1182154 | title=Former soccer star loses driving licence | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref> A history enthusiast, Quinn completed a masters' degree in 2022 with a thesis on revolutionary and FAI luminary [[Oscar Traynor]].<ref name=indo/> He is a keen golfer, live music enthusiast, and horse racing fan, having attended the [[Cheltenham Festival]] 24 years in a row.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotpress.com/lifestyle-sports/republic-of-ireland-legend-niall-quinn-if-i-dont-go-to-kerry-three-times-a-year-id-be-like-a-car-running-out-of-petrol-yknow-23091396 |work=Hot Press |title=Republic of Ireland legend Niall Quinn: “If I don’t go to Kerry three times a year, I’d be like a car running out of petrol, y’know?” |first=Stuart |last=Clark |date=June 23, 2025 |accessdate=2025-11-16}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]||[[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]]||rowspan="7"|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|[[1984–85 Football League|1984–85]]||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|[[1985–86 Football League|1985–86]]||12||1||3||0||2||0||17||1
|-
|[[1986–87 Football League|1986–87]]||35||8||4||1||9||3||48||12
|-
|[[1987–88 Football League|1987–88]]||11||2||2||0||3||0||16||2
|-
|[[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]]||3||1||0||0||0||0||3||1
|-
|[[1989–90 Football League|1989–90]]||6||2||1||1||2||1||9||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!67!!14!!10!!2!!16!!4!!93!!20
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]||[[1989–90 Football League|1989–90]]||rowspan="3"|First Division||9||4||0||0||0||0||9||4
|-
|[[1990–91 Football League|1990–91]]||38||20||2||1||3||0||43||21
|-
|[[1991–92 Football League|1991–92]]||35||12||1||0||3||2||39||14
|-
|[[1992–93 Premier League|1992–93]]||rowspan="4"|[[Premier League]]||39||9||5||1||3||0||47||10
|-
|[[1993–94 Premier League|1993–94]]||15||5||0||0||3||1||18||6
|-
|[[1994–95 Premier League|1994–95]]||35||8||4||0||6||2||45||10
|-
|[[1995–96 Premier League|1995–96]]||32||8||4||2||3||1||39||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!193!!66!!16!!4!!21!!6!!240!!76
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]||[[1996–97 Premier League|1996–97]]||Premier League||12||2||0||0||1||1||13||3
|-
|[[1997–98 Football League|1997–98]]||rowspan="2"|First Division||35||14||2||1||0||0||37||15
|-
|[[1998–99 Football League|1998–99]]||39||18||2||0||5||3||46||21
|-
|[[1999–2000 Premier League|1999–2000]]||rowspan="4"|Premier League||37||14||1||0||0||0||38||14
|-
|[[2000–01 Premier League|2000–01]]||34||7||3||1||0||0||37||8
|-
|[[2001–02 Premier League|2001–02]]||38||6||1||0||0||0||39||6
|-
|[[2002–03 Premier League|2002–03]]||8||0||0||0||0||0||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!203!!61!!9!!2!!6!!4!!218!!67
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!473!!141!!35!!8!!43!!14!!551!!163
|}

===International===
:''Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Quinn goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Niall Quinn
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 10 November 1987 || [[Dalymount Park]], [[Dublin]] || {{fb|ISR}} || || align="center"|5–0 || [[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 2 June 1990 || [[Ta' Qali National Stadium|National Stadium]], [[Ta' Qali]], Malta || {{fb|MLT}} || || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|3 || 21 June 1990 || [[Stadio Renzo Barbera]], [[Palermo]], Italy || {{fb|NED}} || || align="center"|1–1 || [[1990 World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || 17 October 1990|| [[Lansdowne Road]], Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|TUR}} || || align="center"|5–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying|Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || rowspan="2"|6 February 1991 || rowspan="2"|[[Racecourse Ground]], [[Wrexham]], Wales || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Wales}} || || rowspan="2" align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || 
|-
| align="center"|7 || 27 March 1991 || [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London, England || {{fb|England}} || || align="center"|1–1 || Euro 1992 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|8 || 29 April 1992|| Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|USA}} || || align="center"|4–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|9 || 31 March 1993|| Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|NIR}} || || align="center"|3–0 || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|10 || 28 April 1993|| Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|DEN}} || || align="center"|1–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|11 || rowspan="2"|12 October 1994 || rowspan="2"|Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || rowspan="2"|{{fb|LIE}} || || rowspan="2" align="center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|12 || 
|-
| align="center"|13 || 29 March 1995 || Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|NIR}} || || align="center"|1–1 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|14 || 2 June 1996 || Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|Croatia}} || || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|15 || rowspan="2"|31 August 1996 || rowspan="2"|[[Sportpark Eschen-Mauren]], [[Eschen]], Liechtenstein || rowspan="2"|{{fb|LIE}} || || rowspan="2" align="center"|5–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|16 || 
|-
| align="center"|17 || 14 October 1998|| Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|Malta}} || || align="center"|5–0 || [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying]]
|-
| align="center"|18 || 9 June 1999 || Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|MKD|name=Macedonia}} || || align="center"|1–0 || UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|19 || 9 October 1999 || [[Philip II Arena]], [[Skopje]], Macedonia || {{fb|MKD|name=Macedonia}} || || align="center"|1–1 || UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
|-
| align="center"|20 || 4 June 2000 || [[Giants Stadium]], [[East Rutherford]], South Africa || {{fb|South Africa}} || || align="center"|2–1 || [[U.S. Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|21 || 6 October 2001 || Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|CYP}} || || align="center"|4–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!L!!D!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
|{{flagicon|England}}
|align=left|25 July 2006
|align=left|30 August 2006
||6||1||5||0||16.67
|}

==Honours==
'''Arsenal'''
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[1986–87 Football League Cup|1986–87]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/arsenal-v-liverpool-05-april-1987-31633/ |title=Arsenal v Liverpool, 05 April 1987 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

'''Sunderland'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1998–99 Football League First Division|1998–99]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1999–2000 |year=1999 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7472-7627-2 |pages=32, 352–353}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[FAI International Football Awards|Irish Young Player of the Year]]: 1990<ref name=POTY>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1111/741092-niall-quinn-and-paul-mcgrath/|title=Soccer Awards for Niall Quinn and Paul McGrath 1990|website=RTE.ie}}</ref>
* [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] Player of the Year: 1991
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#First Division 10|1998–99 First Division]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1999–2000 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1999 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-607-7 |page=352}}</ref>
* [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] Player of the Year: 1999
* North East Football Writers' Player of 1999
* [[Beacon Fellowship]] Prize for his contribution to medical and children's charities, 2003<ref>[http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/2003_winners.asp Beacon Prize Winners 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213233318/http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/2003_winners.asp |date=13 February 2012 }}. Retrieved 3 February 2012.</ref>
*[[PFA Merit Award]]: 2002
*North East Football Writers' Association's Personality of the Year: 2011<ref name=Award1>{{cite web|url=http://footballwriters.co.uk/news/football-writers-prepare-to-honour-niall-quinn/|title=FOOTBALL WRITERS PREPARE TO HONOUR NIALL QUINN|website=Football Writers.co.uk}}</ref>
*Freedom of Sunderland award: 2013<ref name=Award>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-24902620|title=Niall Quinn 'delighted' with freedom of Sunderland award|work=BBC News|date=11 November 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of outfield association footballers who played in goal]]
* [[List of players who have converted from one football code to another]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{soccerbase (manager)|id=2038|name=Niall Quinn}}
* [http://www.niall-quinn.com/ The Niall Quinn Living Tribute Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060617212645/http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Archive/1%2C%2C-158%2C00.html Niall Quinn articles for ''The Guardian'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040507140835/http://www.discopants.freeserve.co.uk/ Fan site]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1998–99 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{FAI Young International Player of the Year}}
{{Manchester City F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Manchester City F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Sunderland A.F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Republic of Ireland squads
| bg = green
| fg = white
| bordercolor = silver
| list1 = 
{{Republic of Ireland squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Sunderland A.F.C. managers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinn, Niall}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Police Tero F.C. players|Niall Quinn]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Thai League 1 players|Niall Quinn]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Dual players]]
[[Category:Eadestown Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Gaelic footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Gaelic games players from Dublin (city)]] <!-- MINOR FOOTBALL & HURLING ONLY? -->
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Thailand]]
[[Category:Manortown United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:People educated at Drimnagh Castle Secondary School]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association football chairpersons and investors]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate association football managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Robert Emmets Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Robert Emmets hurlers]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. directors and chairmen]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]