John Devine (footballer born 1958)

For other footballers, see John Devine (disambiguation).

John Devine

Personal information
Full name	John Anthony Devine
Date of birth	11 November 1958
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Playing position	Midfield
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1978–1983	Arsenal	89	(0)
1983–1985	Norwich City	53	(3)
1985–1986	Stoke City	15	(1)
1988	IK Start	?	(?)
1989–1991	Shamrock Rovers F.C.	29	(6)
1991–1992	Kingfisher East Bengal FC	?	(?)
National team
1979-1984	Republic of Ireland	13	(0)
1978-1979	Republic of Ireland U21	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

John Anthony Devine (born November 11, 1958 in Dublin) is an Irish former footballer and Manager/Coach.

Born in Dublin, Devine joined London club Arsenal in November 1974 as an apprentice. Part of a large young Irish contingent at Arsenal (which also included Liam Brady, David O'Leary and Frank Stapleton), Devine turned professional in 1976. A full back who preferred playing on the right, he made his debut for the Gunners on April 22, 1978, deputising for Pat Rice.

With Rice and Sammy Nelson occupying the Arsenal full back positions most of the time, Devine didn't break into the first team straight away, although he did play in the 1980 FA Cup Final (which Arsenal lost 1-0 to West Ham United) in preference to Nelson. However, Nelson returned to the Arsenal side for the Gunners' Cup Winners Cup final against Valencia. After Rice left for Watford in the summer of 1980, Devine stepped up to become Arsenal's regular right-back, playing 44 times in 1980-81. However, his tenure there didn't last; after Devine was out of the side with a serious injury, John Hollins was moved back into defence as cover, and Devine could not reclaim his place once he had regained fitness. He played only 23 games in his final two seasons at Arsenal.

Devine left Arsenal in the summer of 1983, having played 111 first-team matches for the club in nine years. He joined Norwich City, and played 69 games in two seasons for the Canaries, and was an unused sub in the Canaries' League Cup final win in 1984-85. He then represented Stoke City, but after breaking his leg for the 3rd time, his career was effectively over at top level.He then signed for 1 year in 1997 for Indian side East Bengal. He had 1 season at Norwegian club Start in 1988, before signing for Shamrock Rovers in 1989, making his League of Ireland debut on the 26th of November. He played in the first game at the RDS Arena in September 1990 and helped Rovers to the FAI Cup final in 1991. He made a total of 41 appearances scoring 7 goals for the Hoops. His last game was on the opening day of the 1991/92 season, where he retired to Coach full time.

Devine was capped for the Republic of Ireland at every level, winning thirty caps in all, with thirteen of those coming for the senior side. He made his senior debut on September 26, 1979 against Czechoslovakia, and his last cap came against Norway on October 17, 1984. He never played in a World Cup or European Championship finals, as Ireland did not qualify for any tournaments during that time, although most of his caps were won in European and World Cup Qualifying games.

He became Head coach and then caretaker manager at Shelbourne after Eamonn Gregg was sacked in November 1994 [1]. Shelbourne's close ties with Manchester United led to Devine working with the English club, and he was Manchester United's Academy Director of youth development in Ireland in the 1990s for 10 years.

Devine was Head Coach at Sporting Fingal for 3 seasons from 2008 to 2011,during which time the Club won promotion 2 years in succession and in year 2 won the F.A.I Ford Cup Final V Sligo Rvs. They also qualified for Europe 2 years in a row.

He was married to Miss Ireland 1980, Michelle Rocca in 1981 and the couple had two daughters, Danielle and Natasha, before divorcing in 1990.

External links

• Photograph and biography at sporting-heroes.net
• Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk