The Profile
Frank's story, told with respect to the facts.
Frank Stapleton played for Arsenal and Manchester United in two of their FA Cup-winning teams and for the Republic of Ireland alongside Liam Brady during the era when the Irish international team was becoming a credible force in world football. His career spanned the late 1970s to the early 1990s, which put him in English football at the same time as Brady, and the two of them headlined more than one international Ireland campaign together.
He was a tall centre forward with excellent aerial ability, a better than average touch, and the kind of professionalism that extended his top flight career well past what most journeymen strikers manage. The FA Cup win with Manchester United in 1983 remains one of the highlight memories of his playing career.
He has worked in Irish football coaching and administration since retirement, and his speaker events combine stories from both the Arsenal and United sides of his career with context on the development of Irish international football.
“Liam was the genius. I was the one who had to make sure the ball ended up in the back of the net. We had a perfectly understood division of labour.”
Career highlights
- FA Cup winner with Arsenal, 1979
- FA Cup winner with Manchester United, 1983 and 1985
- 71 Republic of Ireland caps
- Arsenal and Manchester United career
- Former Bradford City manager
First hand
Frank Stapleton at Steam
Frank spoke at Steam in February 2025 alongside Liam Brady. The two of them finished each other's stories the way only long-time teammates can.