The Profile
Liam's story, told with respect to the facts.
Liam Brady was the creative centre of Arsenal's team in the late 1970s, and his transfer to Juventus in 1980 made him the first British Isles player to move from the old First Division to Serie A during that era. He won two Serie A titles with Juventus and played in midfields that contained some of the most celebrated Italian internationals of the time. The Italians still speak about his first touch in tones that are usually reserved for Maradona or Zico.
For the Republic of Ireland, he earned seventy two caps during a period when Ireland were constructing their reputation as an unpredictable and tactically intelligent international team. He played in the 1988 European Championships and retired before the 1990 World Cup, which meant he missed the tournament that put the team on the global map.
Post-playing he managed at Celtic and Brighton, ran Arsenal's academy during one of its most productive eras, and has been a respected broadcaster on both English and Irish football. He is a thoughtful voice on the technical development of young players, which is a subject he cares about more than he cares about almost any other subject in football.
“Italian football in the early 1980s was a chess game that took ninety minutes and ended with one of you in the chair and the other on the floor. I learned a lot about football in those three years.”
Career highlights
- Two Serie A titles with Juventus, 1981 and 1982
- FA Cup winner with Arsenal, 1979
- 72 Republic of Ireland caps
- Arsenal and Juventus midfielder
- Head of Arsenal Academy, 1996 to 2014
- PFA Player of the Year, 1979
First hand
Liam Brady at Steam
Liam spoke at Steam in February 2025 alongside Frank Stapleton, which meant the entire room got a proper Irish football evening.