Niall Quinn

Yeah, O'Leary just come to mind as well.

Oh, Niall Quinn.

In August, Arsenal actually played in Dublin and they made a huge effort with, like, articles and stuff that were shared on the website of, like, the Irish at Arsenal or Arsenal Irish but they recently signed a player they signed a couple of players from up north as well from Larne and from Linfield but they signed a young guy that's with Shamrock Rovers, Victor Ojemvuna so they're really trying to build the connection with Ireland again because it was missing for so long so it is really good and encouraging to see that they're developing relations in Ireland again

Yeah.

Hi there, welcome to The Next Play with me, Brian O'Driscoll, where I'm speaking to ex-athletes about their transition from their playing days into their new walk of life.

Today's guest is Niall Quinn, the renowned Republic of

Ireland, Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland footballer, who talked us through his playing days and then his transition into being Executive Chairman of Sunderland Football Club, amongst other things.

Hope you enjoy.

Thanks so much for joining us.

And in your case, it's, you know, over 20 years ago.

So how do you... introduce yourself to people these days as to who you are or what

you've done? Oh that's a great question I've never I've never stopped to work that or figure that out and I think there's still ex-footballer you know ex-footballer I actually think about what other people introduce me as now and it's ex-footballer and um wannabe businessman, I think, has come out in the past as well.

So I'm in his kitchen.

part okay and there is a hatch so that's who i was serving there just out the hatch and they're all getting their breakfast rolls and whatever and the one thing that they definitely can't ask for here is skinny lattes nothing skinny no avocados and if you want healthy food it's just not an option that's what it says on the signs here surrounded in the cafe is the most eclectic mix of of framed pictures you could ever see in this shipping container there's everybody pictured from Niall Quinn to Barry Keoghan to Jane Seymour to Pascal Donoghue to Christy Moore and they're all here because of this man Deke hello Deke and welcome to the Oliver Callen show and thanks for having me in the kitchen

How are you, Brenda? How are you, Oliver?

Yeah, listen to me.

And, um, and, you know, obviously, the keepers kick the ball, and you, you pick up the line very quickly.

And I've gone in to sort of like ram hit Niall Quinn hard, and, um, and I, I bounced off him.

[laughs]

And it was the, it was the first time I'd ever really experienced that.

I got substituted, I think on about 18 minutes, and that was the end of my Blackburn career.

So, you know, pace and, and pace and strength were the two things, and power and strength I, I didn't really worry about, but out and out pace was, was always difficult.

You mentioned Niall Quinn, a great player for what it's worth.

Um, of course, that brings me sort of nicely anyway to the Manchester City angle, because let's talk about Man City, mate.