The Liam Mackey Interview: Paddy Mulligan

On the eve of his 70th birthday on St Patrick’s Day, Chelsea, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland legend Paddy Mulligan takes an eye-opening trip through his footballing past.

FOOTBALL according to Gary Lineker, is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, the Germans always win.

The gag touches on the eternal truth that, however much the trappings might change, the essence of the sport remains the same. Yet, the past in football, as in life, can also seem like a very different country, especially in the company of a guide as forthright and entertaining as Paddy Mulligan.