Republic of Ireland legends David O'Leary and Yvonne Tracy to be inducted into FAI Hall of Fame

1990: David O'Leary of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring his side's winning penalty in the FIFA World Cup 1990 Round of 16 match against Romania Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Former Republic of Ireland internationals David O’Leary and Yvonne Tracy will be inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame as part of the 36th FAI International Awards.

O’Leary will be presented with his award as part of a ceremony at the UEFA Nations League game between Ireland and Kosovo at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 17, while Tracy will be honoured at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying play-off between Ireland and Poland at the Aviva on Saturday, December 5.

O’Leary made his debut for Ireland in a 1-1 draw with England on September 8, 1976 and went on to earn 68 caps, with his last appearance coming in a 2-1 victory over Wales on February 17, 1993.

The Dubliner scored in his only goal in a 5-0 win over Turkey on October 17, 1990, but he will always be remembered for converting the all-important penalty in a shoot-out triumph over Romania that sent Ireland into the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup.

Limerick native Tracy played 78 times for Ireland over a 14-year period with her final competitive appearance coming in the 3-0 win away to Slovenia on October 30, 2013.

2013: Yvonne Tracy, Republic of Ireland, lines out before the game to earn her 75th international cap. Pic: Barry Cregg/Sportsfile

Tracy was named Senior Women’s Player of the Year at the FAI International Awards in 2002 and started both legs of the UEFA Women’s European Championship Qualifying play-off against Iceland in 2008.

Tracy becomes the eighth former WNT player to be inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame since 2018, following on from Emma Byrne, Anne O’Brien, Paula Gorham, Linda Gorman, Sue Hayden, Nora McHugh and Olivia O’Toole.