“It’s always the biggest goal of the year”
Evergreen Mannus delighted to help Hoops to yet another Premier Division crown
By Daire Walsh
IT MAY be the ninth league title success of his extraordinary career to date, but Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Alan Mannus was nonetheless thrilled to help the Tallaght men towards yet another SSE Airtricity League Premier Division triumph in 2021.
After helping Linfield to finish on top of the Irish Premier League ladder on no fewer than five occasions, Mannus first made the switch to Rovers in August 2009.
He went on to win back-to-back top-flight crowns with the Hoops (albeit he left for Scottish club St Johnstone before the 2011 season had ended) and has now done the same in his second stint in Tallaght.
“It means everything,” insisted Mannus. “In terms of what we set out at the start of the season, the main aim was always to win the league. It’s always the biggest goal of the year. That’s what you set out to do. I’m obviously delighted that we were able to do it again.”
The last line of defence in a team that finished 16 points clear of nearest challengers St Patrick’s Athletic, Mannus is also the Hoops’ elder statesman at 39 years of age. In fact, he is more than two years older than his manager Stephen Bradley, who was still in his 20s when he brought his own playing career to an end.
While the former Northern Ireland international has committed to another year with Rovers, he admitted the 2022 season could be his last as a professional footballer.
“I’m staying on for another year, which I’m delighted to do and looking forward to doing. I’ve said to the manager more than likely it will be my last. Probably 99% that will be it. Never say never, but when you come to this age, you know when you’re coming to the end of your career and when you’ve a few years left.
“You don’t know what will happen in life and football, but I don’t think I will play after next year. I’ll be happy to do another year and be 40 when I’m doing it and still hopefully playing at that point. I want it to be a good year as well.”
Given it will almost definitely be his swan song as a player, Mannus is hopeful of ending next year on a high. Having secured those back-to-back crowns under Michael O’Neill in 2010 and 2011, it wasn’t until the truncated campaign of 2020 that Rovers got their hands on the Premier Division trophy again.
Completing the three in-a-row in any league is difficult and while Dundalk managed that feat under Stephen Kenny in recent times (2014-16), the Hoops haven’t done so since recording four league triumphs on the bounce from 1984 to 1987.
However, now that the club is becoming re-accustomed with success, Mannus believes it can be a farewell to remember.
“That would be nice. As I say, the aim is always to win the league, then try and do well in Europe and try to do well in the Cup. I’d like to finish on a high obviously. It would be nice for me personally, but also nice to do it for the club and everyone who supported me over the last few years and obviously 10 years ago as well,” Mannus added.
“They gave me a lot of support, so I’d like to contribute as much as possible to success again. There’s so many reasons why we want to do well obviously. It’s not just about it being probably my last year, but it’s the demand of the club regardless if it is someone’s last year. I’m well aware of that.”