Author Description

Niall Quinn is the sort of target man that wingers love to aim for, and his forward partners enjoy playing alongside, sure that they will be able to feed off his knock-downs, and defenders hate to deal with. Yet for a big man, he has superb ball control that can take many an unwary defender by surprise. However, Quinn is much more than a highly talented footballer, he has had a regular column in the Guardian, a continuing love of horses (and betting on them), and an intelligence and eloquence that make him admired by football fans everywhere. Quinn tells the story not just of his two decades playing at the top level, but also of his difficult upbringing in Ireland, of his reasons for donating all the proceeds from his testimonial to charity, and offers his account of the row between Roy Keane and the Ireland manager ahead of the 2002 World Cup.