The current football statistics show that the average football player in Ireland makes about €40,000 a year, after making about €20 an hour on average. Of course, this figure does not factor in the bonuses which quickly pile up, enabling most players to make more than €100,000 a year, especially at the pro level. With this kind of disposable income, it makes sense that players look for numerous ways to spend their money. Most of them, like their fans, like to unwind and destress by placing in top casino sites Ireland after a long season. If you’re curious about how much money these players have made over the years, read on for some of the most lucrative transfers ever seen in Ireland:
Most Valued Players
Some players are so good that landing them requires their host teams to fork out quite a lot of cash. Let’s consider how much money has changed hands over the years:
- Christopher Joseph Fagan
Christopher has had quite an illustrious career, having started his youth career at Manchester United. He then played in several top-tier clubs, including Lincoln City, Bohemians, and St. Patrick’s Athletic. During his heyday, he was a regular scorer in the League of Ireland and had amassed many fans who would come in throngs to cheer him on.
He also featured in the national team for the 2008 to 2010 seasons. The 33-year-old, who starred as a forward, has since retired. Before he hung his boots, he made €995 a week, totaling more than €50,000 a year before bonuses.
- Stephen O’Donnell
Stephen started his youth career at Arsenal before graduating to the senior Arsenal team. From 2005 to 2018, he played in various clubs, including:
- Falkirk,
- Bohemians,
- Cork City,
- Galway United,
- Shamrock Rovers, and
- Dundalk.
He also played for the national team between the years 2002 and 2010. Stephen later hung his boots in 2019, after a distinguished career that saw him make more than €1,000 a week, totaling more than €50,000 a year, exclusive of bonuses. Stephen has now taken on a managerial career that suits him well, given his years of experience.
- Shane Duggan
Shane, born in Limerick, has played for several teams during his career. Not only has he played at Cork City, but he’s also played with Limerick and Waterford before landing at Galway United in 2020. He has made his mark in the football league with more than 330 appearances and over 45 goals. After all, he puts a lot of effort into his role as a midfielder and is a player the team can count on, regardless of how tough things are. This tenacity has pushed him to take on managerial roles and keep at the game this long into his career.
He makes more than €1,000 a week, amounting to at least €50,000 per annum, without including the bonuses. At his current pace, he’s sure to make a lot more money.
- Paul Keegan
Not only has Paul shown a lot of promise in his skills as a defensive midfielder, but he has also proven to be a good leader. As such, he has often gravitated towards captaincy and has captained the youth and U21 levels at the Republic of Ireland, Bohemians, and Waterford. When he has not been leading the teams, he has been putting on a show as a tough tackler who keeps the opponents at bay.
The zealous player started his youth career at Home Farm before proceeding to Leeds United. He then started his senior career, playing with Leeds United, Drogheda United, Bohemians, Doncaster Rovers, Waterford, and Bray Wanderers. Additionally, he played for the national team between 2000 and 2010.
It’s no surprise that he has been making more than €1,000 a week, taking home close to €60,000 as a base salary.
- Graham Dylan Burke
Graham, born in Dublin, started his career as a youth trainee at Belvedere before moving on to Aston Villa. His senior career has been promising, having had him play at Aston Villa, Notts County, Shamrock Rovers, and Preston North End. He currently plays at Shamrock Rovers as a forward who can play in either flung has made a name for himself and is already causing waves on the football field. He makes about €60,000 a year and is set to make even more over time.
The figures below may not look like much. However, you should also remember that footballers have various other sources of income not tallied above. These include:
- Bonuses: Footballers are subject to incremental bonuses, which work as incentives for their dedication to the clubs, and
- Endorsements: Most footballers also earn a lot of money from their interactions with sports-related brands.
Many footballers also invest heavily in varying businesses and have financial managers who help them carve out money to help diversify their investment portfolios. These are tips you can borrow from these high-value players who make the most of the opportunities available to them.