Image copyright © 1997 Sports Projects Ltd.

Date of Birth:	:	December 4, 1959
Birthplace:	:	Ealing, England
Nationality:	:	Irish
Height:	:	1.88m / 6'2"
Capped:	:	Yes
Previous Clubs:	:	Manchester United, St. Patricks
Nickname:	:	God, Macca, 'OH AH, Paul McGrath!', The Legend
Played for Villa:	:	1989-1996

Paul McGrath (a.k.a. God a.k.a. 'OH AH, Paul McGrath' ) was (and is) one of the best central defenders in the country. He virtually never trained due to persistent knee trouble but his experience and talent for reading the game more than compensated for any lack of speed. A strange fact was that God didn't not need to run in order to tackle people - he loped quietly towards the place the ball would be and, because (uniquely) he played in cyberspace, he always got there first. God's ways are, of course, a mystery (but he must have been one of the most foresighted signings of the millenium!) He joined Manchester United from St Patricks and came to Villa Park in 1989 for the price of £450,000. He has more than 70 caps for the Republic of Ireland and won the player's (P.F.A.) "Player of the Year" award in 1993. In the summer of 1996, McGrath announced that he wanted to keep on playing for Villa after the 1995-96 season, contract or no contract. Brian Little offered him a new one year contract a few weeks later with a good salary, which God accepted. After not starting with the first team for more than a month, McGrath had second thoughts, but he was bound to his contract, and this was the standpoint of both Brian Little and Doug Ellis. McGrath - for once - didn't have the fans behind him in this matter. However, other clubs began to sit up and take notice. Hence the third of the 4 managers McGrath's had while he was at Aston Villa - Ron Atkinson, approached for Paul. Brian Little and Ron soon disaggreed about the transfer sum, though. Then Derby muscled in with an offer. Little allowed the approach, and McGrath soon managed to aggree terms with Derby. One of the greatest legends ever, Paul McGrath, officially left Aston Villa on October 10th, 1996.

Paul McGrath will never be forgotten for his extreme talent and consistency throughout 7 full seasons for the Villa. He was with us while they finished runner-ups in 1990 and 1993, and twice he was one of the 11 to bag the League Cup in 1994 and 1996. Other great moments includes when Aston Villa knocked out Inter Milano in the UEFA Cup in 1994, and when Villa clobbered Wimbledon 7-1 in 1995, not to mention the 3-1 opening match win over his former club Manchester United in the autumn of 1995. He played one hell of a match when Villa avoided relegation by their own hands by winning 2-0 over Liverpool on the second to last match of the 1994-95 season. This list could keep coing for half a mile down your window here. Writing up an adequate appreciation for what Paul McGrath has done for Aston Villa is impossible. I'll end mine here by saying that Paul McGrath will remain in the hearts of all true Villa fas until the day they die, and hopefully, will always be remembered at Aston Villa F.C.

There'll never be a player quite like Paul again. Just consider his nickname : God.