Steve Finnan

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Stephen John Finnan (born 24 April 1976) is an Irish former international footballer who played as a right-back.

He is the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup, all four levels of the English league football and the Football Conference.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Among the honours won during his career was the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final for Liverpool. Finnan was known for his attacking role and ability to cross the ball.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He played 52 internationals for the Republic of Ireland from his debut in 2000, scoring twice. He played for them at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Finnan was born in the Janesboro area of Limerick, and moved to Chelmsford, England, at a young age.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He began his career playing in Wimbledon's youth system,<ref name="What's in a name: Steve Finnan">Template:Cite news</ref> but he joined non-League club Welling United in 1993 after being released at the age of 16. Finnan turned professional when he signed with Birmingham City in 1995, who paid a fee of £100,000 to Welling United to acquire his services.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored his first professional goal against Watford.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notts County

Finnan made a loan switch to Notts County in March 1996, making his debut in a 2–1 victory over Walsall and scoring his first goal a month later in a 4–2 victory over Bristol Rovers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Magpies">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He appeared in all of Notts' games for the remainder of the season,<ref name="Magpies" /> helping the team finish fourth in the Second Division and qualify for the promotion play-offs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the first leg of the semi-finals held at the Alexandra Stadium he scored against Crewe Alexandra, with the match ending 2–2.<ref name="Magpies" /> The return leg at home saw Notts win 1–0, winning 3–2 on aggregate.<ref name="Magpies" /> In the play-offs final against Bradford City at Wembley Stadium, Notts County lost 2–0.<ref name="Magpies" /> He returned to Birmingham following the conclusion of the loan deal.

During the following season, 1996–97, Notts County signed Finnan for a fee £300,000 on 30 October 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played his first match as a permanent player for Notts County after being introduced as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town.<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> The season was not a successful one for Finnan as Notts County finished 24th in the table and were relegated to the Third Division.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the 1997–98 season, his first full season at the club, Finnan established himself as a key member of the team and was an ever present, appearing in 51 matches,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> helping the club win the Third Division title with record points and time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The other notable record Finnan established with Notts County during this season was a streak of 10 consecutive victories; a club record and one which still stands today.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Fulham

After strong showings for Notts County in the 1997–98 season, Fulham manager Kevin Keegan paid £600,000 for his services in November 1998.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his Fulham debut against Chesterfield on 21 November 1998 and scored his first goal for Fulham against Blackpool on 20 March 1999.<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> While at Fulham, he also became a favourite among the fans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His first season with the club was a success, with Fulham winning the Second Division championship and being promoted to the First Division.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Finnan finished ninth with Fulham the following season under new manager Paul Bracewell, despite promising early season form and an unbeaten run lasting over two months.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bracewell was replaced with Jean Tigana in May 2000, and under him in the 2000–01 season, Fulham won the First Division championship, winning promotion to the Premier League, with Finnan appearing in all but one of the league matches.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In his debut season in the Premier League, he helped Fulham qualify for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, was voted into the 2001–02 Professional Footballers' Association team of the year and was also voted as the Fulham player of the year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fulham then went on to win the Intertoto Cup, giving Finnan his first taste of European football.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Next season saw Jean Tigana replaced by Chris Coleman, Finnan's fourth manager in five seasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By April 2003 with few games to go, Fulham were close to the relegation zone but picked up 10 points out of a possible 15 to stay in the top-flight, finishing in 14th position.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the summer of 2003 Finnan found himself courted by many of England's top clubs,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and eventually Fulham agreed to sell Finnan to Liverpool for a fee of £3.5m.<ref name="Hugman0506"/>

Liverpool

File:Steve Finnan 2010.jpg

Finnan during Jamie Carragher's testimonial match in 2010

Finnan made his Liverpool debut against Chelsea on 17 August 2003. His first season was disrupted by injury,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but in 2004–05, he established himself as the first-choice right-back and a firm fan favourite.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The season was a highly successful one for Finnan. He scored his first and only goal for Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> played in the League Cup final,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was in the starting eleven as Liverpool won the Champions League Final, though a thigh injury meant he was substituted at half time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Finnan's goal against WBA meant that he became only the second player to score in each of the five highest divisions of English football; the first was Jimmy Willis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 2005–06 season, Liverpool broke their record for number of points in a Premier League season, finishing on 82 points with Finnan being ever present.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the end of the season he picked up another medal with Liverpool, winning the FA Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Finnan played for Liverpool as first-choice right-back for the 2006–07 season despite heavy competition from newly arrived teammate Álvaro Arbeloa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He started in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final and was subbed off after 88 minutes, Liverpool went on to lose the game 2–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2007, Finnan agreed a new two-year contract to remain with Liverpool.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The following season, Liverpool's success continued as they finished third in the League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. Finnan took his total appearances for Liverpool past the 200 mark and also made it into the top 100 capped Liverpool players of all time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Finnan featured in 35 games, but lost his starting place, manager Rafa Benítez often preferring Arbeloa to start.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the summer of 2008, after the arrival of fullback Philipp Degen at the club from Borussia Dortmund, Finnan was linked with a move away from Anfield.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was offered by Liverpool as a makeweight in a deal to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa; the player accepted the move but the clubs were unable to agree a fee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made a guest appearance in Jamie Carragher's testimonial match in September 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Espanyol

On transfer deadline day, 1 September 2008, Finnan signed a two-year deal with La Liga club Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Injuries limited his first team appearances,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and rumours of a return to the Premier League in the January 2009 transfer window with Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur were dismissed by Espanyol's sports director Paco Herrera and by coach Mané, who considered him an important member of the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By mid-January, Espanyol were "surprised" that a move to Hull City did not proceed, apparently for medical reasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2009, Espanyol and Finnan agreed to mutually terminate the remainder of his contract.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Portsmouth

Finnan signed a one-year contract with Premier League side Portsmouth on 31 July 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut for the club on 3 October in a 1–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and played regularly in the second half of the season,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but with the club in administration and relegated to the Championship, he was not offered a new deal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His last appearance for the club was the 2010 FA Cup Final against Chelsea.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International career

A Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, Finnan stepped up to the senior side in 2000 against Greece. He cemented his place in the Irish starting XI during the 2002 World Cup qualification matches, supplying the cross for Jason McAteer to score the only goal in a crucial 1–0 home win against the Netherlands in September 2001.

Finnan appeared in all three of Ireland's group E games in the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Cameroon, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Ireland progressed to the second round of the tournament for only the third time in their history where they faced Spain. The match ended 1–1 in extra time and went to penalties. Finnan took a penalty and scored, but Ireland eventually lost 3–2.

Injury disrupted Finnan's participation in the unsuccessful attempt to reach the Euro 2004 finals. He was a regular choice in the 2006 World Cup qualification games but Ireland failed to qualify for the finals.

He was again a regular selection in the 2008 Euro qualification games but Ireland did not qualify for the finals. He scored his second international goal in the group game against Cyprus in a 1–1 draw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He then announced his retirement from international football on 22 January 2008 after making 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tempted by the prospect of working with the newly appointed Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Finnan came out of retirement in August 2008 to be included in the squad to face Norway in an international friendly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Finnan was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving in June 2005 after his Range Rover ran over an 81-year-old man from Liverpool,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who later died of his injuries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Finnan faced no charges over the man's death,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> despite his vehicle travelling at 58mph in a 30mph zone. Finnan later expressed his sympathy to the man's family.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2015, Finnan was living in London and working in property development.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2023, the High Court struck out a £6 million professional-negligence claim brought by Finnan against law firm Charles Russell Speechlys in relation to advice over a property dispute with his brother.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2024, he unsuccessfully challenged a costs judgment ordering him to pay around £120,000 to another former firm of solicitors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2025, UK legal and news outlets reported that Finnan had become the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the Central London County Court, based on an unpaid five-figure costs order arising from the same dispute, and that a High Court judge later described his attempt to appeal directions in the petition as “totally without merit” and “completely hopeless”.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Welling United	1993–94<ref name=Confstats>Template:Cite book</ref>	Football Conference	22	0			–				22	0
	1994–95<ref name=Confstats/>	Football Conference	19	1			–				19	1
	Total		41	1			–				41	1
Birmingham City	1995–96<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	First Division	12	1	0	0	4	0	3Template:Efn	0	19	1
	1996–97<ref name=sb9697/>	First Division	3	0	0	0	–		–		3	0
	Total		15	1	0	0	4	0	3	0	22	1
Notts County (loan)	1995–96<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Second Division	17	2	–		–		3Template:Efn	1	20	3
Notts County	1996–97<ref name=sb9697>Template:Soccerbase season</ref><ref>For appearances in the Football League Trophy, round 1 of the FA Cup, and the league match away to York City: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Second Division	23	0	4	0	–		1Template:Efn	0	28	0
	1997–98<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Third Division	44	5	3	1	4	0	0	0	51	6
	1998–99<ref name=sb9899>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Second Division	13	0	0	0	0	0	–		13	0
	Total<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>		97	7	7	1	4	0	4	1	112	9
Fulham	1998–99<ref name=sb9899/>	Second Division	22	2	4	0	–		1Template:Efn	0	27	2
	1999–2000<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	First Division	36	2	4	1	6	0	–		46	3
	2000–2001<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	First Division	45	2	1	0	2	0	–		48	2
	2001–02<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	38	0	6	0	3	0	–		47	0
	2002–03<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	32	0	3	0	1	0	5Template:Efn	0	41	0
	Total		173	6	18	1	12	0	6	0	209	7
Liverpool	2003–04<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	22	0	3	0	0	0	6Template:Efn	0	31	0
	2004–05<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	33	1	0	0	5	0	14Template:Efn	0	52	1
	2005–06<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	33	0	6	0	0	0	13Template:Efn	0	52	0
	2006–07<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	33	0	1	0	0	0	13Template:Efn	0	47	0
	2007–08<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	24	0	3	0	1	0	7Template:Efn	0	35	0
	Total		145	1	13	0	6	0	53	0	217	1
Espanyol	2008–09<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	La Liga	4	0	1	0	–		–		5	0
Portsmouth	2009–10<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	21	0	4	0	0	0	–		25	0
Career total			496	16	43	2	26	0	66	1	631	19

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>Template:NFT player</ref>

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Republic of Ireland	2000	5	1
	2001	7	0
	2002	9	0
	2003	4	0
	2004	9	0
	2005	4	0
	2006	5	0
	2007	7	1
	2008	3	0
Total		53	2

Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Finnan goal.

List of international goals scored by Steve Finnan

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	14 November 2000	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	Template:Fb	1–0	3–0	Friendly
2	17 October 2007	Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland	Template:Fb	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

Honours

Notts County

• Football League Third Division: 1997–98

Fulham

• Football League Second Division: 1998–99
• Football League First Division: 2000–01
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Liverpool

• FA Cup: 2005–06
• FA Community Shield: 2006
• FIFA Club World Championship runner-up: 2005<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Football League Cup runner-up: 2004–05<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• UEFA Champions League: 2004–05; runner-up 2006-07<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• UEFA Super Cup: 2005

Portsmouth

• FA Cup runner-up: 2009–10

Individual

• Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year: 1998–99<ref name=9900PFA>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2001–02<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year: 2001–02
• Fulham Player of the Year: 2001–02

External links

• Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website
• Template:FIFA player
• Template:UEFA player