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{{Short description|English footballer (born 1962)}}
{{Other people}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Paul Walsh
| image          = Paul Walsh.JPG
| caption        = Walsh in 2008
| full_name      = Paul Anthony Walsh<ref name=Focus>{{cite web|title=Focus on Paul Walsh|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/222|website=lfchistory.net|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1962|10|1|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Plumstead]], England<ref name=Focus/>
| height         = {{convert|1.70|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/703/Paul-Walsh/overview |title=Paul Walsh: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=4 July 2023 }}</ref>
| position       = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1    = 1976–1979 | youthclubs1 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves|Charlton Athletic]]
| years1         = 1979–1982 | clubs1 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]              | caps1 = 87 | goals1 = 24
| years2         = 1982–1984 | clubs2 = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]                            | caps2 = 80 | goals2 = 25
| years3         = 1984–1988 | clubs3 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]                              | caps3 = 77 | goals3 = 25
| years4         = 1988–1992 | clubs4 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]              | caps4 = 128 | goals4 = 19
| years5         = 1991      | clubs5 = → [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] (loan) | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0
| years6         = 1992–1994 | clubs6 = [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]                            | caps6 = 73 | goals6 = 14
| years7         = 1994–1995 | clubs7 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]                  | caps7 = 53 | goals7 = 16
| years8         = 1995–1996 | clubs8 = [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]                            | caps8 = 21 | goals8 = 5
| totalcaps      = 521 | totalgoals = 128
| nationalyears1 = 1979–1981 | nationalteam1 =  [[England national under-18 football team|England Youth]] | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 1982–1984 | nationalteam2 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 4
| nationalyears3 = 1983–1984 | nationalteam3 = [[England national football team|England]]              | nationalcaps3 = 5 | nationalgoals3 = 1
}}

'''Paul Anthony Walsh''' (born 1 October 1962) is an English former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who now works as a television pundit.

A pacey and skilful [[Forward (association football)|forward]], he scored a total of 127 goals in 521 league games in a 17-year career in the [[English Football League]] and [[Premier League]]; he also won five senior caps for England in an eleven-month international career beginning in June 1983. He began his career at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], making his first team debut aged 16 in September 1979. He helped Charlton to win promotion out of the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in 1980–81 and then won a place on the [[PFA Team of the Year]] in 1981–82. He moved from the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] into the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] when [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] paid £400,000 to acquire his services in July 1982. He continued to impress and was named as [[PFA Young Player of the Year]] in 1984. He moved to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] for a £700,000 fee in May 1984 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in his second season for the club as Liverpool won the league title and the [[Football League Super Cup]]. He went on to struggle with injury at [[Anfield]], though still managed to appear in losing finals of the [[1984 FA Charity Shield]], [[1984 European Super Cup]], [[1985 European Cup Final|1985 European Cup]], and [[1987 Football League Cup Final|1987 Football League Cup]], as well as help Liverpool to the league title and FA Cup double in 1985–86, and to finish as runners-up in the league in 1984–85 and 1986–87.

He was sold on to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for a £500,000 fee in February 1988 and played for Spurs in their [[1991 FA Cup Final]] victory over [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. However, he was frozen out of the first team after punching a [[coach (sport)|coach]] ([[Ray Clemence]]) at the club, and after a brief loan spell at [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] was moved on to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] for a £400,000 fee in June 1992. A popular player at [[Fratton Park]], supporters voted him Player of the Season in 1992–93, and he was named on the PFA Team of the Year in 1993–94. He returned to the top flight with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] after signing for £750,000 in March 1994. He returned to Portsmouth for a £600,000 fee in September 1995 but was forced to retire due to cruciate ligament damage in February 1996. After retiring as a player, he became a football [[pundit]] and became a regular face on [[Sky Sports]]' ''[[Soccer Saturday]]''. He was capped five times by [[England national football team|England]], scoring one goal.

==Club career==
Paul Walsh was born to Don and June Walsh in [[Plumstead]] on 1 October 1962; his father was an [[electrician]] and his mother worked at [[Tate & Lyle]].<ref name="page 2">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=2}}</ref> He grew up supporting [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. However, his father was a season-ticket holder at [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref name="page 2"/> Despite his natural skill, his small stature meant he was frequently overlooked in junior football.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=5}}</ref> He was spotted playing for local youth side Londinium by [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] scout Jim Fibbins and signed schoolboy forms aged 14.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=15}}</ref> In a 1986 interview with ''[[Shoot (football magazine)|Shoot]]'' magazine, Walsh cited Londinium manager John O'Connor as the biggest influence on his career.<ref>{{cite web|title=Focus on Paul Walsh|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/222|website=lfchistory.net|publisher=Shoot|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> After leaving school he also began working part-time at a meat factory and later a fruit packing factory before he joined Charlton on a full-time basis.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=17}}</ref>

===Charlton Athletic===
Walsh made his debut for the [[Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves|Reserves]] in September 1978, playing right midfield against [[Portsmouth F.C. Reserves and Academy|Portsmouth]] at [[Fratton Park]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=20}}</ref> He made his first team debut in the [[English Football League]] at 16 years old, coming on as a half-time substitute for [[Dick Tydeman]] in a [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] fixture with [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] on 22 September 1979; he provided the assist for [[Martin Robinson (footballer)|Martin Robinson]]'s winning goal.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=25}}</ref> Manager [[Andy Nelson (footballer)|Andy Nelson]] handed him his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, a two-year contract paying £100 a week.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=26}}</ref> However, Nelson was sacked the following March, and the "Addicks" were relegated into the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] at the end of the [[1979–80 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1979–80]] season.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=27}}</ref>

Following the sale of [[Mike Flanagan (footballer)|Mike Flanagan]] to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], new manager [[Mike Bailey (footballer)|Mike Bailey]] played Walsh in a strike partnership with [[Derek Hales]] in the [[1980–81 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1980–81]] campaign.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=29}}</ref> Due to a [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] draw, the season opened with three matches against [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], and Walsh scored his first senior goal at [[Griffin Park]] in a 3–1 defeat before scoring a hat-trick in the return fixture at [[The Valley (London)|The Valley]], a 5–0 victory; this made him the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the club's history.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=30}}</ref> He ended the campaign with 18 goals in all competitions, whilst Hales was named in the division's [[PFA Team of the Year]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=31}}</ref> Charlton were at the top of the table for most of the season, but a loss of form from February cost them the title, though promotion was still secured with a third-place finish.<ref name="prom81">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=34}}</ref>

Bailey left Charlton to replace [[Alan Mullery]] as [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] manager, and the Charlton board ironically decided to name Mullery as Bailey's successor.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=35}}</ref> Charlton finished the [[1981–82 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1981–82]] season in 13th place, and Walsh scored 15 goals in total.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=36}}</ref> He performed well against divisional champions [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], giving captain [[Mal Donaghy]] a difficult afternoon, which was enough to win him a move to his next club.<ref name="page 37">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=37}}</ref>

===Luton Town===
Walsh was signed by [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] manager [[David Pleat]] for £400,000 plus [[Steve White (footballer)|Steve White]] in July 1982.<ref name="page 37"/> Pleat had an attacking philosophy that allowed Walsh to express himself and score goals.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=49}}</ref> In only his second game for Luton at [[Kenilworth Road]], he scored a hat-trick in a 5–3 win over [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]], the second goal of which was voted Goal of the Season as he beat numerous defenders before chipping the goalkeeper.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=47}}</ref> On the final day of the [[1982–83 Luton Town F.C. season|1982–83]] season Luton needed to beat [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] at [[Maine Road]] to remain in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]], and a late [[Radomir Antić]] volley secured the "Hatters" a 1–0 win and a place in the top-flight.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=62}}</ref> After the game, Pleat celebrated by running down the touchline in a scene that became an iconic moment of 1980s football in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambernectar.org/blog/2007/06/hero-brian-horton/ |title=Brian Horton|last=Scott|first=Mike|work=Amber Nectar |publisher=Andy Dalton & Les Motherby |date=9 June 2007 |access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref>

Luton enjoyed an excellent start to the [[1983–84 Luton Town F.C. season|1983–84]] season and were in third place on Boxing Day.<ref name="Walsh 2015 72">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=72}}</ref> On 10 December, Walsh scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win over [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] at the [[Victoria Ground]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=71}}</ref> However, a run of just three wins in 24 games saw Luton go from title contenders to relegation candidates, as well as exit the [[FA Cup]] in a 4–3 defeat to [[Luton Town F.C.–Watford F.C. rivalry|rivals]] [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] at [[Vicarage Road]].<ref name="Walsh 2015 72"/> Luton ended the campaign in 16th place, and Walsh was voted as [[PFA Young Player of the Year]], ahead of candidates such as [[Ian Rush]], [[Nigel Callaghan]] and [[John Barnes (footballer)|John Barnes]].<ref name="page 73">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=73}}</ref>

===Liverpool===
[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] manager [[Joe Fagan]] bought Walsh for a £700,000 fee in May 1984.<ref name="profile">{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/436|website=lfchistory.net|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="The Anfield Wrap">{{cite news|title=Liverpool: "There's Only One Paul Walsh"|url=http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2015/03/liverpool-theres-only-one-paul-walsh/|access-date=6 April 2016|work=The Anfield Wrap|date=28 March 2015}}</ref> Walsh turned down an approach from Italian [[Serie A]] side [[Como 1907|Como]] to join Liverpool.<ref name="Number Seven">{{cite web|title=The Forgotten Number Seven|url=http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/index.php/articles.html/_/fe/interviews-features/the-forgotten-number-seven-r22|website=liverpoolway.co.uk|date=26 October 2006 |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> He joined Liverpool in time to travel with the players to [[Rome]] to see them win the [[1984 European Cup Final]].<ref name="Number Seven"/> He made his debut as a substitute on 18 August 1984 in the 1–0 [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] defeat to [[Merseyside derby|derby]] rivals [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref name="sh">{{cite web|title=Liverpool 0 – 1 Everton|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1407|website=lfchistory.net|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> With [[Ian Rush]] injured at the start of the [[1984–85 Liverpool F.C. season|1984–85]] season, Walsh partnered [[Kenny Dalglish]] up front, and he scored just 14 seconds into his [[Anfield]] debut on 27 August in a 3–0 win over [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Stuart|title=Walsh strikes as Anfield has that familiar air of inevitability|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/402|access-date=17 November 2015|work=The Times}}</ref> However, he picked up a knee injury in October which caused him to miss six weeks and allowed Rush to re-establish himself as Dalglish's preferred strike partner.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=98}}</ref> He scored 13 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions throughout the 1984–85 campaign,<ref name="profile"/> the most significant goal being the equaliser in the last minute of extra-time against [[Liverpool F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry|rivals]] [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in the [[FA Cup semi-finals]] at [[Goodison Park]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=99}}</ref> However, Liverpool would lose the replay and also finished as runners-up in the league and [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]. Walsh started the [[1985 European Cup Final]] against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] at [[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]] but had to come off early in the second half after aggravating a stomach injury; Liverpool lost the game 1–0, though the day would be remembered for the [[Heysel Stadium disaster|disaster which cost 39 lives]].<ref name="ec85">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=101}}</ref>

Fagan's retirement in May 1985 and Dalglish's subsequent promotion to player-manager meant that instead of gradually succeeding Dalglish as Liverpool's main striker, Walsh had to contend with a rival for his position as the club's manager.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=102}}</ref> He missed [[1985–86 Liverpool F.C. season|1985–86]] pre-season after undergoing a hernia operation.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=106}}</ref> He returned to fitness against [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] on 14 September. He had a bitter argument with Dalglish at half-time, which initially seemed to spell the end of his Liverpool career as he was placed on the transfer list.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=107}}</ref> He returned to the first team, though, and was taken off the transfer list by his own request and soon entered a scoring streak. However, his form was ended after he ruptured his ankle ligaments in a collision with Manchester United's [[Kevin Moran (footballer)|Kevin Moran]] on 9 February.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=112}}</ref> He returned to action six weeks later. Still, he continued to suffer from ankle trouble and was ruled out for the rest of the season, ending the campaign with 18 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions throughout the campaign.<ref name="profile"/> His injury caused him to miss the [[1986 FA Cup Final]], though he had played enough league games to secure a First Division winners medal as Liverpool won the league by a two-point margin over Everton.<ref name="lg86">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=116}}</ref> His contribution to the club's success was not forgotten as he was named in the First Division's [[PFA Team of the Year]], alongside teammate [[Mark Lawrenson]].<ref name="toy86">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=117}}</ref>

Writing in his 2015 autobiography, Walsh was highly critical of Liverpool's [[The Boot Room|Boot Room]] culture, particularly then-medical staff [[Ronnie Moran]] and [[Roy Evans]]:

{{Blockquote|"I'd been having [[ultrasound]] for several months&nbsp;... when a guy came in to test the equipment. After a simple procedure on the ultrasound machine, he informed us it wasn't even working! I'd been having treatment all that time and the fucking machine was broken."|<ref name="Walsh 2015 120">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=120}}</ref>}}

He again missed pre-season in the summer of 1986, as he underwent an operation to correct his ankle injury.<ref name="Walsh 2015 120"/> He recovered to earn a place on the bench for the second leg of the [[Football League Super Cup]] final victory over Everton on 30 September, but though he only entered the game as a late substitute he broke his hand after falling awkwardly.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=121}}</ref> The day after the match, he had to drive himself to the hospital for an [[x-ray]] and to receive treatment.<ref name="page 122">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=122}}</ref> Having recovered from this injury, he went on to score a hat-trick in a 6–2 home win over [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].<ref name="page 122"/> He then went 12 games without a goal, and [[John Aldridge]] was signed to add competition to the forward roles.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=123}}</ref> Walsh started at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] in the 2–1 [[1987 Football League Cup Final|League Cup final]] defeat to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], before being taken off for Dalglish after 73 minutes.<ref name="lgcup87">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=125}}</ref> Liverpool finished second in the league, nine points behind Everton, and Walsh scored only six goals in 32 appearances throughout the campaign.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=126}}</ref>

The arrival of new forwards of [[Peter Beardsley]], [[John Aldridge]] and [[John Barnes]] left Walsh only making occasional appearances in the [[1987–88 Liverpool F.C. season|1987–88]] campaign. He played just nine games without scoring a goal, though maintained fitness by playing games for the [[Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy|reserves]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=128}}</ref> He began drinking heavily, later admitting "the only thing I was interested in by that point was getting pissed and enjoying myself".<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=129}}</ref>

===Tottenham Hotspur===
Walsh was signed by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for £500,000 in February 1988, just after the appointment of [[Terry Venables]] as manager.<ref name="The Anfield Wrap"/><ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=134}}</ref> He continued to drink heavily and admitted to being a "ring leader" of a drinking culture alongside [[Neil Ruddock]], [[Terry Fenwick]] and [[David Howells]] which was to the detriment of the club's on-field progress.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=136}}</ref> He ended the [[1987–88 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1987–88]] season with one goal in 11 games for Spurs.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=137}}</ref> He later said he was "running at 70% capacity".<ref name="page 138">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=138}}</ref>

Walsh was partnered with new-signing [[Paul Stewart (footballer, born 1964)|Paul Stewart]] for the [[1988–89 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1988–89]] season, whilst fellow new arrival [[Paul Gascoigne]] boosted both the club's attacking potential and drinking culture.<ref name="page 138"/> Spurs had a poor start to the season and were in a relegation battle during the first half of the season, and only Gascoigne and [[Chris Waddle]] were creating and scoring goals.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=140}}</ref> Walsh felt that manager [[Terry Venables]] was too easy on the players and particularly too easy on Walsh himself who "needed someone on my case a bit more".<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=141}}</ref> He later described the season as "just a blur" as Spurs turned their campaign around to finish in sixth place despite Walsh scoring just six goals from 32 starts and five substitute appearances.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=148}}</ref>

Venables brought [[Gary Lineker]] back from [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], and Stewart was selected to be Lineker's striker partner for the [[1989–90 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1989–90]] season, leaving Walsh on the bench.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=149}}</ref> An injury to Stewart gave Walsh a chance to win back his first-team place, and he marked his return to the first team with the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over [[North London derby|rivals]] [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], though failed to capitalise on this performance and again was dropped.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=155}}</ref> Later in the season, he had to be taken off at half-time against [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] as he had a long night of drinking with [[George Best]] the previous night. Spurs finished third in the league that season.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=156}}</ref> He ended the campaign with three goals from 13 starts and 18 substitute appearances.<ref name="page 158">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=158}}</ref>

He was on the bench for the first nine games of the [[1990–91 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1990–91]] campaign, but in his first start scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=160}}</ref> However, Venables dropped him to the bench for the following game, and Walsh became "cynical and pissed off" as he felt nothing he could do could displace either Stewart and Lineker, though he ended the season with 20 starts and 19 substitute appearances.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=161}}</ref> He did though make an appearance at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] in the [[1991 FA Cup Final]], coming on for [[Vinny Samways]] 82 minutes into a 2–1 victory over [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref name="cup91">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=165}}</ref><ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web|title=Tottenham Hotspur 2 Nottingham Forest 1 |url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1991.htm |access-date=6 April 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023204309/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1991.htm |archive-date=23 October 2007 }}</ref>

Walsh missed two weeks of the [[1991–92 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1991–92]] pre-season with a groin injury, and on his first game back for the [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Reserves and Academy|reserves]] at [[White Hart Lane]] punched reserve team manager [[Ray Clemence]] in the face after Clemence substituted him off after an hour.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=166}}</ref> Walsh was suspended for two weeks and upon his return was loaned out to [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] for a month.<ref name="page 167">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=167}}</ref> QPR manager [[Gerry Francis]] wanted to make the signing a permanent one, but the club were unable to afford the £800,000 fee Spurs had asked for.<ref name="page 167"/> After returning to Spurs, he again punched someone in the face, this time a supporter who had shouted abuse to Walsh on the pitch after a game against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=168}}</ref> He ended the campaign with three goals in 22 starts and 15 substitute appearances.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=169}}</ref>

===Portsmouth===
Walsh was signed by [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] for a £400,000 fee in June 1992, as manager Jim Smith prepared for a promotion challenge from the new Division One in the 1992–93 season.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=172}}</ref> To tempt him out of the top-flight, "Pompey" manager [[Jim Smith (footballer, born 1940)|Jim Smith]] offered him a four-year contract on a higher wage than he had been on at Spurs, whilst the club also bought his [[London]] home off him to facilitate his move to the south coast.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=173}}</ref> In his autobiography, he admitted that he was not keen on joining Portsmouth but stated that he decided to take a much more professional approach to his career in terms of training and eating healthier food to start the [[1992–93 Portsmouth F.C. season|1992–93]] pre-season in good physical condition; he credited his new approach to the birth of his first child.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=175}}</ref> Ironically though, a [[virus]] picked up on a family holiday to [[Saint Lucia]] caused him to miss a month early in the season and drained him of fitness.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=178}}</ref> He recovered to build a strike partnership with [[Guy Whittingham]], whilst midfielders [[Alan McLoughlin]] and [[Mark Chamberlain]] made an effective four-pronged attack, and with two games to go Portsmouth were top of the table and needed only to beat relegation-threatened [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] to secure an automatic promotion place.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=180}}</ref> However, they lost the match 4–1, and Walsh was sent off; he wrecked the [[Roker Park]] dressing rooms in a fit of temper.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=182}}</ref> Portsmouth missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference, Walsh was suspended for the play-off games, and Portsmouth lost at the semi-final stage to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=183}}</ref> Despite Whittingham scoring 47 league goals in all competitions, it was Walsh who the fans voted as their Player of the Year.<ref name="poy93">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=185}}</ref>

With Whittingham sold, Walsh failed to build an effective partnership with new signing [[Gerry Creaney]], and Portsmouth failed to put together a promotion push for the [[1993–94 Portsmouth F.C. season|1993–94]] season. However, Walsh scored both goals in a 2–2 draw with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]] in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], putting himself back on the radar for top-flight clubs in need of strikers.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=187}}</ref>

===Manchester City===
[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] manager [[Brian Horton]], his former captain at Luton, paid Portsmouth £750,000 for Walsh's services in March 1994.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=188}}</ref> With star striker [[Niall Quinn]] out injured, City were fourth from bottom with eleven [[Premier League]] games left to play and had also signed another new striker, [[Uwe Rosler]] – a [[Germany|German]] player who had yet to learn [[English language|English]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=191}}</ref> The pair soon built an understanding, however, and the arrival of wingers [[Peter Beagrie]] and [[Nicky Summerbee]] gave City the attacking firepower to steer clear of the relegation zone as Walsh and Rösler scored nine goals between them in the final ten games.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=194}}</ref>

Horton tried to accommodate [[Niall Quinn]], returning from a long-term injury, alongside Rösler and Walsh in the first team for the [[1994–95 Manchester City F.C. season|1994–95]] season, and as a result, had a very strong attacking team.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=199}}</ref> City were in sixth place and pushing for European qualification for the first time since the 1970s by December, but then ten games without a win and three months without a goal for Walsh saw City fall down the table.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=203}}</ref> They ended the campaign in 17th place and Horton was sacked.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=206}}</ref> New manager [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] tried to build a team around new signing [[Georgi Kinkladze]] for the [[1995–96 Manchester City F.C. season|1995–96]] campaign, and Walsh felt that the time had come to leave [[Maine Road]].<ref name="page 213">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=213}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Slater|first1=Chris|title=Man City: Arrival of hero Georgi Kinkladze started the rot at Maine Road says Paul Walsh|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-arrival-hero-georgi-9769468|access-date=6 April 2016|work=Manchester Evening News|date=31 July 2015}}</ref>

===Return to Portsmouth===
Former Spurs teammate [[Terry Fenwick]], now manager at Portsmouth, took Walsh back to [[Fratton Park]] in exchange for [[Gerry Creaney]] (valued at £600,000) in September 1995; Walsh signed a three-year contract with the club.<ref name="page 213"/> He scored five goals in 21 league games in the [[1995–96 Portsmouth F.C. season|1995–96]] season before suffering a micro-fracture of the [[fibula]] in a seemingly innocuous incident during a 1–1 draw with [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] at [[The Den]] on 27 January.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=218}}</ref> He played against [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] on 10 February, but his knee collapsed. The resulting [[cruciate ligament]] damage meant that he never played professional football again, although he did not announce his retirement until the following year.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=219}}</ref> He became assistant first-team coach at the club upon his retirement.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=225}}</ref> He had a testimonial game at Fratton Park in May 1998.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=231}}</ref> He was a popular figure at the club, and in February 2005 he came second in the ''[[Football Focus]]'' poll to find the club's "cult hero", behind teammate [[Alan Knight (footballer, born 1961)|Alan Knight]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Portsmouth's cult heroes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/4291349.stm|access-date=6 April 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=25 February 2005}}</ref>

==International career==
Walsh was selected for the England youth team's summer trip to the Adria Cup at [[Yugoslavia]] in 1979.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=21}}</ref> He was selected for the [[1980 UEFA European Under-18 Championship]] in [[East Germany]], which England won, though he made only two substitute appearances during the tournament.<ref name="uefa80">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=28}}</ref> Soon after signing for Luton Town in 1982, he became a regular in the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21]] side during the [[1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=52}}</ref> He played both legs against [[Greece national under-21 football team|Greece]], and scored the winning goal against [[Hungary national under-21 football team|Hungary]] to take England into the knock-out stages.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=60}}</ref>

Walsh won his first senior [[England national football team|England]] cap under [[Bobby Robson]] on 12 June 1983, in a 0–0 friendly draw with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] at [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] during a two-week tour of the continent.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=66}}</ref> Three days later he scored the only goal of the game against Australia in the second match of the tour at [[Brisbane]]'s [[Lang Park]].<ref name="page 67">{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=67}}</ref> He then went on to secure his third cap within the space of seven days in a 1–1 draw with Australia at the [[Olympic Park Stadium (Melbourne)|Olympic Park Stadium]].<ref name="page 67"/> He earned a fourth cap playing alongside club-mate [[Brian Stein]] in a 2–0 defeat to [[France national football team|France]] at [[Parc des Princes]] on 29 February 1984.<ref name="page 73"/> The last of his five senior appearances for England came on 2 May 1984 in a 1–0 [[British Home Championship]] defeat to [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at [[Wrexham]]'s [[Racecourse Ground]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=74}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|"If he can't motivate himself to play in a European Under-21 final, he's not for me."|Bobby Robson was true to his word, and Walsh never played for England again after he turned down the opportunity to play in the final of the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in favour of going on an end-of-season tour with new club Liverpool.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=82}}</ref>}}

==Style of play==
In 1986, [[Bob Paisley]] described Walsh as an "individualist" best suited for a lone striker role due to his selfish play, tremendous pace and dribbling ability.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paisley's opinion on Paul Walsh|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/594|website=lfchistory.net|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> He was able to shoot powerfully with both feet.<ref name="Paul Walsh Profile">{{cite web|last1=Usher|first1=Dave|title=Paul Walsh Profile|url=http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/classic/a-zofplayers/m-q/paulwalsh.html|website=liverpoolway.co.uk|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> He had an aggressive temperament, which led to occasional bookings and red cards for ill-discipline.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Steve|title=Paul Walsh's brutal Pompey honesty offers real football insight |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/pompey/paul-walsh-s-brutal-pompey-honesty-offers-real-football-insight-1-6990932|access-date=6 April 2016|work=Portsmouth News|date=3 October 2015}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|"Paul Walsh can play teams on his own some days. When he's buzzing and bubbling he whizzes around the field like a cartoon character with the ball tied to his boot. It's like watching a film that's running too fast. You want to slow it down in order to appreciate all the tricks he's getting up to. He might beat a defender on the outside, then turn back and go inside him and then beat him once again for luck."|Bob Paisley on Walsh in the 1987 book ''Bob Paisley's personal view of the First Team Squad of 1986–87''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tyldesley|first1=Clvie|title=Paisley's opinion on Paul Walsh|url=http://www.bobpaisley.com/article/594|website=bobpaisley.com|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>}}

==Post-retirement==
Walsh became a [[Sports agent|football agent]] for a short time and represented [[Lee Bradbury]] during his move to Manchester City.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=234}}</ref> He also invested in property and other businesses, though he lost money by investing in Australian fraudster [[Peter Foster]].<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=241}}</ref> Walsh began working in the media after retiring as a player and first began working as a [[pundit]] on [[Sky Sports]] in 2001, and since that time has appeared regularly on ''[[Soccer Saturday]]'' and ''[[Football First]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=242}}</ref> In December 2007, he led a campaign against [[Speed limit enforcement|speeding fines]] in [[Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Footballer tackles illegal speeding fines|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1878353.footballer_tackles_illegal_speeding_fines/|access-date=6 April 2016|work=Southern Daily Echo|date=4 December 2007}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married Bev in 1990, and the couple had their first child, Jordan, on 12 January 1991.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=163}}</ref> They had another son, Mason, on 22 November 1995, who turned professional at [[AFC Bournemouth]] in April 2014.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2015|p=216}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Four players offered pro deals|url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2014-04-16-four-players-offered-pro-deals-1491997.aspx|website=afcb.co.uk|access-date=18 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119051538/http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2014-04-16-four-players-offered-pro-deals-1491997.aspx|archive-date=19 November 2015}}</ref> Walsh published his [[autobiography]], ''Wouldn't It Be Good'', in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Walshy – Wouldn't It Be Good|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/3817|website=lfchistory.net|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> His son, Mason, played for [[Bognor Regis Town F.C.|Bognor Regis Town]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mason Walsh - Bognor Regis Town FC First Team |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bognorregistownfc/teams/73056/player/mason-walsh-2058700 |website=www.pitchero.com |access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!rowspan="2"|Division
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Appearances and goals in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]], [[Football League play-offs]] and [[Full Members Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|[[1979–80 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1979–80]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|9||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|[[1980–81 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1980–81]]
|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|40||11||3||1||5||6||48||18
|-
|[[1981–82 Charlton Athletic F.C. season|1981–82]]
|Second Division
|38||13||1||0||4||0||42||13
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!87!!24!!4!!1!!9!!6!!100!!31
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|[[1982–83 Luton Town F.C. season|1982–83]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|41||14||2||1||4||0||47||15
|-
|[[1983–84 Luton Town F.C. season|1983–84]]
|First Division
|39||11||2||2||1||1||42||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!80!!25!!4!!3!!5!!1!!92!!29
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[1984–85 Liverpool F.C. season|1984–85]]
|First Division
|26||8||3||2||9||3||38||13
|-
|[[1985–86 Liverpool F.C. season|1985–86]]
|First Division
|20||11||2||1||12||6||34||18
|-
|[[1986–87 Liverpool F.C. season|1986–87]]
|First Division
|23||6||3||0||5||0||31||6
|-
|[[1987–88 Liverpool F.C. season|1987–88]]
|First Division
|8||0||0||0||1||0||9||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!77!!25!!8!!3!!27!!9!!112!!37
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
|[[1987–88 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1987–88]]
|First Division
|11||1||0||0||0||0||11||1
|-
|[[1988–89 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1988–89]]
|First Division
|33||6||1||0||3||0||37||6
|-
|[[1989–90 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1989–90]]
|First Division
|26||2||1||0||4||1||31||3
|-
|[[1990–91 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1990–91]]
|First Division
|29||7||4||0||6||0||39||7
|-
|[[1991–92 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|29||3||2||0||7||1||38||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!128!!19!!8!!0!!20!!2!!156!!21
|-
|[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] (loan)
|[[1991–92 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
|[[1992–93 Portsmouth F.C. season|1992–93]]
|First Division
|43||9||1||0||5||1||49||10
|-
|[[1993–94 Portsmouth F.C. season|1993–94]]
|First Division
|30||5||2||0||10||6||42||11
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!73!!14!!3!!0!!15!!7!!91!!21
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|[[1993–94 Manchester City F.C. season|1993–94]]
|[[Premier League]]
|11||4||0||0||0||0||11||4
|-
|[[1994–95 Manchester City F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|39||12||3||1||6||2||48||15
|-
|[[1995–96 Manchester City F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!53!!16!!3!!1!!6!!2!!62!!19
|-
|Portsmouth
|[[1995–96 Portsmouth F.C. season|1995–96]]
|First Division
|21||5||1||0||0||0||22||5
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!521!!128!!31!!8!!82!!27!!634!!163
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|18685|access-date=10 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[England national football team|England]]
|1983||3||1
|-
|1984||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!5!!1
|}

==Honours==
'''Individual'''
* [[PFA Team of the Year]] ([[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]): 1981–82<ref name="Lynch 144">{{Cite book| last = Lynch| title = The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes| page = 144}}</ref>
* [[PFA Young Player of the Year]]: 1984<ref name="page 73" />
* [[PFA Team of the Year]] ([[Football League First Division|First Division]]): 1985–86,<ref name="toy86" /> 1993–94<ref name="Lynch 150">{{Cite book| last = Lynch| title = The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes| page = 150}}</ref>
* [[Portsmouth F.C.]] Player of the Season: 1993<ref name="poy93" />

'''England U18'''
* [[UEFA European Under-19 Championship|UEFA European Under-18 Championship]]: [[1980 UEFA European Under-18 Championship|1980]]<ref name="uefa80" />

'''Charlton Athletic'''
* [[Football League Third Division]] third-place promotion: [[1980–81 Football League|1980–81]]<ref name="prom81" />

'''Liverpool'''
* [[Football League First Division]]: [[1985–86 Football League|1985–86]]<ref name="lg86" />
* [[Football League Super Cup]]: 1986<ref>{{cite web|title=Everton 1 – 4 Liverpool (SSSC Final 2nd leg)|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1544|website=LFC History|access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref>
* [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] runner-up: [[1984 FA Charity Shield|1984]]<ref name="sh"/>
* [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]] runner-up: [[1984 European Super Cup|1984]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Liverpool Have No Answer to Boniek|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1985/1985011602.htm|website=londonhearts.com|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>
* [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] runner-up: [[1985 European Cup Final|1985]]<ref name="ec85" />
* [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] runner-up: [[1987 Football League Cup Final|1987]]<ref name="lgcup87" />

'''Tottenham Hotspur'''
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1991 FA Cup Final|1991]]<ref name="cup91" />
* [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]]: [[1991 FA Charity Shield|1991]] (shared){{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==References==
'''Specific'''
{{reflist}}

'''General'''
* {{Citation|last1=Walsh|first1=Paul|first2=David|last2=Clayton|title=Walshy: My Autobiography|publisher=[[Reach plc|Trinity Mirror]]|year=2015|isbn=978-1-910335-14-7|ref=CITEREFWalsh2015}}

==External links==
* {{Premier League player|new_id=8887|old_id=703|archive=20241127110551}}
* {{UEFA player|11261}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{1981–82 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1985–86 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1993–94 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{PFA Young Player of the Year}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. Player of the Season}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|England}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Paul}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
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[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
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[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Luton Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
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