Sir, - I would like to express my congratulations to the wonderfully written piece in the "An Irishman's Diary" (May 22nd) about a modern day Irish hero - the magnificent Paul McGrath.
He was a man who was pawned off by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in 1989 for £450,000 stg (a minimal transfer fee even in those days) in the mistaken belief that Paul's injury-plagued knees would force him to retire from soccer within a year or two. Mr Ferguson obviously underestimated the courage, self-belief and above all natural talent that Paul McGrath possesses. After all, by 1989 Paul McGrath was a man whose knees did not allow him to train with his team-mates on most days so how was he supposed to play soccer at the highest level on a regular basis? Well, Paul's knees did eventually win the battle and force him to retire but not until 1998. In the meantime he has left us with such fantastic memories as Wembley 1991, being voted 1993 Footballer of the Year and the Giants Stadium against Italy in the 1994 World Cup. (Was there ever a greater performance by any Irishman in an international soccer match than this?).
Thanks to Paul McGrath for his modesty in being almost embarrassed about the fact that he was the greatest player ever to play for the Republic of Ireland and thanks to Chris Dooley and to The Irish Times for a fitting tribute to the almighty that is known as Paul McGrath. - Yours, etc., Markos Joannides
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin.