No.
Pos.
Player
Club
1
GK
Packie Bonner
Celtic
2
DF
Chris Morris
Celtic
3
DF
Chris Hughton
Tottenham Hotspur
4
DF
Mick McCarthy
Celtic
5
DF
Kevin Moran
Manchester United
6
MF
Ronnie Whelan
Liverpool
7
MF
Paul McGrath
Manchester United
8
MF
Ray Houghton
Liverpool
9
FW
John Aldridge
Liverpool
10
FW
Frank Stapleton (captain)
Derby County
11
MF
Tony Galvin
Sheffield Wednesday
12
FW
Tony Cascarino
Millwall
13
MF
Liam O'Brien
Manchester United
14
FW
David Kelly
Walsall
15
MF
Kevin Sheedy
Everton
16
GK
Gerry Peyton
Bournemouth
17
FW
John Byrne
Le Havre
18
FW
John Sheridan
Leeds United
19
DF
John Anderson
Newcastle United
20
FW
Niall Quinn
Arsenal
 
In 1986, the Republic of Ireland appointed Jack Charlton, a top rated English manager who had been part of England's World Cup-winning side of 1966. During the 1970s, he had developed Middlesbrough into a side which provided many players to the dominant Liverpool team of the time.
 
After taking charge of the Republic of Ireland, Charlton influenced changes in the national side which resulted in their most successful period of its history, qualifying for two World Cups and a European Championship.
 
Ireland's first appearance at a major finals tournament came in Euro 1988. With Ireland's fixtures already complete, qualification was secured through Gary Mackay's 87th-minute goal in Sofia when Scotland beat Bulgaria 1–0; the Scottish win left Ireland top of the group. In the finals in West Germany, Ireland shocked Europe by beating England 1–0 in Stuttgart with a header from Ray Houghton in their competitive debut; drew 1–1 with the Soviet Union in Hannover, with Ronnie Whelan the scorer; and lost to eventual champions the Netherlands 1–0 in Gelsenkirchen, coming within seven minutes of a draw that would have meant a semi-final place.