Patrick Anthony Jennings (born 12 June 1945) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is widely recognised as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1973, 1975 and 1985.
He played 119 international matches for Northern Ireland in an international career which lasted for over 22 years. During his career, Jennings played for Newry Town, Watford and in the top division with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, winning the FA Cup with both of the north London rivals. In total, Jennings made over 1,150 competitive appearances (the first Northern Irish to achieve the feat, since the time matches are recorded), and despite being a goalkeeper, he scored from play in the 1967 FA Charity Shield.
Club career
Newry Town & Watford
After playing for a local under-18 side in Newry at the age of 11 (named Shamrock Rovers, not to be confused with the Dublin club of the same name), Jennings concentrated on Gaelic football until he was sixteen years old, when he made his football comeback with his hometown side Newry Town. After impressing with the team he moved to English Third Division side Watford in May 1963. Jennings again impressed in his first season in England, playing every league game for his club, and making two international appearances that season. He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000 in June 1964.
Tottenham Hotspur
Jennings spent thirteen years at White Hart Lane, where he played in 472 league games for Spurs, and 591 in all competitions. He won the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973, and the UEFA Cup in it first season in 1972. He also scored once, in the 1967 FA Charity Shield, from his own area, kicking the ball from his hands and sending a large punt down the field that bounced over Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney and into the net. In 1973 the Football Writers' Association named him as its footballer of the year. Three years later he won PFA's version of the award – he was the first goalkeeper to receive this accolade, and until 2025 remains only one of two, along with Peter Shilton.
Arsenal
On 6 August 1977, he was transferred to Tottenham's arch-rivals, Arsenal, with Tottenham, who had just been relegated, thinking he was nearing the end of his career. However, Jennings saw off rivals for the goalkeeper's jersey to play for Arsenal for another eight years. Whilst at Highbury, he helped Arsenal to four Cup finals in three successive years; the FA Cup final in 1978, 1979, and 1980, as well as the European Cup Winners Cup final that year. However, Arsenal only managed to win the second of these finals, a 3–2 victory against Manchester United. In total, Jennings made 327 appearances for Arsenal, 237 of them in the League, between 1977 and his eventual retirement from first-team club football in 1985. On 26 February 1983, he became the first player in English football to make 1,000 senior appearances, celebrating this milestone with a clean sheet in a goalless league draw for Arsenal at West Bromwich Albion. Jennings played his final game in the league for Arsenal against Sheffield Wednesday on 25 November 1984,[pageneeded] and he was eventually replaced by John Lukic as the first choice keeper. A farewell match for Jennings was played against Tottenham Hotspur 8 May 1985 at Highbury.
Later career
After his retirement, Jennings returned to Tottenham Hotspur, playing mostly in their reserve side to maintain his match sharpness for Northern Ireland's 1986 World Cup campaign. His final appearance for Tottenham was in the Football League Super Cup against Liverpool in January 1986. He was also briefly on Everton's books, having been signed as goalkeeping cover for the 1986 FA Cup final against Liverpool after Neville Southall was injured playing for Wales.
International career
Jennings defending his goal against the Netherlands (1976)
On 15 April 1964, whilst playing for Watford, Jennings made his Northern Ireland debut in a British Home Championship match against Wales. Northern Ireland won the game 3–2, with George Best also making his international debut. Jennings made four appearances in Northern Ireland's best-ever performance at the 1982 World Cup, conceding only one goal in the three first group stage games — including a 1–0 victory with ten men against hosts Spain — before letting four past him against eventual group D winners France in the second group stage games.[citation needed]
Despite retiring from club football in 1985, Jennings played his final international game at the 1986 FIFA World Cup on his 41st birthday, making him the World Cup's oldest-ever participant until Roger Milla broke his record at 42 in 1994, who also had his record broken by Faryd Mondragón at 43 years in 2014 and Essam El Hadary at 45 years in 2018, the latter two goalkeepers, like Jennings. The match was Northern Ireland's final group game, a 3–0 defeat against Brazil. In total, Jennings participated in the qualifying stages of six World Cups between 1966 and 1986.
Jennings and his family have lived for many years in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, where his son attended The Broxbourne School along with the sons of fellow Spurs players Chris Hughton, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ray Clemence. He is still associated with Spurs and hosts Corporate Hospitality fans in the Pat Jennings Lounges at White Hart Lane and Windsor Park, Belfast.
Personal life
Jennings married Eleanor Toner, a singer from Newry, in 1967. They have four children: Mairead, Siobhan, Ciara and Patrick Junior, a goalkeeper. Jennings is Catholic.
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