Club legend Alan Murphy signs on for a fifth spell at Galway United

Galway United have announced the return of vastly-experienced midfielder Alan Murphy for a fifth spell with the club.

 

The 36-year-old is held in the highest regard at Eamonn Deacy Park where he remains the second highest goalscorer of all time for the club during four previous spells in Galway.

 

Murphy scored 73 goals for the Tribesmen in total and trails Paul ‘Ski’ McGee for that record by just a single goal.

 

The Mayo man began his League of Ireland career at the age of 16 with Galway United but quickly established himself as a first team regular and enjoyed possibly his finest season in 2003 when he scored 21 goals during the club’s First Division campaign.

 

Murphy went on to have spells with Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Mervue United in the League of Ireland and most recently lined out for junior side West United in Galway.

 



After leaving the club in 2014, Murphy got involved with United again when he was appointed manager of the club’s under-17 side, a role he will continue in while playing for the senior side.

 

“I still have a huge ambition to see the club progress at both underage and senior level,” Murphy told the club's official website.

 

“I’ve gone full circle from being a 17-year-old kid who made his way with Galway United and nailed down a first team position at that age to now managing the under-17s and 17 or 18 years later, getting back into this situation again.

 



“It’s a great story for me, but it’s unfinished business and I’m going to be taking this very seriously. I’m looking forward to a very ambitious year and hopefully a season we deliver in.”

 

The signing brings Shane Keegan’s squad to 20 for the 2018 First Division season with the earlier announcement that goalkeepers Arek Mamala and Conor Gleeson had signed for the club.