Where is Paul McGrath today? A look at his life after retiring from football
Paul McGrath is currently living a quiet life in County Wexford, Ireland. He has been open about his health struggles and noted that he is now doing well. During his career, he played for clubs such as St Patrick's Athletic, Manchester United, and Aston Villa.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Paul McGrath is a former Irish professional footballer who played as a defender.
- He is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of his era.
- McGrath lives in a peaceful part of County Wexford and enjoys daily walks of around 9 km.
- He is open about recovery from depression and addiction.
- He is one of only six defenders to have won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
- McGrath is the father of five sons and a daughter and, as of 2019, has five grandchildren.
Paul McGrath's profile summary
| Full name | Paul McGrath |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 4 December 1959 |
| Age | 65 (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | London Borough of Ealing, United Kingdom |
| Current residence | County Wexford, Ireland |
| Nationality | English and Irish |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 6'1" |
| Height in centimeters | 185 |
| Weight in pounds | 185 |
| Weight in kilograms | 84 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Betty McGrath |
| Relationship status | Single |
| Children | 6 |
| Profession | Former football player |
| @paulnumber5 |
Where is Paul McGrath today?
McGrath is currently living in County Wexford, Ireland. He has admitted to having an alcohol problem and a knee problem. He opened up about this in a podcast chat with Nicky Byrne, stating:
I have done that on and off through the years, where it usually involved alcohol and stuff like that. Yeah, I was struggling for a while. It was touch and go which way it was going to go. I'm much healthier now.
Despite all this, he now keeps fit and walks at least 9 kilometres every day. The football legend thanked doctors for helping him get over his recent scare. He revealed how he now lives in a "quiet spot" in Wexford — walking long distances despite relying on a stick owing to knee problems. He added:
It's great for me. Everyone leaves you alone. The Wexford people are great and keep me going. As a kid, I used to go down there to play the slot machines and holiday there. I just kept going there and decided I would stay. I need a stick now, but I do 9km walks every day and getting out keeps me healthy.
Paul McGrath's early life
McGrath was born on 4 December 1959 in Greenford, Middlesex. His father was a Nigerian, while his mother was Irish. His parents met during his father's medica studies in Dublin. His father disappeared soon after his conception.
His mother, Betty McGrath, was afraid her father would discover that she had gotten pregnant in an interracial relationship and outside of marriage. To give birth to her illegitimate child, she travelled covertly to London.
After being taken from his mother by force, Paul spent some time in foster care. Until he turned 18, he was placed in foster care in several locations throughout Dublin. He was able to make amends with both his mother and his maternal grandfather in his later adolescence.
Source: Original
Career
Paul made his football debut against Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland Cup while playing for St Patrick's Athletic. This took place at Richmond Park back in 1981. In a subsequent match in the Leinster Senior Cup, he scored the game-winning goal.
He played for Manchester United for a while after joining them in 1982. Nevertheless, McGrath suffered from knee issues throughout the 1988–89 season and lost his spot in the starting team. As a result, newcomers Mal Donaghy and Steve Bruce began to compete with him. At the time, his relationship with manager Ferguson was becoming strained.
He signed a contract with Aston Villa in August 1989. Despite his frequent knee issues, he played some of the best football. Aston Villa again finished second to Manchester United in the Premier League's first season (1992–93).
Shortly before turning 38, on November 9, 1997, he played his last game as a professional football player for Sheffield United against Ipswich Town. At the end of the season, he officially retired.
Post-professional football life
McGrath suffers from alcoholism and has missed several matches during his career. He admitted to playing football while still under the influence of alcohol. His recent knee issue resulted in him undergoing eight operations during his career.
Having battled alcoholism and depression throughout his life, he acknowledged he wishes he'd sought help more often than he did, especially during his days as a footballer. He said:
We don't talk about how we're feeling too much and stuff like that, or I don't anyway. So, I thought this would be a good thing to get involved with. I just jumped at the chance. I don't do too much of this sort of stuff, but I thought, why not? I think footballers who are leaving the game struggle. I wish things were better (when I played) and I wish people were able to talk to people to get their feelings out there and not just bottle it up.
After retiring, he settled in Monageer, County Wexford. McGrath returned to football in 2004 after a five-year absence, becoming director of football at Waterford United in Ireland.
McGrath recorded a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's Goin' Back in 2011. He followed that song with an 11-track album, released in 2011. The proceeds from the track went to his two chosen charities, the Acquired Brain Injury Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Ireland.
On 29 June 2013, McGrath was detained at a hotel in County Offaly for allegedly violating public order. He was granted bail and appeared at Tullamore District Court on July 17.
Since January 2025, Paul has been raising funds for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. It is the primary provider of community-based rehabilitation services for brain injury survivors in Ireland. He shared his tale on the contribution page, writing:
Hey everyone, it's Paul McGrath here! This January, I'm taking on a personal challenge to walk 120,000 steps to raise vital funds and awareness for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Every step I take is a step towards helping those affected by acquired brain injuries. I need your support to make a real difference, and I'd be incredibly grateful if you could sponsor me on this journey! Every donation counts, and by contributing, you could WIN 2 tickets to any of the amazing Dec Pierce Block Rockin Beats official gigs this summer!
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- Who is Paul McGrath? Paul is a retired Irish professional footballer who played as a defender.
- How old is Paul McGrath? The former footballer is 65. He was born on 4 December 1959 in the London Borough of Ealing, United Kingdom.
- What does Paul McGrath do nowadays? He spends time in Wexford. He is also advocating for mental health. He is currently raising money for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.
- Where does Paul McGrath live? He resides in County Wexford, Ireland.
- How much did Villa pay for Paul McGrath? According to Transfermarkt, Aston Villa paid €125k on 1 October 1996 for his transfer to Derby.
- Why did Alex Ferguson sell Paul McGrath? Due to persistent knee injuries and concerns about his alcohol-fueled lifestyle.
- Who is Paul McGrath's wife? McGrath is not currently married but was married twice before to Claire, with whom he split in 1994, and Caroline until 2003. He has six children and at least five grandchildren.
Wrapping up
Even though he has now retired, Paul McGrath is still widely considered one of his era's greatest defenders. He has battled his alcohol addiction and is now focusing on his mental health well well-being. He is a father of five sons, a daughter, and several grandchildren.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
