What is Paul McGrath's net worth? Biography and complete details

Paul McGrath is a living legend for Irish football fans. The retired professional football player represented Ireland's national football team internationally and played for top-tier clubs such as Manchester United and Aston Villa. Dig in and learn more about Paul McGrath’s net worth, career and personal details.

Who is the Aston Villa defender considered one of the Republic of Ireland's greatest players of all time? Scroll down for a deep dive into the personal life and sports career of Paul McGrath.

Paul McGrath’s profile summary

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How old is Paul McGrath?

Born on the 4th of December in 1959, the former centre-back is 64 years of age as of January 2024.

How much is Paul McGrath's net worth?

Since his teenage years playing with Pearse Rovers, McGrath had a successful career that lasted decades until 1997. At the time of writing, his net worth was estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million.

Details of the 1982 and 1993 PFA Players’ Player of the Year’s salary have not been revealed to the public. However, he recently disclosed details of a £100,000 ($126,000 as of January 2024) payment offered to him by Sir Alex Ferguson. According to him, the retirement deal came five or so years before his actual retirement from football.

How much did Villa pay for Paul McGrath?

According to Transfermarkt, Mcgrath's known transfer fees amount to $721,228.20. Reports suggest that his transfer fee from Manchester United to Aston Villa was between $671.500 and $790,000. The transfer occurred on the 3rd of August 1989 under Graham Taylor.

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Other known transfer deals with the centre-back involved teams such as Derby County and Manchester United. His move to Manchester United from League of Ireland’s St. Patrick's Athletic on the 30th of April, 1982, cost £35,000. On the other hand, his transfer fee from Aston Villa to Derby County was €125,000.

Paul Mcgrath's biography

Paul was born in Greenford, Middlesex, to Betty McGrath and an unnamed Nigerian medical student who left soon after his birth. At the time, being born out of wedlock and being an ethnic rarity were frowned upon in Irish society. This prompted his mother to put him up for adoption in Ireland at only four weeks of age.

Details of his father's name and whereabouts remain unknown to the public. In an X(Twitter) post on September 4, 2020, Paul announced the death of his mother, Elizabeth, which occurred at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. He later spoke to the Sunday World, McGrath acknowledged his mother's brevity in the situation, saying,

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"In those days, you could not come back to Ireland with a black child. She was brave enough to do that."

He added,

"She has had a really tough life. I think she was a bit scared to tell her father that she not only had a baby, but a baby of colour."

Paul Mcgrath's family

McGrath grew up in various orphanages in Dublin, Ireland, with his mother visiting periodically. He was later taken in by Frank Mullen, his foster father and his wife, Ellen. He has one half-sister, Okune.

Is Paul McGrath married?

At the time of writing, the Irish legend is not married. Additionally, there are no details of an ongoing relationship.

He was previously married to Claire, the mother of his three eldest sons, before divorcing her in 1994. He later married a woman by the name of Caroline, with whom he had two more children.

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Who are Paul McGrath's daughters and sons?

He had three sons, Christopher, Mitchell and Jordan, with his first wife, Claire. In his second marriage to Caroline, he bore two children, Paul and Ellis. He also has a daughter, Danielle, from a separate relationship.

What problems did Paul McGrath have?

McGrath’s problematic childhood left him grappling with alcoholism and depression. While his successful career earned him popularity and fame, his internal battles took him to the brink of death after three suicide attempts.

With an uncanny ability to hide his personal problems, the prolific footballer showed up for his team, Aston Villa, wearing wristbands to hide his wounded wrists. This was the first of three attempts to take his own life. Despite this, McGrath’s role in Villa’s 6-0 victory inspired a run of 35 straight league matches, a near win for the 1989 championship and the Supporters' Player of the Year award.

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In an interview with FourFourTwo, he admitted struggling with alcoholism, saying,

"I did it because I was shy, lacked confidence and had low self-esteem, maybe because I grew up in an orphanage. I felt different as a black fella in Dublin in the ’60s. There were not many of us around."

Career

Between 1981 and 1998, Paul was one of Ireland's most famous football players. From Pearse Rovers and Dalkey United youth clubs, the imposing athlete advanced to top-tier teams.

Paul McGrath's stats

During his career, he played for teams such as Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Man United, St Patrick's Athletic, and Ireland's national football team. Have a look at the retired football legend’s performance over the years.

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What trophies did Paul McGrath win?

As one of Ireland's best sportspersons of all time, McGrath enjoys a privileged position in Irish society. Here is a list of awards the legendary defender ever won.

• 1982 League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Year
• 1985 FA Cup winner
• 1990, 1991 Ireland Footballer of the Year
• 1990, 1991 FAI Senior International Player of the Year
• 1993 Aston Villa Player of the Year
• 1994, 1996 English League Cup winner
• 1998 Football 100 Legends Inductee
• 2015 English Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2020 FAI Hall of Fame Inductee

Frequently asked questions

In addition to being an ethnic rarity in his time, the defender battled racism, and abandonment as a child, issues that would later plague him. Here are facts about the Acquired Brain Injury Ireland ambassador.

1. Where does Paul McGrath live now?

Tabloids suggest that Paul lives in Monageer, County Wexford, in Ireland. His social media posts also contain images of the Irish village.

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2. What was Paul McGrath's Ireland number?

While playing for the Republic of Ireland, the defender wore the number 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 jerseys. He frequently wore the number 5 shirt for Man United and Aston Villa.

3. Did Paul McGrath win the Ballon d'Or?

McGrath did not win the Ballon d'Or award in his career. However, in 1991, he appeared in the 13th position in the Ballon d'Or awards list.

4. How much is Paul McGrath’s weight?

At his prime, the former Aston Villa weighed 187.3 lbs (85 kilograms). Details of his current weight remain unknown.

5. How tall is Paul McGrath?

Growing up, McGrath was considered larger in size than his peers. Despite this, his aerial ability and explosive speed remained unmatched. According to his Manchester United profile, the Irishman was six feet tall (184 centimetres).

Final Word

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Paul is a well-known figure in Irish and English football. However, Paul McGrath's net worth may not be a testament to his career achievements.

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