Paul McGee

Paul Gerard McGee (born 19 June 1954) is an Irish former footballer who played as a forward and, as of 2024, is Galway United's all-time leading goalscorer across all competitions. As of 2019, McGee is also eleventh in the all-time League of Ireland goalscoring list with 143 league goals.

He started his career with his hometown club, Sligo Rovers, and had six different spells playing for Sligo over the course of his career. Following the 1971–72 season, McGee earned a transfer to English football with Kidderminster Harriers. From there, he moved to Hereford United but was confined to their reserve team during his time at the club.

League title with Sligo McGee rejoined his home town club Sligo Rovers in 1975 and won the 1976–77 League of Ireland league championship. On Easter Sunday, Sligo beat Shamrock Rovers 3–1 at home to seal the league title, with McGee assisting Sligo's second goal from a corner and scoring the third himself.

The English Football League In McGee's first season with the club, Queens Park Rangers finished 19th in the First Division table, just outside the relegation zone. The club were relegated at the end of the 1978–79 season, and Frank Sibley was replaced as manager by Tommy Docherty. After Docherty informed him that he wasn't in the manager's squad plans, McGee transferred to Preston North End.

McGee signed for Shamrock Rovers in August 1984. He made a scoring debut with 2 goals on the 26th against Home Farm in a 4–2 win at Milltown. His last appearance was against his home town club in a 4–0 win on 11 November 1978. In total he played 15 times for the Hoops, including twice in the European Cup, scoring 5 goals.

McGee joined Galway United for the 1985–86 season. He finished the season with 13 goals, the second highest in the league. While at Galway United he scored in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup at FC Groningen. His impressive displays earned him a move to HFC Haarlem for the rest of the 1986–87 Eredivisie season. During his time there his opponents included Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit. He returned to Galway United after a solitary season with Haarlem and spent the next three years with the Tribesmen. He became the club's player-manager during the 1989–90 season.

He moved to Derry City for the 1990–91 League of Ireland Premier Division season but by November he had moved back to his home town club. However, he did play in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup for the Candystripes.

In January 1993 McGee moved clubs for the 34th occasion, a record for an Irish player.

At the end of the 2012 League of Ireland season McGee is eleventh in the all-time League of Ireland goalscoring list with 143 league goals

International career

In his Ireland career, he scored 4 goals in 15 matches between 1978 and 1980 and also won 10 youth caps and 2 U21 caps. His full international debut came against Turkey and he scored with a diving header in a 4–2 victory. He scored a further three times for his country, including a goal against Czechoslovakia while they were European champions. In January 2007, McGee was appointed manager of Limerick 37 F.C. in the League of Ireland First Division. He was sacked in December despite the team achieving a 4th-place position in the league.

In January 2008 he was appointed assistant manager to Alan Mathews at Cork City. In August 2008 he lost his job as Cork went into examinership. In May 2011, McGee returned to Salthill Devon as first team manager.