Manchester United's 'Mr Dependable' started his career as a 16-year-old with Leeds United, where he made a total of 72 appearances before being released as a 20-year-old to Oldham Athletic.
He played in the 1990 League Cup final and the FA Cup semi-final against the Red Devils, in which his performance won him a move to Old Trafford in a £650,000 deal. He celebrated 10 years at Old Trafford with a record-breaking testimonial against neighbours City in August 2000.
Irwin won a European Cup Winners' Cup medal in 1991 before winning the Premiership in 1993, as an vital member of the team, playing in 40 League games, scoring five goals.
He once became United's most decorated player having won six Premiership titles, two FA Cup winners' medals and a Champions League medal - and also held the club record for appearances in the European Cup.
During the historic 1998/99 season, he was harshly sent off against Liverpool for kicking the ball away and was forced to miss the FA Cup final through suspension.
With the arrival of Frenchman Mikael Silvestre and the continuing development of Phil Neville, Irwin had to fight hard for the left-back spot that had been his own for nigh on a decade.
Many of his appearances in the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 seasons came at right-back - the position he is most suited to, being mainly right-footed - but Sir Alex Ferguson continues to place faith in this unsung and longest-landing hero of their current golden age.
But it seems that Irwin, who retired from international football in 1999, is aware of his advancing years. Not long after signing an extension to his contract, he announced that 2001/02 would be his last season with Manchester United.
Irwin had played 531 games for United when he joined First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer.
But the player proved he had not lost his ability by helping them into the Premiership through the play-offs, and he opted to sign a new one-year deal for the 2003/04 season.
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