Paul Ince

Date of birth21 October 1967
Place of birthIlford
NationalityEnglish
Weight77 kg
Height1.80 m
PositionMidfielder

One of Manchester United's best ever midfielders, his powerful style played a great part in their 1990s Premiership dominance.

Signed from West Ham in acrimonious circumstances which guaranteed a hostile reception whenever he played at Upton Park. At Old Trafford he won two Premier League titles (1993, 1994), two FA Cups (1990, 1994), the League Cup (1992) and European Cup Winners' Cup (1991). The football world was astonished when United released Ince, Hughes and Kanchelskis in summer 1995 but Alex Ferguson had the last laugh as his 'team of kids' won another double.

Paul was picked up by Liverpool manager Roy Evans from Inter Milan, but never really recaptured his earlier form.

With tensions growing between him and management he moved on to Middlesbrough.

As Boro skipper, Paul led the team by sheer determination and example, and his battling displays in the centre of the park ensured that no one was ever left in any doubt as to who controlled the midfield.

He tackled with frightening zeal and showed a gritty tenaciousness and ferocity in the application of his football skills.

Paul's contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers was extended to June 2006 in June 2005.

He joined Swindon Town as player / coach in August 2006 with a one-year contract.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
West Ham United 18 Jul 1985 14 Sep 1989
Manchester United 14 Sep 1989 13 Jul 1995
Internazionale 13 Jul 1995 22 Jul 1997
Liverpool 22 Jul 1997 03 Aug 1999
Middlesbrough 03 Aug 1999 30 Jun 2002
Wolverhampton Wanderers 06 Aug 2002 30 Jun 2006
Swindon Town 31 Aug 2006 04 Oct 2006
Macclesfield Town 23 Oct 2006 30 Jun 2007

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1986-87 West Ham United FA Cup 1
1986-87 West Ham United League Division One 7
3
1
1987-88 West Ham United FA Cup
1
1987-88 West Ham United League Cup 2
1987-88 West Ham United League Division One 26
2
3
1988-89 West Ham United FA Cup 7
1
1988-89 West Ham United League Cup 7
3
1988-89 West Ham United League Division One 32
1
3
1989-90 Manchester United FA Cup 6
1
1989-90 Manchester United League Cup 3
2
1989-90 Manchester United League Division One 25
1
1989-90 West Ham United League Division Two 1
1990-91 Manchester United FA Charity Shield 1
1990-91 Manchester United FA Cup 2
1990-91 Manchester United League Division One 31
3
1990-91 Manchester United Rumbelows League Cup 6
1990-91 Manchester United UEFA European Cup Winners Cup 7
1991-92 Manchester United FA Cup 3
1991-92 Manchester United League Cup 6
1
1991-92 Manchester United League Division One 31
2
3
1991-92 Manchester United UEFA European Cup Winners Cup 3
1991-92 Manchester United UEFA Super Cup 1
1992-93 Manchester United FA Cup 2
1992-93 Manchester United League Cup 3
1992-93 Manchester United Premier League 41
6
4
1992-93 Manchester United UEFA Cup 1
1993-94 Manchester United FA Charity Shield 1
1993-94 Manchester United FA Cup 7
1
1993-94 Manchester United League Cup 5
1993-94 Manchester United Premier League 39
8
6
1993-94 Manchester United UEFA Champions League 4
1994-95 Manchester United FA Charity Shield 1
1
1994-95 Manchester United FA Cup 6
1994-95 Manchester United Premier League 36
5
5
1994-95 Manchester United UEFA Champions League 5
1997-98 Europe International Friendly 1
1997-98 Liverpool FA Cup 1
1
1997-98 Liverpool League Cup 4
2
1997-98 Liverpool Premier League 31
8
8
1997-98 Liverpool UEFA Cup 4
1998-99 Liverpool FA Cup 2
1
1998-99 Liverpool League Cup 2
1
1998-99 Liverpool Premier League 34
6
9
1998-99 Liverpool UEFA Cup 3
1
1999-00 Middlesbrough League Cup 3
1
1
1999-00 Middlesbrough Premier League 32
3
7
2000-01 Middlesbrough FA Cup 3
2000-01 Middlesbrough League Cup 2
1
2000-01 Middlesbrough Premier League 30
2
7
2001-02 Middlesbrough FA Cup 4
1
1
2001-02 Middlesbrough League Cup 1
2001-02 Middlesbrough Premier League 31
2
11
1
2002-03 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 3
1
2002-03 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Cup 1
1
1
2002-03 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Division 1 35
2
2
11
2002-03 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Division 1 Play-Offs 3
1
2003-04 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 1
2003-04 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Cup 2
2003-04 Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League 32
2
13
1
2004-05 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 2
1
2004-05 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Championship 25
3
3
7
2004-05 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Cup 1
1
2005-06 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 2
2005-06 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Championship 15
3
3
1
2006-07 Macclesfield Town League Two
1
2006-07 Swindon Town League Two 2
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
04 Dec 1997 Europe v Rest of the World L 2-5 International Friendly


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1986-87 England Under-19 Youth Tournament 1
1
1988-89 England UEFA Under-21 1
1989-90 England UEFA Under-21 1
1991-92 England B International 1
1992-93 England FIFA World Cup 5
1
1992-93 England International Friendly 1
1992-93 England US Cup 3
1993-94 England FIFA World Cup 3
2
1993-94 England International Friendly 2
1994-95 England International Friendly 2
1995-96 England International Friendly 3
1995-96 England UEFA European Championship 4
1995-96 England Unofficial 1
1996-97 England FIFA World Cup 6
1
1996-97 England International Friendly 1
1996-97 England Tournoi de France 2
1
1997-98 England FIFA World Cup 5
1
1997-98 England International Friendly 3
1
1997-98 England King Hassan II Cup 1
1998-99 England International Friendly 1
1998-99 England UEFA European Championship 1
1
1999-00 England International Friendly 2
1
1999-00 England UEFA European Championship 5
2


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
02 Jun 1987 Brazil v England L 2-0 U19 YOUTH TOUR
10 Jun 1987 Uruguay v England D 2-2 U19 YOUTH TOUR
07 Mar 1989 Albania v England W 1-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
05 Sep 1989 Sweden v England L 1-0 UEFA Under-21 Group 2
18 Feb 1992 England v France W 3-0 B INTER
09 Sep 1992 Spain v England L 1-0 International Friendly
14 Oct 1992 England v Norway D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
18 Nov 1992 England v Turkey W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
31 Mar 1993 Turkey v England W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
28 Apr 1993 England v Netherlands D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
29 May 1993 Poland v England D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Jun 1993 USA v England L 2-0 US Cup
13 Jun 1993 England v Brazil D 1-1 US Cup
19 Jun 1993 England v Germany L 1-2 US Cup
08 Sep 1993 England v Poland W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
13 Oct 1993 Netherlands v England L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
17 Nov 1993 San Marino v England W 1-7 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Mar 1994 England v Denmark W 1-0 International Friendly
22 May 1994 England v Norway D 0-0 International Friendly
12 Oct 1994 England v Romania D 1-1 International Friendly
15 Feb 1995 Republic of Ireland v England D 0-0 International Friendly
27 Mar 1996 England v Bulgaria W 1-0 International Friendly
24 Apr 1996 England v Croatia D 0-0 International Friendly
18 May 1996 England v Hungary W 3-0 International Friendly
26 May 1996 Hong Kong v England W 0-1 UNOFFICIAL
08 Jun 1996 England v Switzerland D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
15 Jun 1996 England v Scotland W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
18 Jun 1996 England v Netherlands W 4-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
26 Jun 1996 England v Germany L 1-1 (5-6) UEFA European Championship Finals semi-final
01 Sep 1996 Moldova v England W 0-3 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Oct 1996 England v Poland W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Nov 1996 Georgia v England W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
12 Feb 1997 England v Italy L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
29 Mar 1997 England v Mexico W 2-0 International Friendly
30 Apr 1997 England v Georgia W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
31 May 1997 Poland v England W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
04 Jun 1997 Italy v England W 0-2 TOURNOI DE FRANCE
07 Jun 1997 France v England W 0-1 Tournoi de France
10 Jun 1997 Brazil v England L 1-0 Tournoi de France
11 Oct 1997 Italy v England D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
15 Nov 1997 England v Cameroon W 2-0 International Friendly
11 Feb 1998 England v Chile L 0-2 International Friendly
25 Mar 1998 Switzerland v England D 1-1 International Friendly
22 Apr 1998 England v Portugal W 3-0 International Friendly
27 May 1998 Morocco v England W 0-1 King Hassan II Cup
15 Jun 1998 England v Tunisia W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
22 Jun 1998 Romania v England L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
26 Jun 1998 Colombia v England W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
30 Jun 1998 Argentina v England L 2-2 (3-4) FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
05 Sep 1998 Sweden v England L 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 5
10 Feb 1999 England v France L 0-2 International Friendly
10 Oct 1999 England v Belgium W 2-1 International Friendly
13 Nov 1999 Scotland v England W 0-2 UEFA European Championship Play-off 1st leg
17 Nov 1999 England v Scotland L 0-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 2nd leg
27 May 2000 England v Brazil D 1-1 International Friendly
03 Jun 2000 Malta v England W 1-2 International Friendly
12 Jun 2000 Portugal v England L 3-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
17 Jun 2000 England v Germany W 1-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A
20 Jun 2000 England v Romania L 2-3 UEFA European Championship Finals Group A


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.