Paul Ince
| Date of birth | 21 October 1967 |
| Place of birth | Ilford |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 77 kg |
| Height | 1.80 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
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
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.