Republic of Ireland soccer legend Jason McAteer turned 44 years old today, and we thought it would be fitting to mark the occasion with a little countdown of some of our very favourite moments from the man they called "Trigger".
He always have 100% for the boys in green, and since his retirement he has regularly returned, most often to tell us some fantastic stories from his playing days.
The mental kung-fu red card in Skopje.
Not a moment he will be entirely proud of, but it certainly is memorable.
This GIF takes you way back to April 1997 when Ireland played Macedonia in Skopje. Jason McAteer channeled everyone's favourite long-legged Street Fighter character Chun Li with an impressively acrobatic kung fu kick on a Macedonia opponent.
His amazing story about Roy Keane at the 1994 World Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINafDHQKc0
One of our favourite ever ex-player stories.
Not being able to answer a quiz question about himself.
via Mary Hannigan 'Planet Football', The Irish Times, Sept. 6 2004
This photo of the man himself, Gary Kelly, and Phil Babb.
A great bunch of lads.
The goal that defined his Ireland career.
Right when we needed it the most, Jason McAteer pops up with one of the most memorable goals in Irish football history and put Ireland on the verge of qualification to the 2002 World Cup.
Happy birthday Jason McAteer.
