Stephen John Finnan (born 24 April 1976) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He is the only player to have played in the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Intertoto Cup, Premier League, all three levels of the Football League, and non-League.
A right-back, Finnan was known for his attacking role and his ability to cross the ball. Among the honours he won during his career were the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 with Liverpool.
Finnan has 52 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring twice. He represented them at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Finnan was born in the Janesboro area of Limerick, and moved to Chelmsford, England, at a young age. He began his career playing in Wimbledon's youth system, but he joined non-League club Welling United in 1993 after being released at the age of 16. Finnan turned professional when he signed with Birmingham City in 1995, who paid a fee of ã100,000 to Welling United to acquire his services. He scored his first professional goal against Watford on 23 September 1995.
Finnan made a loan switch to Notts County in March 1996, making his debut in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Walsall and scoring his first goal a month later in a 4âÂÂ2 victory over Bristol Rovers. He appeared in all of Notts' games for the remainder of the season, helping the team finish fourth in the Second Division and qualify for the promotion play-offs. In the first-leg of the semi-finals held at the Alexandra Stadium he scored against Crewe Alexandra, with the match ending 2âÂÂ2. The return-leg at home saw Notts win 1âÂÂ0, winning 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate. In the play-off final against Bradford City at Wembley Stadium, Notts County lost 2âÂÂ0. He returned to Birmingham following the conclusion of the loan deal.
During the following 1996âÂÂ97 season, Notts County signed Finnan for a fee ã300,000 on 30 October 1996. He played his first match as a permanent player for Notts County after being introduced as a substitute against Shrewsbury Town. The season was not a successful one for Finnan as Notts County finished 24th and were relegated to the Third Division.
In the 1997âÂÂ98 season, his first full season at the club, Finnan established himself as a key member of the club and was an ever present, appearing in 51 matches, helping the club win the Third Division title with record points and time. The other notable record Finnan established with Notts County during this season was a streak of 10 consecutive victories; a club record and one which still stands today.
After strong showings for Notts County in the 1997âÂÂ98 season, Fulham manager Kevin Keegan paid ã600,000 for his services in November 1998. He made his Fulham debut against Chesterfield on 21 November 1998 and scored his first goal for Fulham against Blackpool on 20 March 1999. While at Fulham, he also became a favourite among the fans. His first season with the club was a success, with Fulham winning the Second Division championship and being promoted to the First Division.
Finnan and Fulham finished ninth the following season under new manager Paul Bracewell, despite promising early season form and an unbeaten run lasting over two months. Bracewell was replaced with Jean Tigana in May 2000, and under him in the 2000âÂÂ01 season, Fulham won the First Division championship, winning promotion to the Premier League, with Finnan appearing in all but one of the league matches.
In the 2001âÂÂ02 season his debut season in the Premier League, he helped Fulham qualify for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and was voted into the Professional Footballers Association Team of the Year and was also voted as FulhamâÂÂs Player of the Year. Fulham then went on to win the UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Finnan his first taste of European football. Next season saw Jean Tigana replaced by Chris Coleman, Finnan's fourth manager in five seasons. By April 2003 with a few matches to go, Fulham were close to the relegation zone but picked up 10 points out of a possible 15 to stay in the top-flight, finishing in 14th place.
In the summer of 2003 Finnan found himself courted by many of England's top clubs, and eventually Fulham agreed to sell Finnan to Liverpool for a fee of ã3.5m.
Finnan made his Liverpool debut against Chelsea on 17 August 2003. His first season was disrupted by injury, but in the 2004âÂÂ05 season, he established himself as the first-choice right-back and a firm fan favourite. The season was a highly successful one for Finnan. He scored his first and only goal for Liverpool in a 3âÂÂ0 win against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League, He also played in the League Cup final, and was in the starting eleven as Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League final, though a thigh injury meant he was substituted at half-time. Finnan's goal against West Bromwich Albion meant that he became only the second player to score in each of the five highest divisions of English football; the first was Jimmy Willis.
In the 2005âÂÂ06 season, Liverpool broke their record for number of points in a Premier League season, finishing on 82 points with Finnan being ever present. At the end of the season he picked up another medal with Liverpool, winning the FA Cup.
Finnan played for Liverpool as first-choice right-back for the 2006âÂÂ07 season despite heavy competition from winter signing ÃÂlvaro Arbeloa. He started in the UEFA Champions League final against Milan and was subbed off after 88 minutes, Liverpool went on to lose the match 2âÂÂ1. On 2 August 2007, Finnan signed a new two-year contract to remain with Liverpool until 2009.
In the 2007âÂÂ08 season, Liverpool's success continued as they finished fourth in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Finnan took his total appearances for Liverpool past the 200 mark and also made it into the top 100 capped Liverpool players of all-time. Finnan made 35 appearances that season, but lost his starting position, with manager Rafael BenÃÂtez often preferring ÃÂlvaro Arbeloa to start. In the summer of 2008, following the arrival of Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund, Finnan was linked with a move away from Anfield. He was offered by Liverpool as a makeweight in a deal to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa; the defender accepted the move but the clubs were unable to agree a fee. He made a guest appearance in Jamie Carragher's testimonial match on 7 September 2010.
On 1 September 2008, Finnan signed a two-year contract with La Liga club Espanyol for an undisclosed fee. Injuries limited his first-team appearances, and rumours of a return to the Premier League in the January 2009 transfer window with Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur were dismissed by Espanyol's sports director Paco Herrera and manager Mané, who considered Finnan as an important member of the club. By mid-January, Espanyol were "surprised" that a move to Hull City did not proceed, apparently for medical reasons. On 27 July 2009, Espanyol and Finnan agreed to terminate the remainder of his contract.
Finnan signed a one-year contract with Premier League club Portsmouth on 31 July 2009. He made his debut for the club on 3 October in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and played regularly in the second-half of the season, but with the club in administration and relegated to the Championship, he was not offered a new contract. His final appearance for the club was in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
A Republic of Ireland under-21 international, Finnan made his debut for the senior side on 26 April 2000, against Greece. He cemented his place in the starting eleven during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, supplying the cross for Jason McAteer to score the only goal in a crucial 1âÂÂ0 win against the Netherlands on 1 September 2001.
Finnan appeared in all three of Ireland's group matches at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Cameroon, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Ireland progressed to the Round of 16 of the tournament for only the third time in their history where they faced Spain. The match ended 1âÂÂ1 in extra-time and went to penalties. Finnan took a penalty and scored, but Ireland eventually lost the shootout 3âÂÂ2.
Injury disrupted Finnan's participation in the unsuccessful attempt to reach the Euro 2004 finals. He was a regular starter in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches but Ireland failed to qualify for the finals.
He was again a regular starter in the Euro 2008 qualification matches but Ireland did not qualify for the finals. He scored his second international goal in the group match against Cyprus in a 1âÂÂ1 draw. He announced his retirement from international football on 22 January 2008 after making 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland. Tempted by the prospect of working with the newly appointed Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Finnan came out of retirement in August 2008 to be included in the squad to face Norway in an international friendly.
Finnan was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving on 14 June 2005, after his Range Rover ran over an 81-year-old man from Liverpool, who later died of his injuries. Finnan faced no charges over the man's death, despite his vehicle travelling at 58mph in a 30mph zone. Finnan later expressed his sympathy to the man's family.
In May 2015, Finnan was living in London and working in property development.
On 4 December 2023, the High Court struck out a ã6 million professional-negligence claim brought by Finnan against law firm Charles Russell Speechlys in relation to advice over a property dispute with his brother.
On 20 August 2024, he unsuccessfully challenged a costs judgment ordering him to pay around ã120,000 to another former firm of solicitors.
On 18 November 2025, UK legal and news outlets reported that Finnan had become the subject of a bankruptcy petition in the Central London County Court, based on an unpaid five-figure costs order arising from the same dispute, and that a High Court judge later described his attempt to appeal directions in the petition as âÂÂtotally without meritâ and âÂÂcompletely hopelessâÂÂ.
Notts County
Fulham
Liverpool
Portsmouth
Individual