An Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United.
After playing football, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Ireland national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town. He is currently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe.
McIlroy played from 1971 to 1982 at Manchester United. He was the last youth player signed by Matt Busby, therefore making him the last of the Busby Babes. He was dubbed 'The next George Best.
In 1982, he was sold to Stoke City, where he played the next four seasons. McIlroy went on to play at Örgryte IS in Sweden in 1986, Manchester City in 1986-87, Bury from 1987 to 1990 and Preston North End in 1989/90.
As a player for the Northern Ireland national team McIlroy won 88 caps and scored 5 goals. He played in all of the country's matches during both the 1982 World Cup, where Northern Ireland defeated the host nation Spain and advanced to the second round, and the 1986 World Cup in which he captained the team.
McIlroy began his managerial career as player-coach under John McGrath at Preston North End in 1991. He then went on to manage non-league team Ashton before joining Macclesfield Town for six and a half seasons, culminating in their promotion to The Football League in 1997. He remains a legend in Macclesfield and has a suite at the Moss Rose stadium named after him.
He managed Northern Ireland for nearly three years. Upon completion Euro 2004 qualifying matches, McIlroy resigned to re-enter club management with Stockport County, whom he managed until November 2004.
Appointed Manager of Conference side Morecambe in May 2006. In his first full season, Morecambe again reached the play-offs where they defeated Exeter City to win promotion in one of the first games played at the new Wembley Stadium.
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